Roasting device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus 10 for roasting coffee beans, comprising a housing 4, a roasting chamber 1 having a bottom opening 11 and a top opening 12, a smoke and particle collector 6 for collecting smoke and particles from the top opening of the roasting chamber, and a chamber locking assembly 5 for removably locking the roasting chamber to the housing, wherein the roasting chamber is removably attached to the housing, such that when the roasting chamber is attached to the housing, the bottom opening of the roasting chamber is aligned with a hot air outlet hole 41 of the housing and the top opening of the roasting chamber is aligned with the smoke and particle collector, and the chamber locking assembly comprises a bottom device 51 for connecting the bottom opening of the chamber to the hot air outlet hole of the housing, the bottom device receiving the bottom part 1a of the chamber to hold the chamber, and a top attachment device 52 for connecting the top opening of the chamber to the smoke and particle collector.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus particularly suitable for use in the home or in stores and cafes for roasting coffee beans using heated air.

Background Art

[0002] Small-scale roasting of coffee beans in the home or in stores and cafes is usually carried out using a small apparatus in which the coffee beans are agitated within a hot air stream. One type of apparatus uses fluidized bed technology that implements a hot air fluidized bed chamber. Within such a chamber, heated air is fed through a screen or perforated plate under the coffee beans with sufficient force to lift the beans. As the beans tumble and circulate within this fluidized bed, heat is transferred to the beans.

[0003] Most roasting apparatuses that implement fluidized bed technology have a configuration of the same main elements, namely a roasting chamber, a heater, and an air driver. Very commonly and clearly, these elements are stacked vertically one above the other along a vertical axis, with the air driver at the lowest position, the heater above it, and the roasting chamber above the heater, and hot air is supplied through the bottom opening of the chamber. In addition, the apparatus usually includes a smoke collection section for collecting the dust and smoke generated during roasting and processing them in a further step. This smoke collection section is usually connected without a gap to the top of the roasting chamber.

[0004] Preferably, in these roasting apparatuses, the hot air fluidized bed chamber is completely removable from the apparatus for loading and unloading the beans and for cleaning the chamber and the roasting section.

[0005] After these operations and when the chamber is returned inside the apparatus, it is important to connect the bottom and the top of the chamber to the housing of the apparatus without a gap for efficient roasting and for obvious safety reasons.

[0006] Typically, for the bottom connection, the device is provided with holes in the housing for supplying hot air, and as will be described below, the bottom opening of the chamber is connected to these holes.

[0007] The connection at the top of the chamber can be established by an upper chamber lock device for fixing the chamber to the device without any gap. This device usually consists simply of a chamber clamping mechanism that operates as shown in FIG. 1. This clamping mechanism 7 comprises a vertically translatable tube having means for connecting to the top opening of the chamber. When the chamber has to be introduced into the housing, the operator, while holding the handle of the chamber, slides the top flange of the chamber into the top horizontal linear rail extending from the bottom of the translatable tube of the clamping mechanism, and pushes the chamber back until it stops while securely fitting the bottom opening of the chamber to the corresponding bottom opening of the housing (as indicated by arrow A). Then, in addition to the rotation of the lever 515, the tube is translated downward to clamp the chamber within the device between the bottom hole and the top hole (as indicated by arrow B), and at the same time, connect the bottom and the top without any gap. This translation is the result of the rotation of the lever 515 that moves the translatable tube downward.

[0008] This connection operation of the chamber raises two problems.

[0009] First, when the operator introduces the top of the chamber into the clamping mechanism and the chamber is moved downward to establish the connection, it has been observed that the chamber is not always properly centered and the orientation of the axis of the chamber is not always exactly vertical. As a result, when the upper clamp moves the chamber downward to complete the connection of the chamber, the misalignment causes strong pressure on some parts of the bottom outlet and the bottom opening of the chamber. Over time, these parts can no longer be in a vertical position, which affects the roasting of the beans.

[0010] Second, in order to enable the easy movement of the clamping mechanism, the clamping mechanism, specifically its threaded part, must be regularly greased. However, since the roasting device is at a high temperature, the grease melts and drips, forcing the operator to repeatedly perform the grease application work regularly. Furthermore, dust accumulates on the greased part, and frequent cleaning of the clamping mechanism becomes necessary. These grease application and cleaning operations are not very convenient because access to the threaded part of the clamping mechanism is narrow.

[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a roasting device having an improved lock assembly for a roasting chamber.

Summary of the Invention

[0012] In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for roasting coffee beans, comprising a housing, a roasting chamber having a bottom opening and a top opening, an air driver configured to propel air into the roasting chamber through the bottom opening of the chamber, a heater disposed below the bottom opening of the chamber and configured to heat the air propelled into the roasting chamber, a smoke and particle collection unit configured to collect smoke and particles from the top opening of the roasting chamber, and a chamber lock assembly for removably locking the roasting chamber to the housing, wherein the air driver and the heater are disposed within the housing, the housing is provided with a hot air outlet hole designed to allow hot air to pass from the housing into the bottom opening of the chamber, the roasting chamber is removably attached to the housing, when the roasting chamber is attached to the housing, the bottom opening of the roasting chamber is in communication with the hot air outlet hole of the housing, and the top opening of the roasting chamber is in communication with the smoke and particle collection unit, the chamber lock assembly includes a bottom device for connecting the bottom opening of the chamber to the hot air outlet hole of the housing and configured to receive the bottom of the chamber and hold the chamber, and a top mounting device for connecting the top opening of the chamber to the smoke and particle collection unit, the top mounting device is a translatable connecting conduit configured to connect the top opening of the chamber to the smoke and particle collection unit and translatable without rotation, and a fixed holding device configured to hold the translatable connecting conduit in at least three positions, the at least three positions including a first upper position where the translatable connecting conduit is held by the fixed holding device and separated from the top of the chamber, a second intermediate position where the translatable connecting conduit is connected to the top of the chamber, and a third lower position where the translatable connecting conduit is removed from the fixed holding device.

[0013] The roasting device includes a roasting chamber having a bottom opening and a top opening. This roasting chamber is designed to be able to generate a fluidized bed of hot air when the hot air is introduced through the bottom opening.

[0014] Normally, the central and upper parts of the chamber are cylindrical.

[0015] Generally, the bottom opening is provided with a grid for holding the beans inside the chamber while allowing the hot air to pass through the chamber.

[0016] The top opening allows for the discharge of the smoke and particles generated during the roasting operation. This top opening also allows for the introduction of the beans to be roasted and the removal of the roasted beans at the end of the roasting operation. For this last operation, the roasting chamber is removable from the housing of the device.

[0017] The device includes an air driver configured to propel air into the roasting chamber through the bottom opening of the chamber. Normally, this air driver is a blower or a fan designed to blow the air upward into the roasting chamber.

[0018] The device includes a heater disposed below the bottom opening of the chamber and configured to heat the air before it is introduced into the roasting chamber. Preferably, the heater is an electric heater.

[0019] The air driver and the electric heater are disposed within the housing of the device. The housing includes a hot air outlet hole designed to allow the hot air generated within the housing to pass through to the bottom opening of the chamber.

[0020] As described above, the roasting chamber is removably attached to the housing. When the roasting chamber is attached to the housing, the bottom opening of the roasting chamber is in communication with the hot air outlet hole of the housing.

[0021] Generally, the heater is arranged directly below the hot air outlet hole of the housing in order to limit heat loss during the transfer of hot air from the heater to the roasting chamber. This position of the heater also provides good temperature regulation during the roasting process in the roasting chamber. In fact, any temperature change of the heater directly affects the temperature inside the roasting chamber.

[0022] The apparatus comprises a smoke and particle collection unit configured to collect the smoke and particles generated during the roasting operation. The particles are typically coffee chaff that can be separated from the smoke in a cyclone device downstream of the collector. The smoke can be processed by a further smoke treatment unit to remove any air pollutants.

[0023] In addition, the apparatus comprises a chamber lock assembly configured to removably lock the chamber within the roasting apparatus, in particular configured to attach the bottom opening of the chamber to the hot air outlet hole of the housing and the top opening of the chamber to the smoke and particle collection unit housing.

[0024] First, this chamber lock assembly comprises a bottom device for connecting the bottom opening of the chamber to the hot air outlet hole of the housing. This bottom device is configured to receive the bottom of the chamber and hold the chamber by itself. Thus, when the chamber is introduced into the roasting apparatus, first the bottom of the chamber is connected to the housing by the bottom device. The operator can place the chamber in the apparatus and leave the chamber as it is for a short time until the installation work is completed.

[0025] Preferably, the bottom device is configured to fix the chamber in a vertical position within the roasting apparatus. As a result, when the upper part of the chamber is attached as described below in the second step, there is no risk of the bottom of the chamber moving and wearing. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom device can be jaws or clamps that firmly hold the bottom of the chamber without gaps.

[0026] The jaw can be designed to guide the movement of the operator and slide the bottom of the chamber to the center of the jaw when the operator holds the chamber and presses it into the jaw. The jaws are spring-loaded to firmly hold the bottom of the chamber in their rest positions.

[0027] Second, this chamber lock assembly includes a top mounting device for connecting the top opening of the chamber to the smoke and particle collection section.

[0028] This top mounting device a first part for guiding smoke and particles from the top opening to the collection section during the roasting operation, a second part for holding the first part and arranging the first part at three different positions according to the operation, and at least includes.

[0029] This operation insertion or removal of the chamber inside, or insertion into the roasting device or removal from the roasting device can be. The chamber can be removed from the housing for cleaning, filling and removing coffee beans, and then fixed to the housing for the roasting operation. Or, the roasting operation, or, cleaning operation of the top mounting device.

[0030] The first part is a translatable connecting conduit configured to connect the top opening of the chamber to the smoke and particle collection section. The lower end of this conduit is designed to cooperate with the top of the chamber, so that when the conduit and the chamber move relative to each other, a connection without gaps can be established.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the top of the roasting chamber is provided with a flange, the bottom end of the translatable connecting conduit is provided with a guide rail designed to cooperate with the flange.

[0032] Thus, when the roasting chamber is introduced into the roasting apparatus, while the bottom of the chamber is connected to the bottom device of the locking assembly, the flange at the top of the chamber slides within the guide rail of the connecting conduit of the same locking assembly described above.

[0033] The translation movement of the conduit is usually vertical.

[0034] The translation movement does not include the rotation of the conduit itself, such as a screwing movement. As a result, this translation movement ensures good alignment with the connecting conduit at the top opening of the chamber and provides good sealing of the above connection during the roasting operation.

[0035] The second part of the top mounting device is a fixed holding device. By "fixed" it means that this holding device remains attached to the housing during the normal operation of the roasting apparatus (roasting, removal and introduction of the roasting chamber, cleaning operation of the top mounting device). This fixed holding device is configured to hold the translatable connecting conduit in at least three positions.

[0036] The holding device can remain attached to the housing and hold three different positions.

[0037] In the first upper position of the fixed holding device, the translatable connecting conduit is held by the fixed holding device and is separated from the top opening of the chamber. In this first position, the chamber can be removed from the roasting apparatus or introduced into the roasting apparatus.

[0038] The fixed holding device can move from this first position to a second intermediate position where it moves downward without rotating until the connecting conduit held by the fixed holding device is connected to the top opening of the chamber. At this second position, the chamber is connected to the conduit without a gap, and since the conduit connects the top opening of the chamber to the dust and smoke collection part without a gap, roasting can be performed.

[0039] In the third lower position of the fixed holding device, the fixed holding device no longer holds the translatable connecting conduit. The conduit is separated from the fixed holding device and the apparatus and can be cleaned. Here, the operator can easily clean and maintain these two disassembled parts of the top mounting device.

[0040] Preferably, the top mounting device includes an operating device such as a lever for initiating the movement of the top mounting device, specifically the movement of the fixed holding device at three positions. This device facilitates the movement of the operator.

[0041] The above aspects of the present invention can be combined in any suitable combination. Furthermore, by combining the various features herein with one or more of the above aspects, combinations other than those specifically illustrated and described can be provided. Further objects and advantageous features of the present invention will become apparent from the "claims", "mode for carrying out the invention", and the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0042] The features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood in connection with the following figures.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5A

Figure 5B

Figure 6A

Figure 6B

Figure 7A

Figure 7B

Figure 7C

Figure 8A

Figure 8B

Figure 8C

Figure 9A

Figure 9B

Figure 9C

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0043] FIG. 2 is a side view of a roasting apparatus 10 according to the present invention. The apparatus includes a housing 4 in which an air driver 2 and an air heater 3 are arranged. The air driver 2 is a fan that propels air upward to the heater 3 and then to an air outlet hole 41 inside the chamber indicated by the dotted line.

[0044] The heater can heat the air flow to a temperature of 100 to 300°C.

[0045] The roasting device comprises a roasting chamber 1 designed to hold coffee beans and generate a fluidized bed of air from the hot air flow introduced through the bottom opening 11. The bottom opening 11 comprises a grid for holding coffee beans (not shown). When the chamber is attached to the housing, the bottom of the chamber is connected to the air outlet hole 41.

[0046] Normally, at least the top of the chamber has a cylindrical shape, and preferably, the top opening comprises a flange extending radially from the upper edge.

[0047] The top opening 12 of the chamber is connected to a smoke and particle collection unit 6 configured to collect smoke and particles from the top opening 12 of the roasting chamber.

[0048] The chamber is removably locked within the device by a chamber lock assembly 5. This assembly 5 comprises a bottom device 51 for connecting the bottom opening 11 of the chamber to the hot air outlet hole 41 of the housing, and a top mounting device 52 for connecting the top opening 12 of the chamber to the smoke and particle collection unit 6.

[0049] The chamber 1 is removable from the housing 4 as shown in Figure 3. The chamber 1 can be removed from the roasting device 10 and set aside for either loading or removing coffee beans, or for cleaning and maintenance.

[0050] Figure 3 shows the bottom device 51 of the chamber lock assembly, and Figure 4 provides an enlarged view of the above bottom view. In this embodiment, the bottom device 51 is a jaw that can open to receive the bottom 11 of the chamber and can clamp it after the bottom is accurately positioned over the air outlet 41. Each part 511a, 511b of the jaw can move away from each other, and in particular, as shown by the arrow A in Figure 4, when the bottom 11 of the roasting chamber is slid horizontally to the center of the jaw, it is spring-loaded to move away from the edge of the air outlet 41. The front edge 5111 of each jaw is preferably designed such that the jaw can open when the bottom of the chamber is pushed along these edges in the direction A as shown by the white arrow in Figure 4.

[0051] Each of the jaws is spring-loaded such that when the bottom of the chamber moves away and is positioned above the air outlet 41 passing through the edges of the jaws, the jaws return to hold the bottom of the chamber without a gap.

[0052] The force applied by the spring is such that when the roasting operation is completed, the operator can easily remove the chamber from the jaws.

[0053] Thus, this bottom device 51 holds the chamber by itself. The operator can place the chamber in the device and leave the chamber as it is for a short while until the attachment operation at the top is completed.

[0054] Furthermore, the bottom device 51 is configured to fix the chamber in a vertical position within the roasting device. Thus, when the top of the chamber is attached as described below in the second step, there is no risk that the bottom of the chamber is held obliquely or moves, and there is no gap in the connection between the bottom of the chamber and the air outlet of the housing.

[0055] In the second step, the top of the chamber is attached such that the entire chamber moves slightly vertically downward, and an airtight connection is established between the air outlet 41 and the bottom opening of the chamber.

[0056] Figures 5A and 5B are side views of the roasting apparatus with the chamber 1 held inside the roasting apparatus 10 in two different situations. Figures 6A and 6B are corresponding vertical cross-sectional views of the chamber and the chamber lock assembly.

[0057] In Figures 5B and 6B, the top 12 of the chamber is locked by the top mounting device 52 of the chamber lock assembly. The operator cannot remove the chamber 1 from the apparatus, and the chamber is ready for the roasting operation.

[0058] In Figures 5A and 6A, the top 12 of the chamber is not locked by the top mounting device 52 of the chamber lock assembly. The operator can remove the chamber 1 from the apparatus simply by pulling out the chamber 1 with the handle.

[0059] Figures 5B and 6B show the smoke and particle collection part 6 connected to the top opening 12 of the chamber through a connecting conduit 521 extending from the top 1b of the chamber to the collection part 6. The collection part propels the smoke and chaff, and for the chaff, to capture it (preferably a cyclone), preferably to a smoke filter (not shown).

[0060] The connecting conduit 521 is movable, and in particular, it can move vertically in parallel between the two positions shown in Figures 6A and 6B.

[0061] In Figure 6A, the connecting conduit 521 is arranged in its first upper position and is arranged at a sufficient distance from the bottom device 51 of the chamber lock assembly, enabling the operator to introduce the chamber into the roasting apparatus by sliding the flange 14 at the top 1b of the chamber inside the lower guide rail 5211 of the connecting conduit 521 and simultaneously sliding the bottom 1a of the chamber inside the jaws 51. This movement is a simple essentially horizontal parallel movement. There is no rotation that would involve the risk of misalignment of the chamber.

[0062] In FIG. 6B, after the connecting conduit 521 has been moved downward following a direct vertical translation without any rotation, it is positioned at its second intermediate position, where the connecting conduit 521 presses against the top 1b of the chamber (arrow B1) and automatically also pushes the chamber 1 downward (arrow B2). As a result, the bottom 1a of the chamber is pressed against the edge of the housing surrounding the air outlet 41 again, and a connection without a gap between the bottom 1a of the chamber and the air outlet 41 is obtained. To improve the airtightness, usually, a gasket or seal is present between these two parts.

[0063] FIGS. 7A and 7B are side views of the translatable connecting conduit 521 in the first upper position and the second intermediate position, respectively, as described in FIGS. 5A, 6A and FIGS. 5B, 6B. FIG. 7C is a side view of the translatable connecting conduit 521 in the third lower position. In this position, the connecting conduit 521 is completely removed from the fixed holding device 522. It can be held by an operator who can clean it completely outside the roasting device, for example, on a work table. At the same time, the fixed holding device 522 of the fixed chamber support becomes completely accessible. This is convenient for the operator and the operation is performed more efficiently than in prior art devices.

[0064] The position of the translatable connecting conduit 521 is controlled by the operating device 523, here a lever that generates a locking movement of the means 5223 holding the translatable connecting conduit 521, as shown in FIGS. 8A - 8C (and corresponding to FIGS. 7A - 7C, respectively). The path of this locking movement of the holding means 5223 extends between two ends, one end where the frame 5224 of the fixed holding device holds the translatable connecting conduit 521 (and corresponds to the first upper position of the translatable connecting conduit 521), and the other end where the frame 5224 of the fixed holding device releases the translatable connecting conduit 521 (and corresponds to the third position of the translatable connecting conduit 521). Between the two ends, the frame 5224 of the fixed holding device holds the translatable connecting conduit 521 in an intermediate position.

[0065] As shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C and corresponding FIGS. 9A to 9C, the holding means 5223 is provided with slots 5221 designed to engage with the holding pins 5212 of the translatable connection conduit. The slots are designed to hold the pins and slide the pins in accordance with the locking movement of the holding means 5223.

[0066] The spring 5222 is provided to compensate for any small variations in the height of the removable chamber below the translatable connection conduit. In practice, due to small differences during the manufacture of the chamber, differences up to 2 or 3 mm can be measured between the heights of the two chambers. This variation is compensated by a spring that allows the bottom edge of the translatable connection conduit to reach the upper edge of the chamber, regardless of the exact height of the chamber.

[0067] The spring also provides soft feedback to the operator during the movement of the top device of the chamber lock assembly.

Explanation of Signs

[0068] 10 Roasting device 1 Roasting chamber 1a Bottom 1b Top 11 Bottom opening 12 Top opening 13 Handle 14 Flange 2 Air driver 3 Heater 4 Housing 41 Air outlet hole 43 Vertical housing part 5 Chamber lock assembly 51 Bottom device 511a, 511b Jaws 5111 Edge 52 Top device 521 Translatable connection conduit 5211 Guide rail 5212 Holding pin 522 Fixed Retaining Device 5221 Slot 5222 Spring 5223 Retaining Means 5224 Frame 523 Operating Device 6 Smoke and Particle Collection Section

Claims

1. An apparatus (10) for roasting coffee beans, comprising: a housing (4); a roasting chamber (1) having a bottom opening (11) and a top opening (12); an air driver (2) configured to propel air into the roasting chamber through the bottom opening of the chamber; a heater (3) disposed below the bottom opening of the chamber and configured to heat the air propelled into the roasting chamber; a smoke and particle collection unit (6) configured to collect smoke and particles from the top opening (12) of the roasting chamber; a chamber lock assembly (5) for removably locking the roasting chamber to the housing, wherein the air driver and the heater are disposed within the housing (4), and the housing is provided with a hot air outlet hole (41) designed to allow hot air to pass from the housing into the bottom opening (11) of the chamber; wherein the roasting chamber (1) is removably attached to the housing (4), and when the roasting chamber is attached to the housing, the bottom opening (11) of the roasting chamber is in communication with the hot air outlet hole (41) of the housing, and the top opening (12) of the roasting chamber is in communication with the smoke and particle collection unit (6); wherein the chamber lock assembly (5) comprises: a bottom device (51) for connecting the bottom opening (11) of the chamber to the hot air outlet hole (41) of the housing, the bottom device (51) being configured to receive the bottom (1a) of the chamber and hold the chamber; a top mounting device (52) for connecting the top opening (12) of the chamber to the smoke and particle collection unit (6); wherein the top mounting device (52) is: A translatable connection conduit (521) configured to connect the top opening (12) of the chamber to the smoke and particle collection unit (6), which is translatable without rotation, and a translatable connection conduit (521). A fixed holding device (522) configured to hold the translatable connection conduit (521) at at least three positions, where the at least three positions are One first upper position where the translatable connection conduit (521) is held by the fixed holding device (522) and separated from the top (1b) of the chamber, One second intermediate position where the translatable connection conduit (521) is connected to the top (1b) of the chamber, A fixed holding device (522), which is one third lower position where the translatable connection conduit (521) is removed from the fixed holding device (522). Including Device (10).

2. The device (10) for roasting coffee beans according to claim 1, wherein the bottom device (51) is configured to fix the chamber (1) in a vertical position.

3. The device (10) for roasting coffee beans according to claim 2, wherein the bottom device (51) is a jaw or a clamp.

4. The top (1b) of the roasting chamber is provided with a flange (14), The bottom end of the translatable connection conduit is provided with a guide rail (5211) designed to cooperate with the flange (14). The device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

Images