TOASTER APPLIANCE.

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus (10) for roasting coffee beans comprising: - a housing (4), - a roasting chamber (1) having a lower opening (11) and an upper opening (12), - a smoke and particle collector (6) configured to collect smoke and particles from the upper opening (12) of the roasting chamber, - the roasting chamber (1) is removably mounted in the housing (4), the lower opening (11) of the roasting chamber cooperates with a hot air outlet (41) of the housing and the upper opening (12) of the roasting chamber cooperates with the smoke and particle collector (6) when the roasting chamber is mounted in the housing, - a chamber fixing unit (5) for removably fixing the roasting chamber to the housing,wherein said camera fixing unit (5) comprises: · a lower device (51) for connecting the lower opening (11) of the camera to the hot air outlet (41) of the housing, said lower device being configured to receive the lower part (1a) of the camera and hold the camera, · an upper clamping device (52) for connecting the upper opening (12) of the camera to the smoke and particle collector (6).

Description

TOASTER APPLIANCE FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for roasting coffee beans with hot air and is particularly suitable for use at home or in shops and cafes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Small-scale coffee roasting, whether done at home or in shops and cafes, is usually done with small appliances where the coffee beans are agitated in hot air. One type of appliance uses fluidized bed technology, which employs a hot air fluidized bed chamber. Inside this chamber, hot air is forced through a screen or perforated plate beneath the coffee beans with enough force to lift them. Heat is then transferred to the beans as they rotate and circulate within this fluidized bed. Most roasters that implement fluidized bed technology share the same configuration of key components: the roasting chamber, the heater, and the air blower. Typically, these components are stacked vertically, with the air blower at the bottom, the heater above it, and the roasting chamber above the heater. Hot air is dispensed through the bottom opening of the chamber. Additionally, the appliance usually includes a fume collector to gather the dust and smoke produced during roasting for further treatment. This fume collector is commonly sealed to the top of the roasting chamber. Preferably, in these roasters, the hot air fluidized bed chamber can be completely removed from the appliance to introduce and remove the beans and to clean the chamber and the roaster. After these operations and when the camera is placed back inside the appliance, it is important to tightly connect the bottom and top of the camera to the appliance housing for efficient roasting and for obvious safety reasons. Usually, for the connection of the lower part, the apparatus comprises an orifice in the housing of the apparatus for dispensing hot air and to which the lower opening of the chamber is connected as described below. The connection to the upper part of the camera can be established by means of an upper camera fixing device to securely fix the camera to the apparatus. This device usually consists simply of a camera clamping mechanism that operates as illustrated in Figure 1. This clamping mechanism 7 comprises a vertically movable tube with means for connecting to the upper opening of the camera. When the camera is to be inserted into the housing, while holding the camera handle, the operator slides the upper flange of the camera on upper horizontal straight rails extending from the bottom of the movable tube of the clamping mechanism and pushes the camera back until it stops, ensuring that the lower opening of the camera engages with the corresponding lower opening in the housing (as illustrated by arrow A).Then, in addition to the rotation of lever 515, the tube moves downward to secure the camera in the apparatus (as illustrated by arrow B) between the hole at the bottom and the hole at the top, simultaneously sealing the bottom and top sections. This translation results from the rotation of lever 515, which moves the movable tube downward. This camera connection operation presents two problems. First, it has been observed that once the operator inserts the upper part of the chamber into the clamping mechanism and the chamber moves down to establish the connection, the chamber is not always perfectly centered, and the orientation of the chamber axis is not always exactly vertical. As a result, when the upper clamp moves the chamber down to finalize the connection, the misalignment creates significant pressure on certain parts of the lower outlet and the lower opening of the chamber. Over time, these parts become misaligned, which is no longer achievable, thus affecting the roasting of the beans. Secondly, to allow for smooth movement of the clamping mechanism, the clamping mechanism and specifically its threaded parts must be lubricated regularly. However, due to the high temperature of the toaster, the grease melts and drips, forcing the operator to repeat the lubrication process frequently. Furthermore, dust accumulation on the lubricated parts and cleaning of the clamping mechanism are often necessary. These lubrication and cleaning operations are not very convenient because access to the threaded parts of the clamping mechanism is limited. An object of the present invention is to provide a toaster apparatus with an improved fixing unit for the toasting chamber. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect of the invention, an apparatus for roasting coffee beans is provided, comprising: a housing, a roasting chamber having a lower opening and an upper opening, an air blower configured to force air into the roasting chamber through the lower opening of said chamber, a heater positioned below the lower opening of the chamber, said heater configured to heat the air forced into the roasting chamber, the air blower and the heater being positioned within the housing and the housing comprising a hot air outlet designed to allow the passage of hot air from the housing into the lower opening of the chamber, a smoke and particle collector configured to collect smoke and particles from the upper opening of the roasting chamber, the roasting chamber being removably mounted in the housing,The lower opening of the roasting chamber cooperates with the hot air outlet of the housing and the upper opening of the roasting chamber cooperates with the smoke and particle collector when the roasting chamber is mounted in the housing, a chamber fixing unit for fixing the roasting chamber to the housing in a removable manner, wherein said chamber fixing unit comprises: a chamber fixing unit for attaching the roasting chamber to the housing in a removable manner, wherein said chamber fixing unit comprises: • a lower device for connecting the lower opening of the chamber to the hot air outlet of the housing, said lower device being configured to receive the lower opening of the chamber and hold the chamber, • an upper clamping device for connecting the upper opening of the chamber to the smoke and particle collector, said upper clamping device comprising: * a movable connecting conduit configured to connect the upper opening of the chamber to the smoke and particle collector, said connecting conduit being movable without rotating, * a fixed clamping device configured to clamp the movable connecting conduit in at least three positions: a first upper position where the movable connection conduit is held by the fixed clamping device and disconnected from the top of the chamber, a second intermediate position where the movable connection conduit is connected to the top of the chamber, a third lower position where the movable connection conduit is separated from the fixed clamping device. The roasting apparatus comprises a roasting chamber having a lower opening and an upper opening. This roasting chamber is designed to allow the production of a fluidized bed of hot air when hot air is introduced through the lower opening. Usually, the central and upper part of the chamber is cylindrical. Generally, the lower opening comprises a grid to contain the grains inside the chamber while allowing hot air to pass through it. The top opening allows for the evacuation of smoke and particles generated during the roasting process. This opening also allows for the introduction of beans for roasting and the removal of roasted beans at the end of the roasting process. For these latter operations, the roasting chamber can be removed from the appliance housing. The apparatus comprises an air impeller configured to force air into the roasting chamber through the lower opening of said chamber. Usually, this air impeller is an air blower or a fan designed to blow air upwards into the roasting chamber. The device comprises a heater positioned below the lower opening of the chamber and configured to heat air before introducing it into the roasting chamber. Preferably, this heater is an electric heater. The air blower and electric heater are positioned inside the appliance housing. The housing includes a hot air outlet designed to allow the passage of hot air generated inside the housing to the lower opening of the chamber. As mentioned previously, the roasting chamber is removable and mounted in the housing. When the roasting chamber is mounted in the housing, its lower opening aligns with the hot air outlet hole in the housing. The heater is typically positioned directly below the hot air outlet of the housing to minimize heat loss as hot air moves from the heater to the roasting chamber. This position also ensures good temperature regulation during the roasting process within the chamber: any change in the heater's temperature directly affects the temperature inside the roasting chamber. The apparatus comprises a smoke and particle collector configured to collect the smoke and particles produced during the roasting operation. The particles are usually coffee husks, which can be separated from the smoke within a cyclone separator downstream of the collector. The fumes can be treated by an additional smoke treatment unit to remove any airborne contaminants. Furthermore, the apparatus comprises a chamber fixing unit configured to fix the chamber within the toaster apparatus for a removable toasting operation, in particular configured to attach the lower opening of the chamber to the hot air outlet hole of the housing and to attach the upper opening of the chamber to the smoke and particle collector housing. First, this camera clamping unit comprises a lower device for connecting the bottom opening of the camera to the hot air outlet of the housing. This lower device is configured to receive the bottom of the camera and hold it securely in place. Consequently, when the camera is inserted into the toaster, the bottom of the camera is the first part to connect to the housing via the lower device. The operator can then place the camera inside the appliance and leave it there briefly before completing the clamping process. Preferably, the lower device is configured to immobilize the chamber in a vertical position within the toaster. Consequently, when the upper part of the chamber is secured in a second stage as described below, there is no risk of the lower part of the chamber moving and becoming damaged. In preferred embodiments, the lower device may be clamps or a clamp that securely and tightly hold the lower part of the chamber. The jaws can be designed to guide the operator's movement and allow the bottom of the camera to slide into the middle of the jaws as the operator holds and pushes the camera into the jaws. The jaws are spring-loaded to firmly hold the bottom of the camera in its resting position. Secondly, this camera fixing unit comprises a top clamping device for connecting the top opening of the camera to the smoke and particle collector. This upper fastening device comprises at least: a first part to guide the smoke and particles from the top opening to the collector during the roasting operation, and a second part to hold said first part and position said first part in three different positions depending on the operation. This operation can be: The insertion, or removal, of the chamber into, or from, the roasting apparatus. The chamber can be removed from the housing for cleaning, filling, and emptying the coffee beans, and then it can be secured to the housing for the roasting operation. or the toasting operation, or the cleaning operation of the upper clamping device. The first part is a movable connecting duct configured to connect the upper opening of the chamber to the smoke and particle collector. The lower end of this duct is designed to cooperate with the upper part of the chamber so that when the duct and chamber move relative to each other, an airtight seal is established. In a preferred mode: The top of the roasting chamber comprises a flange, and the lower end of the movable connecting conduit comprises a guide rail designed to cooperate with said flange. Consequently, when the toasting chamber is inserted into the toaster appliance, while the lower part of the chamber connects to the lower device of the fixing unit, the tab on the top of the chamber slides into the guide rail of the connecting duct of said fixing unit. The translation of the duct is usually vertical. The translation does not involve any rotation of the conduit on its own axis, as in a threading motion. Consequently, this translation ensures proper alignment of the upper chamber opening with the connecting conduit and provides a good seal of said connection during the roasting operation. The second part of the upper clamping device is a fixed clamping device. By fixed, we mean that this clamping device remains attached to the housing during normal operation of the roaster as described above (roasting, removal and insertion of the roasting chamber, and cleaning of the upper clamping device). This fixed clamping device is configured to hold the movable connecting conduit in at least three positions. While attached to the housing, the clamping device can maintain three different positions. In the first upper position of the fixed clamping device, the movable connecting conduit is secured by the fixed clamping device and disconnected from the upper opening of the chamber. In this first position, the chamber can be pulled out of or inserted into the toaster. From this first position, the fixed clamping device can move to a second intermediate position where the connecting duct, held by the fixed clamping device, moves downwards without rotating until it connects to the upper opening of the chamber. In this second position, the chamber is hermetically sealed to the duct, and roasting can be operated since the duct hermetically connects the upper opening of the chamber to the dust and smoke collector. In the third lowest position of the fixed clamping device, the fixed clamping device no longer secures the movable connecting conduit. The conduit detaches from the fixed clamping device and the appliance and can be cleaned. Here, the operator can easily clean and maintain these two parts, which are detached from the upper clamping device. Preferably, the upper clamping device includes a control device, such as a lever, for actuating the movement of the upper clamping device, in particular the movement of the fixed clamping device in its three positions. This device facilitates the operator's movement. The foregoing aspects of the invention can be combined in any suitable combination. Furthermore, various features described herein can be combined with one or more of the foregoing aspects to provide combinations other than those specifically illustrated and described. Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the detailed description, and the accompanying figures. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The features and advantages of the invention will be better understood in relation to the following figures: - Figure 1 is a schematic view of a toaster apparatus according to the state of the art and discussed in the previous paragraph, Background of the invention, - Figure 2 illustrates a side view of a toaster apparatus according to the invention with the toasting chamber mounted on the apparatus, - Figure 3 is a perspective view of the toaster appliance, the camera removed from it, and Figure 4 is an enlarged view of Figure 3 illustrating the lower device of the camera fixing unit, - Figures 5A and 5B are side views of the toaster appliance with camera 1 held inside, - Figures 6A and 6B are vertical cross-sectional views of the upper left quarter of Figures 5A and 5B respectively, - Figures 7A, 7B and 7C are side views of the upper clamping device in each of the three positions, - Figures 8A, 8B and 8C are perspective views that correspond to Figures 7A, 7B and 7C, - Figures 9A, 9B and 9C are vertical cross-section views corresponding to Figures 7A, 7B and 7C. Figure 2 is a side view of a toaster apparatus 10 according to the invention. The apparatus comprises a housing 4 in which an air impeller 2 and an air heater 3 are positioned. The air impeller 2 is a fan that directs air upwards to the heater 3 and then to an air outlet 41 within the chamber, as illustrated by dashed lines. The heater can heat the airflow to a temperature between 100 and 300 °C. The roasting apparatus comprises a roasting chamber 1 designed to hold coffee beans and create a fluidized bed of air from the flow of hot air introduced through its open bottom portion 11. The bottom opening 11 comprises a grid for retaining coffee beans (not illustrated). When the chamber is mounted in the housing, the bottom of the chamber connects to the air outlet 41. Usually, at least the upper part of the camera has a cylindrical shape, and preferably the upper opening comprises a flange that extends radially from the upper edge. The top opening 12 of the chamber connects to a smoke and particle collector 6 configured to collect smoke and particles from the top opening 12 of the roasting chamber. The camera is attached to the device by means of a removable camera mounting unit 5. This unit 5 comprises: a lower device 51 for connecting the lower opening 11 of the chamber to the hot air outlet hole 41 of the housing, and an upper clamping device 52 for connecting the upper opening 12 of the chamber to the smoke and particle collector 6. Chamber 1 can be removed from housing 4 as illustrated in Figure 3. Chamber 1 can be placed apart from the roasting apparatus 10 either for the introduction or removal of coffee beans or for cleaning and maintenance. Figure 3 illustrates the lower device 51 of the chamber clamping unit, and Figure 4 provides an enlarged view of this lower device. In this embodiment, the lower device 51 consists of jaws capable of opening to receive the lower chamber portion 11 and clamp it once the lower chamber portion is correctly positioned above the air outlet 41. Each jaw portion 511a, 511b is spring-loaded and capable of moving away from the edge of the air outlet 41, particularly when the lower chamber portion 11 slides horizontally into the middle of the jaws, as illustrated by arrow A in Figure 4. The leading edge 5111 of each jaw is preferably designed to allow the jaws to open when the lower chamber portion pushes these edges along direction A, as illustrated by the white arrows in Figure 4. Each of the jaws is spring-loaded so that once the bottom of the chamber has moved in the opposite direction and passed the edges of the jaws and is positioned above the air outlet 41, then the jaws move back and tightly clamp the bottom of the chamber. The force exerted by the springs is such that it allows easy removal of the chamber from the jaws by the operator when the roasting operation is finished. Consequently, this lower device 51 holds the camera on its own. The operator can place the camera inside the device and leave it there for a moment before completing the clamping operation at the top. Furthermore, the lower device 51 is configured to immobilize the chamber in a vertical position within the toaster. Consequently, when the upper part of the chamber is secured in a second stage as described below, there is no risk of the lower part of the chamber becoming stuck or moving obliquely, and the connection between the lower part of the chamber and the air outlet of the housing being compromised. During the second stage the top of the chamber is held, the entire chamber is moved slightly vertically downwards and an airtight connection is established between the air outlet 41 and the lower opening of the chamber. Figures 5A and 5B are side views of the toaster apparatus with camera 1 held inside the toaster apparatus 10 in two different configurations. Figures 6A and 6B are corresponding vertical cross-sections of the camera and camera mounting unit. In Figures 5B and 6B, the upper part 12 of the chamber is secured by the upper clamping device 52 of the chamber clamping unit. The operator cannot remove the chamber 1 from the apparatus, and the chamber is ready for a toasting operation. In Figures 5A and 6A, the upper part 12 of the camera is not secured by the upper clamping device 52 of the camera mounting unit. The operator can remove the camera 1 from the apparatus simply by pulling it out with the handle. Figures 5B and 6B show the smoke and particle collector 6 which connects to the upper opening 12 of the chamber through a connecting duct 521 extending from the top 1b of the chamber to the collector 6. The collector propels the smoke and husks towards a husk trap (preferably a cyclone) and preferably towards a smoke filter (not illustrated). The connecting conduit 521 can be moved and in particular moved up and down between the two positions illustrated in Figures 6A and 6B. In Figure 6A, the connecting conduit 521 is positioned in its first upper position: it is positioned at a sufficient distance from the lower device 51 of the camera clamping unit to allow an operator to insert the camera into the toaster by sliding tab 14 on the upper part 1b of the camera into a guide rail 5211 on the lower part of the connecting conduit 521 and simultaneously sliding the lower part 1a of the camera into the jaws 51. The movement is a simple, essentially horizontal translation. No rotation occurs that could lead to misalignment of the camera. In Figure 6B, the connecting duct 521 is positioned in its second intermediate position, having moved downwards in a direct vertical translation without any rotation. This connecting duct 521 presses against the upper part 1b of the chamber (arrow B1), automatically pushing the chamber 1 downwards as well (arrow B2). As a result, the lower part 1a of the chamber again presses against the edge of the housing surrounding the air outlet 41, creating a tight seal between the lower part 1a of the chamber and the air outlet 41. A gasket or seal is usually present between these two parts to improve the seal. Figures 7A and 7B are side views of the movable connecting conduit 521 in the first upper and second intermediate positions, as described in Figures 5A and 6A and Figures 5B and 6B, respectively. Figure 7C is a side view of the movable connecting conduit 521 in the third lower position. In this position, the connecting conduit 521 is completely detached from the fixed clamping device 522 and can be held by the operator, who can then clean it thoroughly outside the toaster, for example, on a workbench. Simultaneously, the fixed clamping device 522 of the fixed chamber support becomes fully accessible. This is convenient for the operator, and the operation is carried out more efficiently than with prior art devices. The position of the movable connecting conduit 521 is controlled by the operating device 523, herein a lever whose movement creates an oscillating motion of the means 5223 that holds the movable connecting conduit 521, as illustrated in Figures 8A to 8C (and corresponding respectively to Figures 7A to 7C). The range of the oscillating motion of this holding means 5223 extends between two extremes: one extreme where the frame 5224 of the fixed holding device holds the movable connecting conduit 521 (corresponding to the first upper position of the movable connecting conduit 521), and another extreme where the frame 5224 of the fixed holding device releases the movable connecting conduit 521 (corresponding to the third position of the movable connecting conduit 521). Between the two extremes, the frame 5224 of the fixed holding device holds the movable connecting conduit 521 in the intermediate position. As illustrated in Figures 8A to 8C and the corresponding Figures 9A to 9C, the clamping means 5223 is provided with grooves 5221 designed to engage with the retaining pins 5212 of the movable connecting conduit. The grooves are designed to retain the pins and allow them to slide in accordance with the oscillating motion of the clamping means 5223. The 5222 springs are provided to compensate for any minor variations in the height of the removable chamber below the movable connecting conduit. In fact, due to slight variations during chamber manufacturing, a difference of up to 2 or 3 mm between the heights of two chambers can be measured. This variation is compensated for by the springs, which allow the lower edge of the movable connecting conduit to reach the upper edge of the chamber, regardless of the exact chamber height. The springs also provide smooth feedback to the operator during movement of the upper device of the camera mounting unit. List of references in the figures: Toaster appliance 10 Toasting chamber 1 Bottom part 1a Top part 1b Bottom opening 11 Top opening 12 Handle 13 Tab 14 Air impeller 2 Heater 3 Housing 4 Air outlet hole 41 Vertical housing part 43 Chamber fixing unit 5 Bottom device 51 Jaws 511a, 511b Rim 5111 Top device 52 Movable connecting duct 521 Guide rail 5211 Retaining pin 5212 Fixed clamping device 522 Groove 5221 Springs 5222 Clamping means 5223 Frame 5224 Operating device 523 Smoke and particle collector 6

Claims

1. Apparatus (10) for roasting coffee beans comprising: a housing (4), a roasting chamber (1) having a lower opening (11) and an upper opening (12), an air blower (2) configured to blow air into the roasting chamber through the lower opening of the chamber, a heater (3) positioned below the lower opening of the chamber, the heater being configured to heat the blown air into the roasting chamber, the air blower and the heater being positioned within the housing (4) and the housing comprising a hot air outlet (41) designed to allow the passage of hot air from the housing into the lower opening (11) of the chamber, a smoke and particle collector (6) configured to collect smoke and particles from the upper opening (12) of the roasting chamber, the roasting chamber (1) being removably mounted in the housing (4),The lower opening (11) of the roasting chamber cooperates with the hot air outlet (41) of the housing and the upper opening (12) of the roasting chamber cooperates with the smoke and particle collector (6) when the roasting chamber is mounted in the housing, a chamber fixing unit (5) for fixing the roasting chamber to the housing in a removable manner, characterized in that the chamber fixing unit (5) comprises: • a lower device (51) for connecting the lower opening (11) of the chamber to the hot air outlet (41) of the housing, the lower device being configured to receive the lower part (1a) of the chamber and hold the chamber, • an upper clamping device (52) for connecting the upper opening (12) of the chamber to the smoke and particle collector (6),The upper clamping device comprises: * a movable connecting conduit (521) configured to connect the upper opening (12) of the chamber to the smoke and particle collector (6), the connecting conduit being movable without rotating, * a fixed clamping device (522) configured to clamp the movable connecting conduit (521) in at least three positions: a first upper position where the movable connecting conduit (521) is clamped by the fixed clamping device (522) and disconnected from the upper part (1b) of the chamber, a second intermediate position where the movable connecting conduit (521) is connected to the upper part (1b) of the chamber, a third lower position where the movable connecting conduit (521) is separated from the fixed clamping device (522).

2. Apparatus (10) for roasting coffee beans according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lower device (51) is configured to immobilize the chamber (1) in a vertical position.

3. Apparatus (10) for roasting coffee beans according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lower device (51) is jaws or a clamp.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 10, characterized in that: the upper part (1b) of the roasting chamber comprises a flange (14), and the lower end of the movable connecting conduit comprises a guide rail (5211) designed to cooperate with the flange (14).

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