Device for processing surplus bakery products
Patent Information
- Application Number
- NL2038915
- Authority / Receiving Office
- NL · NL
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-26
- Estimated Expiration
- 2044-10-23
AI Technical Summary
Industrial bakeries face challenges in accurately predicting day-to-day demand for day-fresh bakery products, leading to overproduction and inefficiencies in recycling surplus products, which are typically down-cycled as livestock feed due to stricter recycling regulations. The fermentation process for recycling stale bread into fresh dough is complicated by the need for a hydration step and energy-intensive drying, limiting the percentage of leftovers that can be recycled.
A device with a controlled environment for fermentation that processes surplus bakery products into a granular or powdery substance, using electrical heating members for precise temperature control, humidity sensors for moisture management, and a controller to optimize conditions, allowing fermentation without hydration and improving energy efficiency.
Enables precise control over fermentation conditions, reducing energy consumption and enhancing the ability to recycle surplus bakery products into new dough, overcoming the limitations of traditional hydration-dependent processes.
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Abstract
Description
The present invention relates to a and a controller for said device. Bread, and similar bakery products, are typically day-fresh products that are baked on the same day as that they are sold. However, as the day-to-day demand ofthese day-fresh bakery products varies and predictions fordemand are not able to get highly accurate estimates ofthe daily demand, (industrial) bakeries, which typically supply supermarkets, tend to overproduce in order to, at leastmost ofthe times, be able to fully fulll demand. Left-overs (i.e. discarded, unsold, returned and / or surplus day-fresh bakery products), hereafter also referred to as surplus bakery products, are then typically returned to the supplying bakery and recycled (i.e. down-cycled) as feed for, for example, livestock. However, as stricter requirements with respect to recycling tend to reduce the amount ofdown-cycling that is allowed, such that recycling all left-overs as livestock feed is no longer allowed. Instead, the left-overs are to be recycled into products at the same hierarchal level (i.e. as food forhuman consumption). Recycling left-overs, using a fermentation process, in sour-dough bread is already done formany years, for instance in countries ofthe former Soviet Union. This involves a series of steps that transform stale bread into a fermented mixture, which can be incorporated into fresh dough forbaking new bread products. The recycling process typically begins by breaking down stale or dry bread into smaller fragments. The bread is then subjected to rehydration by soaking in water for several hours, ensuring complete softening ofthe dried starches and facilitating easier fermentation. Once hydrated, the bread undergoes a fermentation process.A fermentation startereither a natural sourdough culture or a commercial yeastis introduced to the mixture. The fermentation occurs over a certain period under controlled conditions, wherein the yeast and lactic acid bacteria metabolize the sugars present in the bread, generating carbon dioxide, acids, and other fermentation byproducts. Following fermentation, the resulting mixture is incorporated into new dough formulations. The fermented bread typically replaces a portion ofthe fresh our in the dough, contributing to the final products structure, moisture content, and avor. The resulting mixture that is described above is, however, a wet-mixture (i.e. slurry-like) that cannot be well preserved, such that it needs to be processed into anew dough relatively quickly. It is thereby hard to match the day-to-day production, whichmay vary, with the day-by-day fermented left-overs, which complicates, and thereby limits, the percentage ofleft-overs that are eventually recycled into new bread. To overcome this issue, the wet-mixture can be processed by means ofa drying operation into a dry- mixture that would allow it to be stored more efficiently and longer. The drying process requires, however, significant amounts oftime and energy, making it economically unviable. Fermentation devices (e.g. tanks) play a crucial role by providing a controlled environment forthe fermentation ofthe rehydrated bread mixture. These devices are specically designed to maintain optimal conditions for yeast and lactic acid bacteria to metabolize the sugars in the bread, producing gases, acids, and other fermentation byproducts that enhance the avor and texture ofthe final bread product. The design and functionality ofthese tanks are similar to those used in brewing and other fermentation-based food production processes. These tanks are, however, suitable for working with the wet-mixture that is described above. Ideally, the hydration step would be skipped. However, itwas found that the fermentation process is then very hard to precisely control, rendering it practically impossible with existing fermentation devices. It is therefore a goal ofthe present disclosure to provide for a that is able to provide for a precisely controlled environment needed for supporting a fermentation process ofthe surplus bakery products wherein less water is used in the hydration step, or that does not require a hydration step, wherein at least some ofthe above presented issues are at least partially alleviated. This goal is metby a , such as unsold bread, into a granular and / orpowdery substance for use in dough, the device comprising: - a closable holding container comprising an innervolume for receiving and holding granulated surplus bakery products, such as shredded unsold bread, - a temperature control system for controlling a temperature ofthe inner volume, wherein the temperature control system comprises at least one temperature sensor for determining a temperature of the innervolume and wherein the temperature control system comprises at least one heating and / or cooling system for adjusting the temperature ofthe inner volume, - a humidity control system for controlling a humidity ofthe innervolume, wherein the humidity control system comprises at least one humidity and / or moisture content sensor for determining a humidity ofthe innervolume and / or, when in use, a moisture content ofthe granular and / orpowdery substance held in the inner volume, - a controller for controlling the temperature control system and humidity control system, wherein said controller is arranged for varying the temperature ofthe innervolume over time according to predefined temperature settings overtime and wherein said controller is arranged for varying the humidity ofthe innervolume overtime according to predefined humidity settings overtime and / or, when in use, for varying a moisture content ofthe granular and / orpowdery substance held in the innervolume overtime according to predefined moisture content settings over time, wherein said heating and / or cooling system comprises one ormore electrical heating members that are arranged around at least a part ofthe inner volume. Typically, fermentation tanks according to the prior art are provide with a heating and / or cooling tubes that run around the circumference ofthe tank. Controlling the temperature ofthe wet-mixture, that is having a large thermal mass, inside ofthe tank requires inserting, or extracting, signicant amounts of thermal energy. Additionally, due to the large thermal mass, the response time ofthe system is relatively long. Temperature is therefore controlled by running thermal control liquid, such as oil, through the heating and / or cooling tubes, such that these signicant amounts ofthermal energy can be supplied to the mixture held inside ofthe tank. The temperature control system thereby also has a relatively long response time. Additionally, large heating and cooling installation are required for heating and cooling the thermal control liquid that take up a lot of space. A dry-mixture, i.e. a mixture that is not provided with additional water in a hydration step, has a significantly lowerthermal mass and thereby a relatively shorter response time, that cannot be fast enough and accurately enough be controlled by using heating and / or cooling tubes. In the present disclosure, the heating and / or cooling system comprises one ormore electrical heating members that are arranged around at least a part ofthe innervolume. The response time ofthe electrical heating member is (relatively speaking) almost instantaneously, such that this allows for an accurate and fast control ofthe temperature ofthe granular and / orpowdery substance (e.g. the granulated surplus bakery products) that is held in the inner space ofthe holding container. This thereby enables to ferment the granulated surplus bakery products by means ofa fermentation process that does not require a hydration step. The overall energy efciency ofthe process is thereby significantly improved. In use, the granulated surplus bakery products are fed to the inner space ofthe holding container, along with a starter-culture of a, or multiple, micro-organisms that are used in the formation process. Optimal growing conditions forthe micro-organisms (in terms of, for instance, temperature, moisture and / or humidity and / or gas-mixture) are provided for inside ofthe innervolume by suitable controlling the temperature and / orhumidity control systems. The resulting granular and / orpowdery substance for use in dough is, effectively, a our-replacement that is used in the dough forming process. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises an insulating layer that is arranged around at least the one ormore electrical heating members, such that the one ormore electrical heating members are arranged between the innervolume and the insulating layer. The temperature is thereby retained inside of the device, which adds to the controllability ofthe temperature, and thus the environmental conditions, inside ofthe innervolume. Preferably, the closable holding container is, at least for the largest part, arranged inside an outer container, wherein at least one inner dimension ofthe outer container is larger than at least one outer dimension ofthe holding container, such that ahollow space is arranged between the outer surface ofthe holding container and the inner surface ofthe outer container, wherein the one ormore electrical heating members are arranged inside the hollow space. The heat loss ofthe heating members towards the outside is thereby reduced, while additionally, the innervolume is provided with some insulation, which adds to the controllability ofthe temperature, and thus the environmental conditions, inside ofthe inner volume. To further improve this effect, it is then further preferred that the one ormore electrical heating members are arranged to be in direct thermal contact with the outer surface ofthe holding container, and the insulating layer is arranged between the one ormore electrical heating members and the inner surface of the outer container, preferably, wherein the insulating layer is avacuum layer, a gas layer and / or a layer of insulating material. Preferably, the one ormore electrical heating members are arranged in one ormore electrical heating mats that are arranged to cover the largest part ofan exterior surface ofthe holding container. By covering the largest part ofthe outer surface, a large heating surface is obtained, enabling to quickly control the temperature ofthe inner volume. In a preferred embodiment, the controller is congured for controlling the temperature ofthe inner volume by controlling the electrical power that is delivered to the one ormore electrical heating members; and wherein the electrical power is controlled by continuous switching on the basis ofa rectangularwave with a varying duty cycle. As the electrical heating members can typically not be analog controlled, or as an analog control ofthe power results in a signicant loss ofelectrical energy, a digital control approach allows to control the temperature ofthe heating members and / or ofthe temperature of the wall ofthe inner container. By switching on the basis ofa rectangularwave with a varying duty cycle, preferably at a frequency that exceeds the thermal response time ofthe heating members, the amount of power fed to the heating members is regulated by the amount ofoff versus on time, such that the output temperature is controllable at any temperature between aminimum andmaximum temperature by a pure on off (i.e. digital) switching ofthe electrical heating members. Such a control approach thereby allows for an energy efciency approach that is at the same time accurately controllable. Preferably, the one ormore electrical heating members are (or comprise) induction heating coils and / or resistance heating wires, as these enable to directly (in case ofinduction) or almost directly (in case the heating wires are directly connected to the wall ofthe inner container using conductive connecting means) heat the surface temperature ofthe inner container, such that a fast and accurate control ofthe temperature ofthe wall ofthe inner container is enabled. It is preferred that the controller is arranged with a surface temperature feedback controller that is congured, during a micro-organism growth phase, for keeping a surface temperature ofthe inner surface ofthe holding containerbelow 80 °C, preferably below 70 °C, most preferably below 60 °C. Although a restively high inner surface temperature enables ahigh thermal transfer to the inner surface and the granular and / orpowdery substance therein, a too high surface temperature ofthe inner surface ofthe holding container will negatively affect the micro-organism growth on parts ofthe granular and / or powdery substance that come into direct contact with inner surface ofthe holding container. As during the growth phase, this is undesirable, the temperature is to be kept at a range wherein this (effectively killing) effect is reduced. In a preferred embodiment, the at least one humidity and / or moisture content sensor comprises a microwave sensor for measuring a moisture ofbulk solids, wherein said microwave sensor is arranged to emit amicrowave and to detect a reection ofsaid microwave for determining a moisture content ofthe granular and / orpowdery substance held in the inner volume.As forthe growth ofthe micro-organism, the moisture content ofthe granular and / orpowdery substance held in the innervolume is ofmore importance than the (air) humidity in the inner volume, a direct measurement ofthe moisture content is benecial for directly controlling the environmental conditions that are relevant for the growth ofthe micro-organisms. Preferably, the humidity control system is arranged for determining a change in humidity on the basis ofa change ofa total measured weight ofthe device and its content. Whereas discrete humidity and / or moisture content sensors cannot determine the total moisture content (or relative loss ofthe total moisture content), a change oftotal measure weight ofthe device and its content, gives an indication ofthe total loss ofmoisture in the granular and / orpowdery substance held in the inner volume, such that this enables to estimate the (average) moisture content in the granular and / orpowdery substance held in the inner volume. Discrepancies between the discrete and total measurement can thereby be used for control purposes, for instance, for detecting faulty sensory and / or for controlling the amount of stirring and / or ventilation ofthe granular and / orpowdery substance held in the innervolume in order to obtain amore homogeneous moisture content in the granular and / orpowdery substance held in the inner volume. It is then preferred that the at least one humidity and / or moisture content sensor comprises one ormore load cells that are arranged in one ormore supports that support the device for determining a change of the total measured weight ofthe device and its content. This allows to directly determine the weight ofthe device and its content. In a preferred embodiment, the humidity control system comprises a controllable ventilation system for circulating an adjustable amount ofdrawn-in exterior airthrough the innervolume and expelling the circulated air as exhaust air to the exterior. Such a system enables to control the humidity in the inner volume, and thereby to control the moisture content (loss) ofthe granular and / orpowdery substance held in the inner volume. This may, for instance, be obtained by that the holding container comprises an air inlet for allowing exterior air to enter the innervolume and an air outlet for allowing the circulated air to exit the inner volume as exhaust air, wherein a controllable mechanical ventilator is arranged with the air outlet for drawing airthrough the air inlet, the innervolume and the air outlet and expelling this to the exterior, and wherein the amount ofcirculated air is adjusted by adjusting the speed ofthe mechanical ventilator, in particular for varying a rotational speed ofa fan of said mechanical ventilator. In order to reduce the loss ofpowdery substance (and thus ofnal product) during the process and to prevent it from contaminating the external environment, the controllable ventilation system comprises a particle lter, in particular a cyclone lter, for ltering small particles from the exhaust air. Preferably, the device further comprises a stirring system for, when in use, stirring the granulated surplus bakery products held in the holding container, wherein said controller is arranged for controlling the stirring system. As was discussed above, stirring allows for homogenizing the overall conditions ofthe granular and / orpowdery substance held in the inner volume, such that a consistent nal product is obtainable. For this, the stirring system preferably comprises a rotatable stirring member comprising a number of stirring arms extending at least in a radial outward direction from a central drive shaft, wherein said central drive shaft extends through at least a part ofthe innervolume and wherein said central drive shaft is driven by a variable speed driving mechanism, and wherein the controller is congured for controlling the speed (e.g. rotational speed) ofthe variable speed driving mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a granulating device for granulating surplus bakery products, such as loafs ofbread, bread rolls and pastries, into granulated surplus bakery products, preferably consisting mainly ofgranules in the range of2 30mm, more preferably in the range of4 10 mm, wherein the granulating device comprises a pair ofcutting rolls, each including a plurality ofaxially spaced cutting members forming troughs therebetween, whereby the cutting members ofone roll ofsaid pair ofcutting rolls mesh with the cutting members ofthe other roll of said pair ofcutting rolls in axial spaced relationship thereto. In other words, the cutting members ofthe one roll are situated in the trough between neighboring cutting members ofthe other roll, thereby forming the axially spaced relationship. The granulating device allows to feed the device directly with uncut loafs ofbread, bread rolls and pastries, whereafterthe granulating device cuts the uncut loafs ofbread, bread rolls and pastries into granules in a predened size-range, such that, rstly the active surface whereon the micro-organismmay grow is increased, and secondly, relatively uniform granules ofsurplus bakery products are obtained that require, approximately, similar processing times in order to be sufciently fermented in the fermentation process.A more precise control overthe nal product, i.e. the granular and / orpowdery substance for use in dough, is thereby obtainable. Preferably, the granulating device comprises an inlet arranged for receiving the surplus bakery products and an outlet for disposing the granulated surplus bakery products, wherein the outlet is arranged onto the holding container for feeding the disposed granulated surplus bakery products into the inner volume, and / or wherein the granulating device comprises an urging member for urging the surplus bakery products received in the inlettowards the pair ofcutting rolls, wherein said urging member is arranged upstream ofthe pair ofcutting rolls, preferably, wherein the urging member are formed by a rotatable shaft with a plurality ofaxially spaced-apart crank arms that is arranged spaced apart from the pair ofcutting rolls, preferably, wherein neighboring crank-arms ofthe plurality ofaxially spaced-art crank-arms are angularly spaced-apart. The granulated surplus bakery products are, after being cut, directly fed into the holding container, thereby ensuring a proper sizing ofthe in the holding container received surplus bakery products. Additionally, the urging members will push the surplus bakery products towards, and between the cutting rolls, such that they are effectively granulated. In particular, the larger sized bakery products, such as whole loafs ofbread, are thereby more easily grabbed and granulated by the cutting rolls. By also spacing the crank-arms angularly (i.e. extending radially outwardly in different angular directions around the rotatable shaft), the larger sized bakery products, such as whole loafs ofbread, are allowed to slowly decenttowards cutting rolls when being supported on a rst crank-arm, after which, one ofthe other crank arms will engage an upper part ofthe larger sized bakery product and subsequently push is down towards, and between, the cutting rolls. The cutting members will engage (i.e. grab) the larger sized bakery product and pull it through the pair ofcutting rolls, thereby cutting it into smaller pieces and granulating the larger sized bakery product. In a preferred embodiment ofthe device, wherein the controller is congured for controlling the temperature control system and the humidity control system, and preferably the stirring system, according to a predetermined time program, wherein the predetermined time program comprises a plurality of setpoints for at least the temperature overtime and one ofthe humidity in the innervolume over time and the moisture content ofa granular and / orpowdery substance held in the innervolume over time. This enables to predene and select a program that is optimized for the inputted selection ofsurplus bakery products, such that amore precise control over the nal product, i.e. the granular and / orpowdery substance for use in dough, is thereby obtainable. In a second aspect, the disclosure relates to a controller for use in a device according to any ofthe preceding embodiments, wherein said controller is arranged for varying a temperature ofan innervolume ofa holding container overtime according to predened temperature settings over time and wherein said controller is arranged for varying ahumidity ofthe innervolume over time according to predened humidity settings overtime and / or, when in use, for varying a moisture content ofa granular and / or powdery substance held in the innervolume overtime according to predened moisture content settings over time. The present invention is further illustrated by the following gures, which show preferred embodiments ofthe different aspects ofthe present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention in any way, wherein: - Figure 1 schematically shows, in a three-dimensional perspective view, an embodiment ofthe , such as unsold bread, into a granular and / orpowdery substance for use in dough. - Figure 2 schematically shows, in cross-sectional frontal view, the embodiment ofthe ofgure 1. - Figure 3 schematically shows, in a zoomed-in three-dimensional perspective view, a support ofthe device comprising a load cell. - Figure 4 schematically shows, in an isolated cross-sectional view, a part ofthe ventilation system comprising a cyclone-type particle lter. - Figure 5 schematically shows, in a zoomed-in top view, a granulating device thatmay be arranged onto the device ofgure 1. Figure 1 schematically shows a device 1 for processing surplus bakery products. The device 1 is seen to comprise a double-walled fermentation tank 10 that is held in a supporting frame 20. The holding container is pivotally mounted at a rst longitudinal end 11 ofthe fermentation tank 10 to the supporting frame 20 by means ofa pivoting shaft 111 that is arranged at the rst longitudinal end 11 and received in a bearing 21 that is arranged at the corresponding longitudinal end ofthe supporting frame 20. At the second, opposite, longitudinal end 12 ofthe fermentation tank 10, the holding container is coupled with the supporting frame by means ofa linear actuator 22. By driving the linear actuator 22 to extend outwardly, the second longitudinal end 12 ofthe fermentation tank 10 can be moved upwards to pivot the holding container around the pivoting shaft 111. This enables to empty the innervolume ofthe holding container 12 through a lower hopper 13 that is arranged at a lower section ofthe rst longitudinal end 11. An upperhopper 31 is arranged at an upper section ofthe rst longitudinal end 11 ofthe fermentation tank 10. The upperhopper 31 comprises the outlet ofa granulating device 30 for granulating surplus bakery products, such as loafs ofbread, bread rolls and pastries, into granulated surplus bakery products thatows through the upperhopper into the innervolume ofthe fermentation tank 10. The granulating device is shown in more detail in gure 5. Part ofa controllable ventilation system 40 is shown at the back ofthe fermentation tank 10, where an air duct assembly 41 is seen to be connectable to an air outlet 14 ofthe fermentation tank 10.A mechanical ventilator 42 is seen to be arranged downstream ofthe air duct assembly 41 and ofa cyclone type particle lter 43 for ltering particles that are taken up in the ventilation stream thatows through the inner volume ofthe fermentation tank 10. The cyclone type particle lter 43 is shown in more detail in gure 4. An control cabinet 100 comprising the controller ofthe device 1 is furthermore arranged with the device 1. The supporting frame 20 can be positioned onto a supporting surface by means ofa plurality (e.g. four) supports 90, which are shown in more detail in gure 3. Fermentation tank 10, as is best seen in gure 2, comprises a holding container 60 that comprises the innervolume 61 wherein the into granulated surplus bakery products are to be processed (i.e. fermented) into the granular and / orpowdery substance for use in dough (as a our-replacement). The holding container 60 is, for the largest part, arranged inside ofan outer container 50. In the current embodiment, the holding container 60 and outer container 50 are cylindrical containers that are arranged coaxially. As the inner dimensions ofthe outer container 50 are larger than the outer dimensions ofthe holding container 60, avoid 51 exists between the outer surface ofthe holding container 60 and the inner surface ofthe outer container 50. Inside ofthe void, the electrical heating members 71, which are formed in the current embodimentby induction heating coils, are arranged on the outer surface ofthe holding container 60 for directly heating the circumferential wall 62 ofthe holding container 60. In between the electrical heating members 71 and the inner surface ofthe outer container 50, an insulation layer 72 is provided. The insulation layer 72 may be avacuum layer, a gas layer and / or a layer ofinsulating material, such as berglass, mineral wool, cellulose, natural bers, polystyrene, polyisocyanurate, polyurethane, perlite, cementitious foam, phenolic foam. Although the outer container 50may aid in obtaining the desired amount ofinsulation and helps to shield the insulation layer and electrical heating members 71, the fermentation tank 10 may also only comprise the holding container 60. In order to monitorthe conditions, such as temperature, humidity and / or moisture content ofthe content ofthe holding container 60, one or more measurement probes 15 (i.e. sensors)may be tted through the respective longitudinal ends 11, 12 orthrough the circumferential wall ofthe fermentation tank 10. The device 1 also comprises a stirring system 80 for, when in use, stirring the granulated surplus bakery products held in the holding container 60. The stirring system 80 comprises a rotatable stirring member 81 comprising anumber of stirring arms 82 extending at least in a radial outward directionR from a central drive shaft 83 that extends along the longitudinal direction Lthrough the innervolume 61. Two or more neighboring stirring arms 82 may be interconnected, preferably at their ends, by interconnecting members 85 that effectively act as scoops for an increased stirring effect. The central drive shaft 83 extends into, and is driven by, a variable speed driving mechanism 84 comprising an electrical motor. The variable speed driving mechanism 84 is arranged at the rst longitudinal end 11 ofthe fermentation tank 10, whereas the opposing end ofthe central drive shaft 83 is rotatably mounted in the second longitudinal end 12. The amount of stirring is controlled, by the controller, by controlling the speed ofthe variable speed driving mechanism 84. The second longitudinal outer end 12 is seen to be a removable end portion thatmay be removed from the fermentation tank 10 in order to allow easy access to the innervolume 61, such that the innervolume 61 may be cleaned and / or maintenance may be performed to the various parts, systems and / or components of the device 1 that are situated inside ofthe innervolume 61. Figure 3 shows a zoomed-in view ofone ofthe supports 90 ofthe device 1. The support 90 comprises a support foot 91 that is positioned onto support surface (i.e. oor) and the support foot 91 may be height- adjustable for leveling the device 1. The height-adjustable support foot 91 is connected to the free end of a load cell 92, whereas the xed end ofthe load cell 92 is xed to the support frame 20. The amount of weight ofthe device and its content that is supported by this particular support 90 is thus directly measured by the load cell 92. This allows, as was explained above, to estimate the moisture content loss ofthe content ofthe fermentation tank 10. Figure 4 shows, in a cross-sectional view, a part ofthe ventilation system 40, in particular the downstream part ofthe ventilation system 40. In use, air is sucked, by means ofthe mechanical ventilator 42, through the inner space 61, through the air duct assembly 41, to enterthe cyclone-type particle lter 43 through the lter inlet 434 that is arranged at a side at the top ofthe lter 43. The lter outlet 431 extends into the upper inverse-conical section 432 ofthe lter 43. The drawn-in air circles (as a cyclone) around the lter outlet 431, such that the centrifugal forces acting on the particles in the drawn-in air force the particles outwardly, afterwhich gravity causes them to fall towards the bottom section 433 ofthe particle lter 43. The bottom section 433 is a removable container that can be emptied afterwards. In gure 5 the granulating device 30 for granulating surplus bakery products, such as loafs ofbread, bread rolls and pastries, into granulated surplus bakery products is shown. The granulating device 30 comprises a pair ofcutting rolls 32, each including a plurality ofaxially spaced cutting members 33 forming troughs therebetween, with cutting members 33 ofeach cutting roll 32 meshing with cutting members 33 ofthe other roll 32 in axial spaced relationship thereto. The cutting members 33 are discs with a plurality cutting teeth 34 arranged at the radial outer ends thereof. The granulating device 30 has an inlet for receiving the surplus bakery products, and a hopper 31 as outlet for disposing ofthe granulated surplus bakery products. The hopper 31 is arranged onto the holding container for feeding the disposed granulated surplus bakery products into the innervolume 61. In order to push the larger pieces ofsurplus bakery products, such as loafs ofbread, through the cutting rolls 32, the granulating device 30 has an urging member 35 for urging the surplus bakery products received in the inlettowards the pair ofcutting rolls, wherein said urging member 35 is arranged above the pair ofcutting rolls 32. The urging member 35 is formed by a rotatable shaft 36 with a plurality of axially spaced-apart crank arms 37 that is arranged at a distance above the pair ofcutting rolls 32. In order to allow the larger pieces to rst pass the urging member 35 before being pushed into the cutting rolls, neighboring crank-arms 37 are angularly spaced-apart. The various embodiments shown, and further variations thereof, can be combined for forming further 5 embodiments. Additionally, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but also extends to otherembodiments falling within the scope ofthe appended claims. Clauses 1. , such as unsold bread, into a granular and / or powdery substance for use in dough, the device comprising: - a closable holding container comprising an innervolume for receiving and holding granulated surplus bakery products, such as shredded unsold bread, - a temperature control system for controlling a temperature ofthe inner volume, wherein the temperature control system comprises at least one temperature sensor for determining a temperature of the innervolume and wherein the temperature control system comprises at least one heating and / or cooling system for adjusting the temperature ofthe inner volume, - a humidity control system for controlling a humidity ofthe inner volume, wherein the humidity control system comprises at least one humidity and / or moisture content sensor for determining a humidity ofthe innervolume and / or, when in use, a moisture content ofthe granular and / orpowdery substance held in the inner volume, - a controller for controlling the temperature control system and humidity control system, wherein said controller is arranged for varying the temperature ofthe innervolume over time according to predened temperature settings overtime and wherein said controller is arranged for varying the humidity ofthe innervolume overtime according to predened humidity settings overtime and / or, when in use, for varying a moisture content ofthe granular and / orpowdery substance held in the innervolume overtime according to predened moisture content settings over time, wherein said heating and / or cooling system comprises one ormore electrical heating members that are arranged around at least a part ofthe inner volume. 2. Device according to clause 0, further comprising an insulating layer that is arranged around at least the one ormore electrical heating members, such that the one ormore electrical heating members are arranged between the innervolume and the insulating layer. 3. Device according to clause 0 or 2, wherein the closable holding container is, at least for the largest part, arranged inside an outer container, wherein at least one inner dimension ofthe outer container is larger than at least one outer dimension ofthe holding container, such that ahollow space is arranged between the outer surface ofthe holding container and the inner surface ofthe outer container, wherein the one ormore electrical heating members are arranged inside the hollow space. 4. Device according to clause 2 or 3, wherein the one ormore electrical heating members are arranged to be in direct thermal contact with the outer surface ofthe holding container, and the insulating layer is arranged between the one ormore electrical heating members and the inner surface ofthe outer container, preferably, wherein the insulating layer is avacuum layer, a gas layer and / or a layer of insulating material. 5. Device according to any ofthe preceding clauses, wherein the one ormore electrical heating members are arranged in one ormore electrical heating mats that are arranged to cover the largest part of the outer surface ofthe holding container. 6. Device according to any ofthe preceding clauses, wherein the controller is congured for controlling the temperature ofthe innervolume by controlling the electrical power that is delivered to the one ormore electrical heating members, and wherein the electrical power is controlled by continuous switching on the basis ofa rectangular wave with a varying duty cycle. 7. Device according to any ofthe preceding clauses, wherein the one ormore electrical heating members are induction heating coils and / or resistance heating wires. 8. Device according to any ofthe preceding clauses, wherein the controller is arranged with a surface temperature feedback controller that is congured, during a micro-organism growth phase, for keeping a surface temperature ofthe inner surface ofthe holding containerbelow 80 °C, preferably below 70 °C, most preferably below 60 °C. 9. Device according to any ofthe preceding clauses, wherein the at least one humidity and / or moisture content sensor comprises amicrowave sensor formeasuring a moisture ofbulk solids, wherein said microwave sensor is arranged to emit amicrowave and to detect a reection ofsaid microwave for determining a moisture content ofthe granular and / orpowdery substance held in the inner volume. 10. Device according to any ofthe preceding clauses, wherein the humidity control system is arranged for determining a change in humidity on the basis ofa change in a total measured weight ofthe device and its content. 11. Device according to clause 10, wherein the at least one humidity and / or moisture content sensor comprises one ormore load cells that are arranged in one ormore supports that support the device for determining a change ofthe total measured weight ofthe device and its content. 12. Device according to any ofthe preceding clauses, wherein the humidity control system comprises a controllable ventilation system for circulating an adjustable amount ofdrawn-in exterior airthrough the innervolume and expelling the circulated air as exhaust air to the exterior. 13. Device according to clause 12, wherein the holding container comprises an air inlet for allowing exterior air to enter the innervolume and an air outlet for allowing the circulated air to exit the inner volume as exhaust air; wherein a controllable mechanical ventilator is arranged with the air outlet for drawing airthrough the air inlet, the innervolume and the air outlet and expelling this to the exterior, and wherein the amount ofcirculated air is adjusted by adjusting the speed ofthe mechanical ventilator. 14. Device according to clause 12 or 13, wherein the controllable ventilation system comprises a particle lter, in particular a cyclone lter, for ltering small particles from the exhaust air. 15. Device according to any ofthe preceding clauses, wherein the device further comprises a stirring system for, when in use, stirring the granulated surplus bakery products held in the holding container; wherein said controller is arranged for controlling the stirring system. 16. Device according to clause 15, wherein the stirring system comprises a rotatable stirring member comprising anumber of stirring arms extending at least in a radial outward direction from a central drive shaft, wherein said central drive shaft extends through at least a part ofthe innervolume and wherein said central drive shaft is drivable by a variable speed driving mechanism; and wherein the controller is congured for controlling the speed ofthe variable speed driving mechanism. 17. Device according to any ofthe preceding clauses, wherein the device comprises a granulating device for granulating surplus bakery products, such as loafs ofbread, bread rolls and pastries, into granulated surplus bakery products, wherein the granulating device comprises a pair ofcutting rolls, each including a plurality ofaxially spaced cutting members forming troughs therebetween, whereby the cutting members ofone roll of said pair ofcutting rolls mesh with the cutting members ofthe other roll of said pair ofcutting rolls in axial spaced relationship thereto. 18. Device according to clause 17, wherein the granulating device comprises an inlet arranged for receiving the surplus bakery products and an outlet for disposing the granulated surplus bakery products, wherein the outlet is arranged onto the holding container for feeding the disposed granulated surplus bakery products into the inner volume, and wherein the granulating device comprises an urging member for urging the surplus bakery products received in the inlettowards the pair ofcutting rolls, wherein said urging member is arranged upstream ofthe pair ofcutting rolls, preferably, wherein the urging member is formed by a rotatable shaft with a plurality ofaxially spaced-apart crank arms that is arranged spaced apart from the pair ofcutting rolls, preferably, wherein neighboring crank-arms ofthe plurality ofaxially spaced-art crank-arms are angularly spaced-apart. 19. Device according to any ofthe preceding clauses, wherein the controller is congured for controlling the temperature control system and the humidity control system, and preferably the stirring system, according to a predetermined time program, wherein the predetermined time program comprises a plurality of setpoints for at least the temperature over time and one ofthe humidity in the innervolume overtime and the moisture content ofa granular and / orpowdery substance held in the innervolume over time. 20. Controller for use in a device according to any ofthe preceding clauses, wherein said controller is arranged for varying a temperature ofan innervolume ofa holding container over time according to predened temperature settings overtime and wherein said controller is arranged for varying a humidity ofthe innervolume overtime according to predened humidity settings overtime and / or, when in use, 5 for varying a moisture content ofa granular and / orpowdery substance held in the innervolume overtime according to predened moisture content settings over time.
Claims
1. Apparatus for processing surplus bakery products, such as unsold bread, into a granular and / or powdered substance for use in dough, whereby the device comprises: a lockable storage container comprising an internal volume for receiving and retention of granulated surplus bakery products, such as shredded unsold bread; a temperature control system for regulating the temperature of the internal volume, where the temperature control system includes at least one temperature sensor for determining the temperature of the internal volume and where the temperature control system has at least one heater and / or includes a cooling system for regulating the temperature of the internal volume; a humidity control system for regulating the humidity of the internal volume, where the humidity control system comprises at least one humidity and / or moisture level sensor for determining the humidity of the internal volume and / or, when in use, the moisture content of the granular and / or powdery substance contained within the internal volume; a controller for regulating the temperature control system and the humidity control system, where the controller can vary the temperature of the internal volume over time according to predefined defined temperature settings over time and where the controller the humidity of the Internal volume can vary over time according to predefined humidity settings over time and / or, when used, the moisture content of the granular and / or powdered substance in the internal volume over time can vary according to predefined moisture content settings over the time; in which the heating and / or cooling system comprises one or more electrical heating devices which are placed around at least a part of the internal volume; characterized by the fact that: the device comprises a granulating machine for granulating excess bakery products, such as breads, rolls and pastries, to granulated surplus bakery products, whereby the a granulating machine comprises a pair of cutting rollers, each with a number of axially spaced cutting elements that forming troughs between them, whereby the cutting bodies of a roller of the pair of cutting rollers are axially spaced apart standing relationship with the cutting rollers of the other roller of the pair of cutting rollers interlocking.
2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an insulating layer surrounding the ten at least one or more electrical heating devices have been installed, so that the one or more electrical Heating elements have been installed between the inner volume and the insulating layer.
3. Apparatus within the meaning of claim 1 or 2, in which the lockable storage container at least for the the largest part is placed in an outdoor container, in which at least one internal dimension of the outdoor container is larger than at least one external dimension of the storage container, so that a hollow space has been created between the outer surface of the storage container and the inner surface of the outer container; in which one or more electrical heating devices are installed in the hollow space.
4. Apparatus within the meaning of claim 2 or 3, in which one or more electric heating elements are installed in such a way that they are in direct thermal contact with the outer surface of the storage container, and the insulating layer is applied between one or more electrical heating elements and the inner surface of the outer container, preferably, in which the insulating layer is a vacuum layer, a gas layer and / or a layer of insulating material.
5. Apparatus in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, where one or more electric heating elements are installed in one or more electric heating mats that the cover the largest part of the outer surface of the storage container.
6. Device within the meaning of at least one of the preceding claims, in which the regulator is configured for regulating the temperature of the internal volume by regulating the electrical power supplied to one or more electric heating elements; and in which the electrical power is regulated by continuous switching based on a rectangular wave with a varying duty cycle.
7. Apparatus in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, where one or more electric heating elements are induction coils and / or resistance heating wires.
8. Device within the meaning of at least one of the preceding claims, in which the regulator is equipped with a surface temperature feedback controller that, during a growth phase of micro organisms, is configured to have a surface temperature of the inner surface of the to keep storage container below 80 °C, preferably below 70 °C, and if more preferably below 60 °C.
9. Device in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, where at least one humidity and / or moisture content sensor includes a microwave sensor for measuring humidity of solid substance in bulk (English: bulk solids), where the microwave sensor is configured to a to emit a microwave and detect a reflection of the microwave to determine the moisture content of the granular and / or powdered substance in the internal volume.
10. Device in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, where it The humidity control system is designed to determine a change in humidity based on a change in a total measured weight of the device and its contents. 1 1. Apparatus within the meaning of claim 10, where at least one humidity and / or moisture content sensor comprises one or more load cells that are placed in one or more supports that the support device for determining a change in the total measured weight of the device and its contents.
12. Device in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, where it humidity control system comprises an adjustable ventilation system for circulating an adjustable amount of outside air drawn in by the internal volume and the discharge of the circulated air as exhaust air to the outside.
13. Apparatus within the meaning of claim 12, where the storage container includes an air intake for the admitting outside air into the internal volume and an air outlet to allow the circulated air leaves the internal volume as exhaust air; whereby an adjustable mechanical fan at the The air outlet is positioned to draw air through the air intake, the internal volume, and the air outlet and to discharge this to the outside; and whereby the amount of circulated air is adjusted by the to adjust the speed of the mechanical fan.
14. Apparatus within the meaning of claim 12 or 13, in which the adjustable ventilation system has a particle filter includes, in particular, a cyclone filter to filter small particles from the exhaust air.
15. Device in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, whereby the device further includes a stirring system to, when in use, the granulated excess bakery products in to stir the storage container; where the controller is designed to control the stirring system.
16. Apparatus within the meaning of claim 15, where the stirring system comprises a rotatable stirring element that comprises a number of rudder arms that protrude at least radially outwards from a central drive shaft, where the central drive shaft extends through at least part of the internal volume and where the central drive shaft can be driven by a variable speed drive mechanism; and where The controller is configured to regulate the speed of the variable speed drive mechanism.
17. Device in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, where it granulating device comprises an inlet for receiving excess bakery products and an outlet for the discharge of the granulated excess bakery products, whereby the outlet on the A storage container has been placed for the supply of granulated surplus bakery products to the internal volume; and the granulating device comprises a pressing device to the excess bakery products that in the inlet are received to push the pair of cutting rollers, where the pressing device upstream of the pair of cutting rollers has been placed; preferably, where the pressure element is formed by a rotatable shaft with a number of axial spaced crank arms positioned at a distance from the pair of cutting rollers; preferably are neighboring crank arms of the number of axially spaced crank arms at an angle to each other placed.
18. Device in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims, in which the regulator is configured for controlling the temperature control system and the humidity control system, and at preference the stirring system, according to a predetermined schedule, in which the predetermined time program includes a number of setpoints for at least the temperature over time and one of the humidity in the internal volume over time and the moisture content of a granular and / or powdered substance that is retained within the internal volume over time.
19. Controller for use in an appliance pursuant to at least one of the preceding claims, in which the controller is configured to control the temperature of an internal volume of a storage container to vary over time according to predefined temperature settings over time and in which the The controller is configured to vary the humidity of the internal volume over time according to predefined humidity settings over time and / or, when in use, to control the humidity level to vary the internal volume of a granular and / or powder substance over time according to predefined moisture content settings over time. Fig. 1