阅读说明：本技术 去除食品油炸锅内的漂浮颗粒 (Removing floating particles from food fryer ) 是由 亨德里库斯·柏图斯·杰拉杜斯·梵杰尔文 于 2020-03-25 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及去除连续操作的食品油炸锅(1)内的颗粒,特别是漂浮颗粒(26),在食品油炸锅(1)中,食品和/或喂养产品(7),例如肉类、素食食品、奶酪、蔬菜产品或其组合将被浅炸、半炸或深炸。油炸在容器(11)内的热流体浴(81)中进行,优选的热流体温度在180-190℃的范围内。待油炸的产品(7)通过输送装置(6)从产品入口侧(35)通过热流体浴(81)输送到产品出口侧(36)。(The invention relates to the removal of particles, in particular floating particles (26), within a continuously operating food fryer (1), in which food and/or feeding products (7), such as meat, vegetarian food, cheese, vegetable products or combinations thereof, are to be deep-fried, par-fried or deep-fried in the food fryer (1). Frying is carried out in a bath (81) of a hot fluid in a vessel (11), preferably at a temperature in the range of 180 ℃ to 190 ℃. The products (7) to be fried are transported by the transport device (6) from the product inlet side (35) through the hot fluid bath (81) to the product outlet side (36).)

1. A fryer (1) having a vessel (11), the vessel (11) containing a bath (81) of hot fluid having a liquid level (10), the fryer (1) comprising:

-one or more conveying means (2-5) which convey the products (7) to be fried through the bath (81) of hot fluid, wherein during the conveyance in the fryer the surface (38) of the conveying means (2-5) on which the products are located has a submerged portion (37) immersed in the bath (81) of hot fluid, and

-optionally, a submerged conveyor (6) preventing the product from floating to the liquid level (10), wherein the submerged conveyor has a submerged portion (37) submerged in the hot fluid bath (81), and

-a floating particle removal device (70),

characterized in that the floating particle removal apparatus (70) is located vertically above the submerged portion (37) of the submerged conveyor (6) and/or the submerged portion (37) of the surface (38) of the conveying means (2-5).

2. Fryer (1) according to claim 1 or the preamble of claim 1, characterised in that it comprises an inlet area (35) in which the surface (38) of the submerged conveyor (6) and/or the conveying means (2-5) enters the bath (81) of hot fluid and an outlet area (36) in which the surface (38) of the submerged conveyor (6) and/or the conveying means (2-5) leaves the bath of hot fluid, wherein the floating particle removal device (70) is located between the inlet area and the outlet area.

3. Fryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said container comprises longitudinal walls (13, 14), characterised in that said floating particle removal device (70) is located in the vicinity of at least one of these side walls.

4. Fryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises guide means (73) which guide the floating particles to the floating particle removal device (70).

5. Fryer (1) according to claim 4, characterised in that said guiding means (73) extend at least partially, preferably completely, over the width of the container of the fryer.

6. Fryer (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that said guiding means (73) have, at least locally, a concave shape, a convex shape, a rectilinear shape or a combination thereof.

7. Fryer (1) according to claims 4 to 6, characterised in that said guiding means (73) have a non-stick surface, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene.

8. Fryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said guiding means (73) are part of said submerged conveyor (6), are integrated in said submerged conveyor (6) and/or are connected to said submerged conveyor (6).

9. Fryer (1) according to claims 1 to 7, characterised in that said guiding means (73) are part of a transport conveyor (2) and/or a non-stick conveyor (4) and/or a take-over conveyor (5), said guiding means (73) being integrated in said transport conveyor (2) and/or a non-stick conveyor (4) and/or a take-over conveyor (5) and/or said guiding means (73) being connected to said transport conveyor (2) and/or a non-stick conveyor (4) and/or a take-over conveyor (5).

10. Fryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises level (10) control means, said level (10) control means controlling the level (10) above the level of the submerged portion (37) of the submerged conveyor (6) and/or the submerged surface (38) of the transport conveyor.

11. Fryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a basin (20) in said container, wherein said basin (20) is interrupted at the location of said floating particle removal device (70).

12. Fryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said floating particle removal device (70) comprises mechanical means (77), preferably augers and/or belts and/or moving scraper bars and/or reciprocating scraper bars, for removing floating particles (26) from said fryer.

13. Fryer (1) according to claim 12, characterised in that the movement of the scraper bar is guided in a profile (74).

14. Fryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sediment removal means (32-34) and the floating particle removal device (70) are combined, preferably at one side wall (13, 14) of the fryer vat (11).

15. Fryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said floating particle removal means (70) comprise filter means (71) and a hot fluid return channel (76).

16. Fryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a weir means (80) for sweeping floating particles (26) from the hot fluid surface.

17. Fryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises floating particle transfer means (75) for guiding floating particles towards the floating particle removal device (70).

18. Fryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that vacuum means (78) extract floating particles from the surface of the hot fluid.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the removal of particles, in particular floating particles, from a continuously operating food fryer in which food and/or feeding products, such as meat, vegetarian food, cheese, vegetable products or combinations thereof, are to be par-fried, par-fried or deep-fried. Frying is carried out in a bath of heated fluid within the vessel, preferably at a temperature in the range of 180-190 ℃. The products to be fried are transported by the transport device from the product inlet side through the hot fluid bath to the product outlet side.

Background

When a coated product, for example a tempura coated product, such as chicken nuggets and batter/breaded food, such as fried chicken or fish, enters the fryer, the applied coating is still brittle. When the food products enter the hot fluid bath they are subjected to mechanical and/or hydrodynamic impact and the coating may be damaged and may even fall off the food products, resulting in separated particles such as breadcrumbs, tempura, food particles, fines and other solid particles entering the hot fluid bath. After a relatively short frying time, the coating is fixed and the food will not fall off the pellets as easily. The separated product partially settles at the bottom of the fryer or floats to the top of the hot fluid bath. The separated particles must be removed as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. In particular, in the past, removal of floating particles was a problem.

Therefore, there is a need to provide a fryer that does not comprise the drawbacks of fryers according to the state of the art. In particular, the aim is to prevent floating particles from adhering to the walls of the conveyor frame, to prevent floating particles from adhering to the conveyor belt, to prevent floating particles from accumulating on fried food, and to prevent/delay the settling of the hot fluid.

Disclosure of Invention

This problem is solved by a fryer with a vessel containing a bath of hot fluid having a liquid level, comprising:

-one or more conveyor means for conveying the products to be fried through the hot liquid bath, wherein during the conveyance in the fryer the surface of the conveyor means on which the products are located has a submerged portion immersed in the hot liquid bath, and

-optionally, a submerged conveyor that prevents the product from floating to the liquid level, wherein the submerged conveyor has a submerged portion that is submerged in the bath of hot fluid,

-a floating particle removal device for removing floating particles,

wherein the floating particle removal apparatus is located vertically above the submerged portion of the submerged conveyor and/or the submerged portion of the surface of the conveyor.

The present invention relates to a fryer for heating food in a fluid bath. The hot fluid may be oil, water, broth, or the like. The hot fluid bath is provided in a container and a conveying means for conveying the product through the bath, for example an endless belt, preferably a belt permeable to the hot fluid and/or particles removed from the product. Preferably, the endless belt is a mesh belt. The conveyor belt may comprise a plurality of segments, preferably individual segments, preferably each segment having an individual drive and/or having a combined drive for a plurality of segments. At least the surface portion of the conveying means on which the products to be fried are located is immersed in the hot liquid bath and comprises an inlet region in which the conveying means enters the hot liquid bath and an outlet region in which the conveying means leaves the hot liquid bath.

Optionally, a submerged conveyor is provided that prevents the product from floating to the level. The submerged conveyor also has a submerged portion submerged in the bath of hot fluid. The submerged conveyor is preferably also a belt, preferably an endless belt, permeable to the hot fluid and/or particles removed from the product. Preferably, the endless belt is a mesh belt. Preferably, the immersion device can be adapted to the height of the product, preferably moving vertically up and down.

In addition, the fryer includes a floating particle removal device. According to the invention, the apparatus is located above the submerged part of the submerged conveyor and/or the submerged part of the surface of the conveying device. Due to this position of the floating particle removal device, floating particles are removed at a very early stage and do not need to pass any transport means or immersion means once they float to the top of the hot fluid bath, preferably to the hot liquid level of the hot fluid bath.

According to a preferred or another inventive embodiment of the present invention, the fryer comprises an inlet area in which a surface of the submerged conveyor and/or the conveying means enters the bath of hot fluid and an outlet area in which a surface of the submerged conveyor and/or the conveying means exits the bath of hot fluid, wherein the floating particle removal apparatus is located between the inlet area and the outlet area.

Due to this position of the floating particle removal device, floating particles are removed at a very early stage and once they float to the top, fluid level of the hot fluid bath, preferably to the hot liquid level of the hot fluid bath, do not need to pass any conveying means or immersion means.

Preferably, the vessel comprises longitudinal side walls, wherein the floating particle removal device is located in the vicinity of at least one of these side walls. The longitudinal side walls preferably extend parallel to the direction of movement of the food product. The floating particle removal device may be disposed in a recess in the side wall of the vessel. The floating particle removal device may extend from the exterior to the interior of the vessel through the longitudinal side wall.

The container is preferably made of stainless steel. The container may include an insulator.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the floating particle removing device comprises guiding means which guide the floating particles to the floating particle removing device. These guiding means are preferably located near the level of the hot liquid bath, preferably partially submerged in the hot liquid bath. Preferably, the guiding means extend at least partially, preferably completely, over the width of the container of the fryer. The width of the fryer is its horizontal extension perpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveyor. The floating particles preferably flow along the guiding means towards the floating particle removal device. More preferably, the guide means has at least partially a concave shape, a convex shape, a linear shape or a combination thereof. Preferably, the guide has a non-stick surface, more preferably polytetrafluoroethylene.

Preferably, the guiding device is part of, integrated in and/or connected to the submerged conveyor. An advantage of this embodiment is that the submerging device and the guiding device can be moved together, for example in case the submerging device is adapted to the height of the food product to be fried. In the case that no submerged conveyor is provided, the guide device can be part of, integrated in, and/or connected to the transport conveyor and/or the inviscid conveyor and/or the take-over conveyor.

Preferably, the fryer comprises a level control device which controls the level of liquid above the level of the submerged portion of the submerged conveyor and/or the submerged surface of the transport conveyor. In particular, in the case of a change, in particular an increase, of the vertical position of the immersion device, it is also advantageous to change the level of the hot fluid bath to ensure that it extends above the immersion device.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fryer, in particular the container, comprises a water bath in the container. The water tank is preferably used to condense steam in the container. The trough preferably extends parallel to one or both longitudinal side walls. Preferably, the water tank is interrupted and/or bypassed at the location of the floating particle removal device.

Preferably, the floating particle removal apparatus comprises mechanical means, preferably augers and/or belts and/or moving and/or reciprocating scraper bars, for removing, preferably lifting, floating particles from the surface of the fryer and/or the hot fluid. These mechanical means preferably remove, in particular lift, the particles above the level of the hot fluid bath. The movement of the blade bar is preferably guided in the profile.

Preferably, particles that sink to the bottom of the vessel are removed as sediment. Accordingly, the fryer of the present invention preferably includes sediment removal means, such as one or more scrapers, preferably scraping along the bottom of the fryer's container. Preferably, the sediment removal means and floating particle removal apparatus are combined, and preferably located at one side wall of the fryer vessel. Preferably, the particles are jointly removed from the vessel by the particle removal means after being collected.

Preferably, the floating particle removal apparatus comprises a filter device to separate the hot fluid from the particles and a hot fluid return channel to return the hot fluid to the hot fluid bath.

Preferably, the fryer comprises a weir means for sweeping floating particles from the hot fluid bath surface.

Preferably, the fryer comprises floating particle transfer means for directing/moving floating particles towards the floating particle removal device. Those transfer means preferably agitate the hot fluid bath, preferably the surface of the hot fluid bath, so that the particles are driven towards the floating particle removal device.

The vacuum device preferably draws floating particles from the hot fluid surface.

Drawings

The invention will now be explained with reference to the drawings. These explanations do not limit the scope of protection. The explanations apply equally to all embodiments of the invention.

Fig. 1-4 depict fryers in accordance with the prior art.

Figures 5-7c show a fryer of the present invention.

Figures 8-11c show different embodiments of the floating particle removal apparatus.

Figures 12 a-14 e show a combined removal apparatus.

Fig. 15a and b show a transfer device.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1a depicts a continuous food fryer 1 known in the prior art. The vessel 11 comprises a volume of hot fluid and a corresponding level 10. Food and/or feeding products enter the fryer at inlet side 8 and leave the fryer at outlet side 9. Depending on the length of the fryer and/or the amount of deposits expected, a lateral fouling/particle removal device 33 is provided.

There are many possible configurations of belt layouts, the configuration in fig. 1b depicts an infeed conveyor 3, a non-stick conveyor 4 for handling coated and/or viscous products, and a take-over conveyor 5. If uncoated products and/or non-stick products are fried, a transport conveyor 2 may be used instead of the combination of the non-stick conveyor 4 and the take-over conveyor 5. A submerged conveyor 6 may be applied to allow treatment of the floatable food product. Each conveyor may be provided as a mesh belt, preferably an endless mesh belt.

Fig. 2 depicts the prior art wherein food and/or feed products 7 enter the hot fluid bath 81 of the fryer through the infeed conveyor 3 and will be transferred to the non-stick conveyor 4. The optional submerged conveyor 6, preferably a mesh belt, more preferably an endless mesh belt, prevents the product from floating. Small separated particles 26 that have detached from the coating and/or product will be in suspension. The heavier separated non-floating particles 28 will sink to the bottom wall 16 of the fryer container 11 through and/or along the conveyor belt and preferably the heating elements of the heat exchanger 61. A preferably built-in deposit removal system 30 may be provided, such as a belt, a return part of the transport conveyor 2/take-over conveyor 5 or in this embodiment a scraper belt. The scraper blades continuously scrape the bottom wall of the fryer and collect food particles and transport them in the direction of the sediment outlet 31.

Light particles 26, such as batter and/or breadcrumbs, will rise through the open mesh belt of the submerged conveyor 6, will float on the hot fluid surface and flow in the hot fluid flow direction 24, which can be generated by the flow distribution means 23.

Figures 3a and 3b depict the prior art where a scraper belt 30 carries the sediment onto an internal filter, here a slit screen filter 29. The permeability may be in the range of 0.4-0.6mm, and larger particles do not enter the slits of the mesh filter but are transported in the direction of the sediment outlet 31 to the sediment collection means 32.

The floating particles 26 are transported by the hot fluid flow 24 to the slit screen filter 29 and particles larger than the slits of the slit screen filter will be discharged at the sediment collection means 32. The hot fluid will be filtered through the slots in the slot screen filter to the hot fluid collection channel 50 and from there to the hot fluid collection chamber 51 where the positive pressure device 52 will pump the hot fluid through the hot fluid delivery device 53 to the flow distribution device 23. The hot fluid may be additionally filtered through an external filter having a permeability less than that of the slot screen filter 29 to remove particles from the suspension 27.

Fig. 4 depicts the disadvantages of the prior art. At the point where the fried food leaves the hot fluid bath with level 10, the floating particles first need to pass through the moving open mesh belt of submerged conveyor 6 at position "a", must pass through the fried product at position "B", pass through the moving open mesh belt of transport conveyor 2/take-over conveyor 5 at position "C", and pass through the return portion of the moving open mesh belt of transport conveyor 2/take-over conveyor 5 at position "D". Floating particles will adhere to several strips and be carried away by the passing food.

Furthermore, floating particles will tend to stick and accumulate to the frame part of the conveyor. Another disadvantage of the prior art is that floating particles burn due to contact with the heated hot fluid and cause degradation of the hot fluid, and these carbonized particles may be carried away by other food products.

In another known application in the field, floating particles will be removed by a floating particle removal device on the food product outlet side. The floating particles flow to the product outlet side of the container and will be discharged from the fryer by the belt of the transport and/or take-over conveyor. The fried food will exit through the perforated chute and the floating particles and hot fluid pass through the perforations of the chute onto a conveyor located outside the fryer and from there into a collection bin. The remaining hot fluid will be collected and delivered to an external filtration system for delivery to the fryer.

In addition to the floating particle removal apparatus, the disclosure of fig. 1-4 is also applicable to the present invention.

Contrary to the prior art, the concept of the present invention is that floating particles on the surface of the hot fluid bath should be removed as soon as possible after separation/removal from the food product. Thus, the floating particle removal is performed vertically above the submerged portion of the submerged conveyor and/or the submerged portion of the conveyor surface. This is the area where the floating particles fall out of the product.

Additionally or alternatively, the fryer includes an inlet region where a surface of the submerged conveyor and/or the conveying device enters the hot fluid bath and an outlet region where a surface of the submerged conveyor and/or the conveying device exits the hot fluid bath. A floating particle removal apparatus is located between the inlet region and the outlet region.

In an embodiment of the present invention, a floating particle removal device 70 is provided as shown in fig. 5 a. The embodiment of fig. 5b comprises two removal devices 70, one at the left longitudinal side wall 13 and one at the right longitudinal side wall 14 of the container. The floating particles float in the hot fluid flow direction 24 and the guide/separator arrangement 73 directs the floating particles 26 towards the floating particle removal device 70. In this embodiment, the guiding means are designed as a separator, which is advantageous in case of a relatively large width of the fryer, which extends horizontally and perpendicularly to the flow direction 24. The guide means is preferably made of or coated with a non-stick material, such as teflon, to prevent particles from sticking to the guide means, and furthermore the guide means extends directly below the hot fluid surface/fluid level 10, preferably in order to prevent the hot fluid from rotating at the position/bottom side of the guide means within the hot fluid bath, but still being able to sweep over the hot fluid surface and collect floating particles. Preferably, the guide means will extend so that the means and subsequent particles will eventually enter the floating particle removal device 70.

The guide 73 is not limited to one shape depicted but may vary; fig. 6a depicts a concave guide, fig. 6b depicts a convex guide, and fig. 6c depicts a linear guide. The combination of these shapes may be beneficial to improve the flow of floating particles 26 towards the floating particle removal device 70.

In order to be able to fry products of different thickness, the submerged conveyor can preferably be adjusted so that products of different thickness are transferred between the submerged conveyor 6 and the respective non-stick conveyor 4, transport conveyor 2 and/or take-over conveyor 5. The level 10 within the fryer vessel 11 may also vary with product thickness.

In the preferred embodiment shown in fig. 7a, the guiding means 73 is part of/integrated in/connected to the submerged conveyor 6/submerged conveyor 6. Fig. 7b and 7c depict that this is advantageous in daily operation. If the thickness of the product 7 requires a change of the vertical position of the submerged conveyor 6, the guide 73 will automatically be adjusted to the new thickness and the correct level 10 will be selected so as to provide the level preferably at a predetermined distance "PD" above the lower part of the belt of the submerged conveyor 6, preferably in the range of 10-30mm, the preferred predetermined distance resulting in a controlled distance "H" of the level 10 to the bottom side guide 73, independent of the thickness of the product 7. No separate adjustment with respect to the guiding means is required. Depending on the position of the guiding means 73, the frame of the submerged conveyor 6, preferably also the transport conveyor 2, the non-stick conveyor 4 and/or the take-over conveyor 5, may be provided with preferably large grooves in order to allow hot fluid to flow along the guiding means towards the particle discharge removal device 70, preferably floating particles do not contact the frame parts and/or floating particles do not stick and/or accumulate on the frame parts of the conveyor. The additional frame support and/or conveyor support may be positioned such that floating particles do not contact, adhere and/or accumulate on the conveyor support.

Depicted in FIG. 8 is a cross section of a floating particle removal apparatus 70 designed to operate in different liquid level ranges; a low level 10L and a high level 10H. The respective positions of the guide at the low level 73L and the high level 73H are depicted.

Prior art fryers may be provided with a sump 20 to collect water vapor that will condense due to the warm environment within the fryer. In addition, the basin 20 may be provided with a minimum amount of water to prevent gas from leaking from the fryer to the ambient environment. However, in order to be able to direct floating particles to the floating particle device 70 in case of a high liquid level 10H, the water tank 20 in the fryer vat 11 is preferably interrupted at the location of the floating particle device.

In the embodiment of fig. 8, the floating particles are directed to the floating particle removal device 70, in particular towards its removal means 77, which in this embodiment is a belt, more in particular a scraper belt. Here, the particles stop directly at the filter device 71. The hot fluid and smaller particles will pass through the filter means, in this embodiment the slots of the mesh filter 71, and will return to the fryer through the hot fluid return channel 76 in the hot fluid flow direction 24. Preferably, the hot fluid flows back into the fryer near the bottom wall 16 of the container to prevent the slightly cooled hot fluid from contacting the food product. Larger particles can be removed by the rod moving (indicated by the dashed arrow) towards the floating particle outlet 72. The return portion of the scraper belt runs under the mesh filter, can be rotated and runs over the mesh filter to collect floating particles. The design may be such that the filter device 71 may be removed for cleaning. The filter device 71 and the hot fluid return channel 76 are optional.

Fig. 9b depicts a cross section of another embodiment of the floating particle removal device 70. This embodiment can operate over a range of levels 10L and 10H, so the water bath 20 in the fryer container 11 is preferably interrupted as shown in fig. 9 a. For design, manufacturing and inventory reasons it is advantageous to design the floating particle removal apparatus as a modular element as depicted in fig. 9 c-e.

The floating particles will be directed towards the floating particle removal device 70, in particular towards its removal means 77, in this embodiment a belt, more in particular a scraper belt, as shown in the cross-section of fig. 9 d. The particles first pass the return travel bar and finally reach the filter device 71. The hot fluid and smaller particles pass through a filter means, in this embodiment a slit of a mesh filter 71, and flow back to the fryer through a hot fluid return channel 76 in the hot fluid flow direction 24. Preferably, the hot fluid flows back into the fryer near the bottom wall 16 of the container to prevent the slightly cooled hot fluid from contacting the food product. Larger particles may be removed by moving (indicated by the dashed arrow) the rod towards the floating particle outlet 72. The return portion of the scraper belt preferably runs above the portion in contact with the screen filter. The design may be such that the filter device 71 may be removed for cleaning. The filter device 71 and the hot fluid return channel 76 are optional.

Fig. 10 depicts a floating particle removal apparatus 70 similar to the embodiment of fig. 9b-9e, except that the removal means 77 is in this embodiment a reciprocating scraper bar, the movement of which may be determined according to a predetermined guiding profile 74, in this embodiment by a cam track. The filter device 71 and the hot fluid return channel 76 are optional.

Fig. 11a-11c depict a floating particle removal apparatus 70 in which the floating particle removal device 77 is an auger that rotates to remove floating particles toward the floating particle outlet 72. The device 70 preferably has no filter means 71 and preferably no hot fluid return channel 76, resulting in a simple and cost-effective design. In case the floating particle stream is not flowing sufficiently in the direction of the removal means 77, it may be advantageous to increase the hot fluid flow within the floating particle removal device by introducing the filter means 71 and the hot fluid return channel 76. Fig. 11b and 11c depict a floating particle removal device 70 having a filter arrangement 71 and a hot fluid return channel 76, and is similar to the embodiments of fig. 9b-9e and 10a-10c, except that the removal arrangement would be an auger.

In the prior art, a lateral soil removal device 33 as shown in fig. 1a and 5a may be provided, depending on the length of the fryer and/or the amount of deposits expected. The lateral dirt removal device 33 can be positioned relatively close to the food entry side 8, at least after the position in which excessive separation of food particles occurs in the fryer. Removing the deposits relatively quickly after the separation of the food particles will prevent/postpone the degradation of the hot fluid. The separated heavy non-floating particles 28 will sink to the bottom wall 16 of the fryer and will be moved by the sediment removal means 30 in the direction of the sediment outlet 31. At the location of the lateral soil removal device 33, the bottom wall of the fryer may be provided with a trough to collect the sediment. The lateral soil removal device 34 may comprise a scraper belt that removes sediment that may collect in the trough/trough in the bottom wall 16 of the fryer vat 11. In the prior art, the fryer sidewalls 13 and/or 14 of the fryer are closed except at the recessed bottom wall/trough, enabling the lateral soil removal device 34 to pass through the container sidewalls 13 and/or 14.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention depicted in fig. 12a-c, the combination of the lateral soil removal device 33 and the floating particle removal device 70 may be designed such that both sediment and floating particles will preferably be removed by one and the same means, preferably located at one side wall 13 and/or 14 of the fryer vat 11. The non-floating particles/sediment 28 and floating particles 26 may be discharged by one and the same removal device 34/77, depicted as a moving scraper bar in the embodiment of fig. 12. Thus, in the fryer vessel 11 of FIG. 12, sidewalls 13 and/or 14, sidewall 14, are preferably in communication with the hot fluid surface.

Fig. 13 depicts a floating particle removal apparatus 70 similar to the embodiment of fig. 12a-12c, except that a filter arrangement 71 and a hot fluid return channel 76 are provided, which is advantageous in case floating particles do not flow sufficiently in the direction of the floating particle removal arrangement 77. The filter device 71 and the return channel 76 will generate a flow of hot fluid in the apparatus 70, which will facilitate the flow of floating particles to the removal device 77. The return channel 76 is positioned so that the hot fluid returning to the fryer does not wash away floating particles collected on the particle removal device 77. Fig. 13a depicts a return channel 76 not communicating with the particle removal device 77.

For all of the described embodiments, a weir member (weir)80 may be applied to achieve/improve the sweeping of the floating particles 26 from the hot fluid surface. Fig. 14 depicts an embodiment based on fig. 12, wherein a weir member 80 will be applied to achieve/improve the sweeping of floating particles 26 from the hot fluid surface. FIG. 14a relates to a fryer with a low level 10L and a corresponding low position of the guiding means 73L. The weir member 80 is adapted so that hot fluid/floating particles at the surface and hot fluid directly below the surface can pass through the weir member. FIG. 14b relates to a fryer with a high level 10H and a corresponding high position of the guide 73H. The weir member 80 is adapted so that hot fluid/floating particles at the surface and hot fluid directly below the surface can pass through the weir member.

In a preferred embodiment, the weir member 80 may be part of/integrated with/connected to the submerged conveyor 6 like the guide 73. Fig. 14c-e depict this embodiment. If the product thickness varies, the level and submerged conveyor, and thus the weir member 80 attached, can be adjusted.

If the flow of floating particles is insufficient in the direction of the floating particle removal device 70 and/or the removal means 77, the weir means are advantageous when only a limited amount of hot fluid is able to move the floating particles in the direction of the removal device 70 and/or the removal means 77.

For all described embodiments, the flow of floating particles towards the floating particle removal device 70 may be further improved by a floating particle transfer means 75 as depicted in fig. 15 a. The floating particles will flow over the floating particle transfer means 75 (as shown in cut-away in fig. 15 b) and may be collected at the guiding means 73. The transfer device 75 may be supplied with pressurized hot fluid at the hot fluid inlet 79 by a pumping device, preferably by a flow distributor 23, and the transfer device 75 includes a plurality of holes over its length at an angle to the guide 73. A small jet of hot fluid may be applied to direct the floating particles to the floating particle removal device 70. It is preferred not to negatively affect the flow of hot fluid around the food product and to prevent air turbulence which could lead to degradation of the hot fluid. In another embodiment, the floating particle transfer means may be integrated in the guiding means 73. The invention is not limited to the two described embodiments and the design depicted in fig. 15.

For all of the described embodiments, a vacuum device 78 may be applied to extract floating particles from the hot fluid surface. A vacuum device may be used instead of the guide 73, in which case the particles will be discharged from the hot fluid surface over the width of the fryer by vacuum, for example by a vacuum connection on one or both sides of the fryer, or by vacuum over substantially the entire width of the hot fluid bath. A vacuum device may also be used in conjunction with the guide 73.

The number and location of the floating particle removing devices 70 are not limited to the previously described embodiments. Depending on the length of the fryer, one or more combinations of multiple particle removal devices 70 and/or one or more lateral foulant removal devices 33 and/or one or more floating particle removal devices 70 may be utilized. In another preferred embodiment, a combination of one or more lateral soil removal devices 33 and one or more floating particle removal devices 70 may be positioned at the end of the fryer.

The filter arrangement 71 and the hot fluid return channel 76 are optional for all embodiments described. Preferably, for design, manufacturing, cleaning and cost reasons, the filter device 71 and hot fluid return channel 76 will not be applied, but will depend primarily on the frying process parameters, such as hot fluid flow rate and the velocity of the hot fluid flow, which may advantageously increase the hot fluid flow within the floating particle removal apparatus by introducing the filter device 71 and hot fluid return channel 76, such that floating particles will flow towards the removal device 77.

The present invention is not limited to containers 11 containing hot fluid, but is also applicable to containers 11 containing hot water or broth for cooking food.

The present invention is not limited to the use of a submerged conveyor 6. In case no submerged conveyor 6 is used, the floating particles 26 may be removed from the oil/water/broth surface by means of the guiding means 73 and/or the vacuum means 78 and/or the floating particle transferring means 75. These devices may be connected to, for example, the container 11 and/or the non-stick conveyor 4 and/or the take-over conveyor 5 and/or the transport conveyor 2.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1 frying pan

2 conveying device, transport conveyor

3 conveying device, feed conveyor

4 conveying means, non-sticking conveyers

5 take over conveyer

6 immersed conveyor

7 food product

8 food inlet side

9 food outlet side

10 level, hot level, oil level

11 container, fryer container

13 left side wall container

14 right side wall container

16 bottom wall container

20 water tank

23 flow distributor

24 direction of hot fluid flow

26 Floating particles

27 suspended particles

28 non-floating particles, sediment

29 Integrated Filter device, built-in Filter device, Screen Filter, slit Screen Filter

30 deposit removing device, scraper, belt, and return belt

31 outlet for sediment

32 sediment collecting device

33 transverse dirt removal device

34 transverse dirt removing device

35 inlet area

36 outlet region

37 submerged portion

38 surface of the conveyor on which the products are placed during frying

50 thermal fluid collecting channel

51 thermal fluid collecting chamber

52 overpressure device, positive pressure device, thermal fluid pump

53 thermal fluid conveying device, pipe

61 heat exchanger

70 floating particle removal apparatus

71 Filter device, mesh filter

72 outlet for floating particles

73 guide device

74 guide section bar

75 float granule transfer device

76 hot fluid return path

77 removing device, floating particle removing apparatus, auger, belt, scraper belt

78 vacuum device for floating particles

79 hot fluid inlet

80 weir component

81 hot fluid bath, oil bath, water bath, broth bath

A conveyer belt 6

B transporting the food 7

C. D conveying conveyer belt 3-5

Distance of H liquid level 10 to bottom side guide 73

Predetermined distance liquid level above the PD belt-like immersion conveyor 6