The present invention relates to a device and method for manufacturing a food roll, such as a sushi roll.

Sushi can be made in different ways. A roll, a so-called sushi roll, is often first made and subsequently cut into pieces. In order to make a sushi roll a quantity of rice is filled with ingredients such as fish or vegeta- bles. The rice is then rolled with for instance a bamboo mat.

Devices are currently available with which sushi rolls can be made by hand. The devices often consist of two cylinders connected only by a flexible mat. A user must move and roll the cylinders in a manner such that a sushi roll is created in the mat. The drawback of such a device is that the user must have the necessary training to be able to manufacture a good sushi roll.

It is an object of the present invention to pro- vide a device with which a food roll can be manufactured in a simple manner, wherein the device is easier to operate than the known devices .

This object is achieved with a device for manufacturing a food roll, comprising:

- a substantially rectangular mat fixed at a main end for the purpose of rolling up a quantity of filling material, such as rice, in a roll-up direction with a casing material optionally placed thereunder, such as a sheet of seaweed;

- a lifting member for lifting a part of the mat locally over the width of the mat; - two guide members which can be arranged on either side of the mat for guiding the lifting member during the forward movement,

- wherein the two guide members are adapted to guide the lifting member in the roll-up direction via a determined path, this path comprising at least during use:

- an enclosing section running from a starting point to a lower-lying end point so that, as the lifting member moves through the enclosing section, the filling material and the optionally present casing material are substantially enclosed by the mat;

- a rolling section running from the end point of the enclosing section to an end point lying further away relative to the main end of the mat so that, as the lifting member moves through the rolling section, the filling material and the optionally present casing material are rolled up by the mat, so creating the food roll;

- a release section running from the end point of the rolling section to an end point at a higher loca- tion so that, when the lifting member moves through the release section, the food roll is released by the mat.

The enclosing section preferably comprises a substantially horizontal section and a downward running section.

In an embodiment the enclosing section comprises two downward running sections which are connected to a substantially horizontal section. This embodiment is recommended in the manufacture of relatively thin rolls.

The rolling section preferably comprises a sub- stantially horizontal section. The release section preferably comprises an upward running section.

In one embodiment the release section comprises a further section running from the highest point of the upward running section to a point which is as high or lower.

The lifting member is for instance a rod running perpendicularly of the roll-up direction. A food roll, such as a sushi roll, with a uniform quality can be manufactured very simply using the device. The mat pushes uniformly against the roll and, because the lifting member is guided, the user will not need to learn specific skills.

A handling member is preferably arranged at both outer ends of the lifting member for the purpose of manual advance of the lifting member in the roll-up direction. The user can in this way easily operate the lifting member and advance it evenly on both sides of the device.

In an embodiment each of the two guide members comprises a side wall provided with a slot in the form of said path. The side walls can be mutually connected with a substantially rectangular bottom wall. This creates a simple box-like construction, which preferably also comprises a rear wall for the purpose of increasing the strength of the construction.

In an embodiment the side walls can be uncoupled from the bottom wall. The side walls are hereby easily replaceable, so the side walls with specific slots can be mounted in order to make food rolls of differing cross- section.

The mat is preferably flexible in the roll-up direction and less or non-flexible in a direction perpendicularly of the roll-up direction. The mat preferably comprises parallel pieces of bamboo connected at multiple positions with a thread.

The guide members can comprise metal, preferably stainless steel. Other materials can also be envisaged, such as hardened plastic. Such materials are relatively light and easy to clean.

In an embodiment the mat is fixed at a first side in the device using for instance a rod running from the one side wall to the other side wall. In an embodiment the mat is fixed at the first side or is held at a determined height h relative to an underside of the device. This height prevents friction between parts of the mat during rolling when the lifting member is beyond the second section.

In an embodiment the lifting member comprises an elongate rod which, at least in use, protrudes through both guide members. The lifting member can also comprise a roller arranged rotatably relative to the mat. Because the outer surface of the lifting member can roll, there occurs less friction with the mat, so increasing the lifespan of the mat.

In an embodiment the path further comprises a fifth section running from the highest point of the fourth section to a point lying as high or lower. The lifting member can support in this fifth section so that the user does not need to hold up the lifting member.

The invention also relate to a method for manufacturing a food roll, comprising of:

- providing a device as stated above;

- setting the device in a starting position, wherein the lifting member is situated at the beginning of the enclosing section, wherein the mat runs from the main end over the lifting member, then steeply downward and subsequently substantially horizontally to a front side of the device;

- placing a quantity of filling material, such as rice, and optionally a casing material and optionally ingredients, on the substantially horizontal part of the mat in the vicinity of the steep part of the mat;

- moving the lifting member from the starting position to an end position where the lifting member has arrived at the end of the release section.

Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be described in greater detail he- reinbelow on the basis of one or more preferred embodi- ments and with reference to the accompanying figures.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic oblique top view of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic oblique top view of the embodiment of figure 1, wherein the mat is arranged;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic oblique bottom view of the embodiment of Fig. 1, wherein the mat is arranged;

Fig. 4 shows a front view of the embodiment of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 shows a side view of the embodiment of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 shows a side view of a device according to an embodiment wherein the slot comprises a fifth section;

Fig. 7A-7D show highly schematically a number of positions of the device of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 shows a side wall according to a further embodiment of the invention. A first preferred embodiment, see Fig. 1, according to the present invention relates to a device 1 for manufacturing a food roll, such as a sushi roll. This comprises two side walls 2,3 with slots 4,5 arranged therein of a specific form, the function of which will be described in detail with reference to Fig. 7A-7D. Device 1 of Fig. 1 further comprises a bottom wall 6 in which a slot 7 is arranged along almost the whole width of bottom wall 6. In this embodiment bottom wall 6 is part of a preferably metal plate having on two sides an upright edge 8,9, wherein edge 9 is not shown in Fig. 1. Arranged in the corners of the metal plate are openings (not shown) through which tongues of the side walls can be inserted. The side walls can in this way be uncoupled from bottom wall 6. The advantage of constructing device 1 from a plurality of elements which can be uncoupled is that the device is easy to store and also easy to clean.

Shown on the rear side of device 1 is a rod 10 which protrudes through slots 4,5. Rod 10 serves as lifting member for local lifting of a mat, which is omitted for the sake of clarity in Fig. 1. As a result a rod 11 can be seen in Fig. 1 which is coupled to both side walls. Rod 11 imparts strength to device 1 and also serves as fastening point for the mat.

A handle 12,13 is fixed to both outer ends of rod 10. Handles 12,13 can for instance be formed by cylindrical knobs in which recesses are preferably arranged so that a user can place a thumb therein for a better grip.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic oblique top view of the embodiment of Fig. 1, wherein a mat 21 is arranged. Mat 21 is attached at an outer end to rod 11, which is in turn fastened with nuts 22 to side walls 2,3. The other outer end of mat 21 is placed through slot 7 (see Fig. 1) and runs partially under bottom wall 6.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic oblique bottom view of the embodiment of Fig. 1, wherein a rear wall 23 is also shown which is coupled to bottom 6 and to the two side walls 2,3. In Fig. 3 can be seen how a part of mat 21 runs below bottom wall 6. It is simple to bring the mat to the correct length by fixing the mat under device 1. This is particularly advantageous when side walls 2,3 are replace- able by other side walls which comprise a slot of another form. Through the use of different slots it is possible for the user to be able to install the device in simple manner for the correct type of sushi roll (larger or smaller cross-section) .

The tongues 25 which form part of the elements forming the side walls can be seen in Fig. 3 on the underside of the device.

Fig. 4 shows a front view of the embodiment of device 1 of Fig. 1. Several dimensions are shown in Fig. 4. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the use of determined dimensions and that bottom wall 6 of device 1 can even be larger than 500 x 600 mm. It is also noted here that mat 21 can optionally be so wide that the width exceeds the length of mat 21 in the rolling direc- tion. In both cases mat 21 is of substantially rectangular form.

Fig. 5 a shows a side view of the embodiment of device 1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 shows the different sections from which slot 5 is constructed. A first section 51 runs substantially horizontally. First section 51 transposes into a second section 52 running obliquely downward to some extent. Second section 52 transposes into a third section 53 running substantially horizontally (i.e. parallel to bottom wall 6) . Third section 53 transposes into a fourth section 54 running substantially vertically upward. It will be apparent to the skilled person that the different sections preferably transpose smoothly into each other so that rod 10 can be pulled easily through the slot by the user. It will also be apparent that section 52 can run vertically, although this is not recommended. It is further noted that sections 51,53 need not run exactly horizontally and that they can also run at a slight angle up- ward or downward.

Fig. 6 shows a side view of a device 1 according to an embodiment wherein slot 5 comprises a fifth section 55. Fifth section 55 runs back (i.e. in the direction of rear wall 23) and has a lowest point which is lower than (or as high as) the transition from fourth section 54 to fifth section 55. Fifth section 55 in slot 5 forms a stable support point for lifting member 10.

Using the above described device 1 a sushi roll can be manufactured in simple manner by hand. It is noted that the invention is not limited to the making of sushi rolls by hand. The lifting member could for instance also be moved via a guide member using appropriate automatic drive means.

Referring to Fig. 7A-7D the operation of device 1 will now be described. Slot 5 is shown highly schematically in Fig. 7A-7D. Bottom wall 6 and mat 21 are also shown. Fig. 7A shows a starting position of device 1, wherein lifting member 10 is situated at the beginning of first section 51, wherein mat 21 first runs steeply upward from a fixed point, for instance rod 11, on a rear side of device 1, then reaches a highest point where mat 21 is supported by lifting member 10, then runs steeply downward again and subsequently runs substantially horizontally to a front side of device 1.

Once device 1 has been placed in the starting position, a quantity of rice 70, and thereunder a casing 71 such as a sheet of seaweed, is placed on the horizontal part of mat 21 in the vicinity of the steep part of mat 21. Ingredients such as fish or vegetables can optionally be placed in or on the rice 70. For the purpose of placing a correct quantity of rice a rectangular mould (not shown) is preferably used so that a rectangular portion of rice can be easily formed.

Once the seaweed, the rice and the ingredients have been placed, lifting member 10 is moved out of the starting position to an end position where the lifting member arrives at the end of fourth section 54. Fig. 7B shows the situation in which lifting member 10 passes through section 52 of slot 5. It can be readily seen that mat 21 begins to enclose the rice 70, whereby rice 70 deforms. It is for this reason that sections 51 and 52 are together also referred to as the enclosing section. The sheet of seaweed will enclose the rice on the outer side of the rice. When lifting member 10 is moved further, the situation arises as shown in Fig. 7C. Indicated with arrows is that lifting member 10 is now moving to the right, whereby the rice begins to rotate. This creates a sushi roll 72. Depending on the length of section 53, the sushi roll is rotated one or more times, so creating a nicely rounded sushi roll 72. Section 53 is also referred to as the roll-up section since it serves to roll up the food roll. Because in this embodiment mat 21 is. fixed. at a de- termined height relative to bottom wall 6, see height h

(for instance 25 mm), the part of mat 21 between starting point 11 and lifting member 10 does not come into contact, or hardly so, with the part of the mat between lifting member 10 and the sushi roll 72. The height h can also be greater, and even greater than the height of section 51.

Mat 21 is preferably formed from a bamboo mat which is flexible in the rolling direction, but not very flexible or not flexible at all in a direction perpendicularly thereof.

Fig. 7D shows schematically the form of mat 21 in the end position. The lifting member has arrived at the highest point of section 54 and the sushi roll can now leave mat 21. The user can now pick up and further process sushi roll 72.

Fig. 8 shows a side wall 80 according to a further embodiment of the invention. Present in side wall 80 is a slot 81 which has an enclosing section consisting of sections 82,83,84,85. Sections 83 and 85 are descending and sections 82 and 84 are substantially horizontal. It has been found that such an embodiment operates well in the rolling of for instance sushi rolls which have a smaller cross-section than the rolls made using the embodiment of Fig. 5.

The present invention is described in the foregoing on the basis of several preferred embodiments. Dif- ferent aspects of different embodiments are deemed described in combination with each other, wherein all combinations which can be made by a skilled person on the basis of this document are to be considered included. The invention can for instance also be used to manufacture cannel- loni or spring rolls or pancakes with filling. The stated preferred embodiments are not limitative for the scope of protection of this document. The rights sought are defined in the appended claims.