Returning unit for flat food product like pancakes

A unit for returning one or more flat food products, said unit comprising:

• a returning element configured for rotating around a rotating axis and provided with at least one outer face for receiving the one or more flat food products to be returned;
• wherein the at least one outer face is provided with air aspiration holes for maintaining by depression the one or more flat food products on the outer face when the returning element is rotated with the outer face oriented downwardly;
• and
• a loading conveyor configured for loading the one or more flat food products on one of the at least one outer face of the returning element;
• wherein the loading conveyor is a belt conveyor with a retractable end configured for selectively extending from the belt to bring the one or more flat food products from the belt to one of the at least one outer face of the returning element, and retracting to the belt away from the outer face.

A process of returning one or more flat food products, said process comprising the steps of:

• (a) loading one or more flat food products on an outer surface of a returning element;
• (b) rotating the returning element so as to return the one or more flat food products;
• and
• (c) unloading the one or more flat food products from the returning element;
• wherein step (b) comprises maintaining the one or more flat food products on the outer face by applying a depression on a lower face of the one or more flat food products via air aspiration holes provided on the outer face;
• and
• wherein step (c) comprises releasing the depression on the one or more flat food products.