DE102020106054A1 - Process for producing shingled portions and slicers suitable therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to maintain a specified portion length (LPsoll) despite varying product height (H), the product height (H) is automatically determined and the required discharge distance (AA) is determined so that the transition from one to the next product caliber (K) to make it visually appealing within a transitional portion (Pü).

Description

field of use

The invention relates to a slicing machine, in particular a so-called slicer, with which strands or bars of an elastic, limited compressible product such as sausage or cheese are cut into slices in the food industry.

II. Technical background

Since these rods can be produced with a cross-section that is dimensionally stable and dimensionally stable over their length, that is to say essentially constant, they are also called product calibres.

In this case, several product calibres are usually cut open next to one another at the same time by cutting a slice from each caliber with the same knife, which moves in a transverse direction to the longitudinal direction of the product caliber.

The product calibres are pushed forward by a feed conveyor in the direction of the knife, usually on a downwardly inclined feed conveyor, and each guided through the product openings in a plate-shaped so-called cutting goggle, on the front main surface of which the protruding part of the product caliber is separated from the knife as a disc immediately in front of the cutting glasses.

As a rule, the slices fall onto a discharge conveyor, usually in the form of an endless, revolving conveyor belt, by means of which they are transported away for further processing.

Often slices lying individually on the discharge conveyor should not be transported away, but rather shingled portions of slices lying in a row in the discharge direction, partially overlapping one another, should be transported away. The distance between the slices within the portion depends on the speed of the discharge conveyor - which is then usually called the portioning belt - provided the timing of the separation of the slices is specified and / or remains unchanged.

As a rule - mostly depending on the length of the trough, in particular a storage recess in a tray in which the portion is to be stored and which then represents the maximum permissible portion length - a predetermined target portion length should be achieved below Among other things, it depends on the product height, i.e. the thickness of the product visible in the side view of the slicing machine.

For this purpose, when starting up the slicing machine, i.e. before starting to slice a batch of calibers, the speed of the portioning belt is changed manually until the desired portion length is reached.

This must be carried out again for each new product caliber to be sliced, since the exact product height can change slightly from caliber to caliber due to the manufacturing process.

In addition, the transition from a sliced product size to a new product size within the production of a portion can result in an unacceptable distance between the slices within the portion between the last slice of the old product size and the first slice of the new product size.

III. Presentation of the invention

Technical task

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a method for automatically adjusting the portion length in a shingled portion, with which this problem is minimized or completely eliminated, and to provide a suitable slicing machine, in particular a slicer.

Solution of the task

This object is achieved by the features of claims 1 and 10. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

With regard to the method, this object is achieved in that first of all the height of the product caliber - i.e. measured at a right angle from the contact surface of the caliber upwards - is automatically determined before the start of slicing, preferably in the state already inserted in the slicing machine. In the case of a caliber with an exactly round cross-section, the height of the product is also the diameter of its cross-section.

From this ascertained product height, the required drop-off distance between the slices is automatically ascertained for a given target portion length of the portion in the stored - mostly stored in a pack cavity - state.

This is for one serving - see best 2 - from n slices, between which there is thus n-1 Distances are the nominal portion length reduced by the length of a slice = product height divided by n-1.

The slicing machine is then automatically controlled in such a way that the slices are ejected and deposited with the calculated ejection distance in the removal direction.

It is assumed that a portion always consists of a fixed number of n slices, and that the weight of the portion is not specified and the number of slices can vary.

Preferably, the ejection position of the first slice in e.g. the packaging cavity should also be determined automatically, namely preferably so that the deposited portion comes to lie approximately in the middle of the length of the package cavity - also measured in the discharge direction.

In this way, no manual intervention is necessary before cutting a caliber apart from entering the desired portion length and, if necessary, the length and position, in particular when the first slice of a portion is ejected, the package cavity.

In addition, the deposited portion visually corresponds to the desired appearance right from the start, without this optimal appearance first having to be found through manual readjustment of controllable parameters on the slicing machine, in particular the slicer, as was previously the case with the first portions produced.

In the following, instead of the general term slicing machine, only a slicer is generally used, without restricting the invention to this.

• Das Portionier-Band, auf dem die abgetrennten Scheiben - direkt oder auf einem darauf liegenden Verpackungs-Teil, welches meist eine vertiefte Packungs-Mulde aufweist - abtransportiert werden, da hierüber die Abwurf-Abstände der darauf auftreffenden Scheiben beeinflusst wird.

Various parameters can be controlled automatically on such a slicer:

• The portioning belt on which the severed slices are transported away - directly or on a packaging part lying on top, which usually has a recessed package trough - as this influences the throw-off distances between the slices that hit them.

In the case of a continuously running portioning belt, the speed of the portioning belt is controlled; in the case of a portioning belt moving step by step, which comes to a standstill when a slice hits, the step length of the portioning belt is controlled.

In the case of a continuously running portioning belt, the discharge distance is controlled by the time intervals between the individual cutting processes of one slice at a time. In the case of a sickle-shaped knife whose axis of rotation is stationary, this is achieved by controlling the speed of the sickle-shaped knife; in the case of a circular disc-shaped knife whose axis of rotation also follows a trajectory, this is controlled via the rotation time of the axis of rotation along the trajectory.

The advantage of this procedure lies in the fact that no manual intervention is necessary in order to determine the parameters of the machine to be controlled on the basis of the automatically determined ejection distance.

The slice length in the discharge direction on which the calculation is based is - for example in the case of a product that is incompressible in the direction of its height - identical to the product height determined and is accordingly equated with it by the control.

However, if the product is somewhat elastic or plastic in the direction of its product height, for example due to its own weight or the application of force in the height direction by an upper product guide or other factors and thus the length of the disc placed in the discharge direction can deviate from the determined product height, so can the operator can enter the difference between the length of the slice and the height of the product into the control, either as a percentage factor or as an absolute value in millimeters.

This ensures that the length of the produced portion and its determination, in particular the throw-off distance, is calculated using the actually present slice length.

If, during the production of a portion, an old caliber that has come to an end has to be changed over to a new caliber, a transition portion should preferably be created that still partly consists of the last slices of the old caliber and the first slices of the new caliber has a sufficiently positive appearance to go on sale instead of having to dispose of a partial portion made from the last slices of the old caliber, as has often been the case in the past.

• Wenn das Ziel darin besteht, dass der sichtbare Abstand zwischen allen abgelegten Scheiben der gleiche ist, muss hierfür lediglich der Abwurf-Abstand am Übergang zwischen altem und neuen Kaliber neu berechnet werden, dagegen bleibt der Abwurf-Abstand zwischen den Scheiben des neuen Kalibers der gleiche wie der zwischen den Scheiben des alten Kalibers.

If the product height and thus also the target length of the old and new caliber differ, on the one hand it is necessary to automatically set the ejection distance at the transition between the last target of the old caliber and the first of the new caliber, as well as for the Slices of the new caliber, taking into account their new slice length, automatically determine a new ejection distance in order to achieve a visually appealing shape of the portion. Different goals can be pursued:

• If the goal is for the visible distance between all the discarded targets to be the same, all that needs to be done is to recalculate the release distance at the transition between the old and new caliber, while the release distance between the discs of the new caliber remains the same like the one between the discs of the old caliber.

As a result, however, the length of the fully deposited portion changes compared to the specified target portion length. However, since the consumer usually only holds one pack in their hand for inspection and no second for direct comparison, this difference is usually not noticeable, especially since it is usually only a few millimeters.

However, if the target length and thus the product height of the new caliber is greater than that of the old caliber, then when recalculating the ejection distance at the transition between the calibres, care must be taken to ensure that this does not result in the maximum permissible portion length - which usually depends on the length depends on the package cavity - is exceeded, especially since the storage positions and ejection distances of the first discs, i.e. of the old caliber, in the storage cavity can no longer be changed.

If necessary, the release distances between the discs of the new caliber and / or the transition release distance must therefore be reduced compared to the old release distance.

• Wird hierfür der Abwurf-Abstand unverändert belassen, also auch der Übergangs-Abwurf-Abstand am Übergang zwischen der letzten Scheibe des alten Kalibers und der ersten Scheibe des neuen Kalibers, so wird diese Soll-Portionslänge im Wesentlichen eingehalten, jedoch ergibt sich dann unter Umständen am Übergang vom alten zum neuen Kaliber ein sichtbarer Abstand zwischen den entsprechenden Scheiben der Portion, der von den sichtbaren Abständen zwischen den Scheiben erzeugt vom alten Kaliber und den sichtbaren Abständen erzeugt vom neuen Kaliber erkennbar unterscheiden kann.

Another goal could be that the length of the portion should correspond as precisely as possible to the predetermined portion length even with such a transition portion. Then, based on the remaining portion length that is still available after the last slice of the old caliber has been cut off and put down, this must be automatically distributed to the slices of the new caliber:

• If the ejection distance is left unchanged for this, i.e. also the transition-ejection distance at the transition between the last disc of the old caliber and the first disc of the new caliber, this target portion length is essentially adhered to, but this may result At the transition from the old to the new caliber, a visible distance between the corresponding slices of the portion, which can be clearly distinguished from the visible distances between the slices created from the old caliber and the visible distances created from the new caliber.

It can therefore make sense to automatically change the ejection distance at the transition so that the visible distance between the calibers is the same as between the following targets of the new caliber, although this can of course differ from the visible distance between the targets of the old one Caliber, but then usually only so little that it is barely noticeable to the consumer with the naked eye.

Here too - if the product height of the new caliber is greater than that of the old caliber - it must be taken into account that the maximum permissible portion length is not exceeded, because otherwise the ejection distance calculated as described above between the new discs and / or the dropping distance between the two calibers can be reduced accordingly in order to comply with this maximum permissible portion length and to achieve a salable transition portion.

This necessary reduction for the purpose of maintaining the maximum permissible portion length can be done by a percentage factor or by an absolute value, in each case for each dropping distance, which results in different results in the comparison between the dropping distance at the transition point and the dropping distance between can result from the discs of the new caliber and can also have an optical effect. Depending on the preference of the operator, he will specify the type of reduction in the control.

The advantage in all cases is that a salable transition portion is achieved, the visual design of the transition portion being able to be selected by the operator.

• Eine Methode besteht darin, nach dem Einfahren des neuen Kalibers zwischen eine vorhandene obere Produktführung, insbesondere ein oberes Führungsband, und eine untere Produktführung den lichten Abstand dazwischen zu ermitteln, insbesondere in Form der Höhenlage der oberen Produktführung, die in aller Regel beweglich am Grundgestell des Slicers befestigt ist.

The automatic determination of the product height can be done in different ways:

• One method is to determine the clear distance between an existing upper product guide, in particular an upper guide belt, and a lower product guide after the new caliber has moved in, in particular in the form of the height of the upper product guide, which is usually movable on the base frame of the Slicers attached.

This is preferably done by determining the clear distance between the corresponding, in particular the lens-side, from the at least two deflection rollers via which at Guide bands run around the lower guide band on the one hand and the upper guide band on the other hand, relative to one another or only the height position of the upper, in particular the glasses-side, deflecting roller with knowledge of the corresponding lower deflecting roller that may be permanently installed.

In both cases - if the height or the clearance between the axes of rotation of these rollers is determined - the diameter of these rollers and the thickness of the guide tape running over them must also be taken into account for the clearance.

However, the product height is preferably determined in such a position of the new caliber in which the front end of the latter is not yet in the cutting goggles, since this allows further forces to be introduced into the product caliber that would have occurred in the case of the individual disc that was cut off are no longer present, and thus the slice length of the severed slice no longer corresponds to the product height already located in the cutting glasses with the beginning of the caliber.

Alternatively, the product height can also be determined by contactless determination of the height of the upper side of the product caliber, as its distance from the lower support surface on which the product caliber is located.

This can be done by scanning this height over the entire width of the top of the product caliber, or simply determining the height at one or more defined positions in the width direction of the product caliber.

The same can be done by touching the height of the top of the caliber, but with a separate sensor that does not determine the height of one of the previously described components of the slicer, for example the upper product guide, but directly the height of the top of the caliber above the lower support surface , so measured perpendicular to it.

This measurement is also preferably carried out shortly before the cutting glasses, and of course with knowledge of the height of the underside of the product caliber, that is to say of the support surface on which the caliber rests.

The advantage of such a direct measurement is that signs of wear or play between the components of the slicer used for an indirect measurement do not play a role and a corresponding, directly measuring sensor is also more accessible for repair or replacement if necessary.

In this way, no manual action is required to determine the product height.

A generic slicing machine, in particular a slicer, is known to include a cutting unit with a rotating knife, a product feed for feeding the caliber to the cutting unit, a portioning belt on which the cut-off slices are placed directly or indirectly, and a controller for controlling at least all moving parts of the slicing machine.

According to the invention, the existing object is achieved for this slicer in that it further comprises a height sensor which automatically determines the product height of the product caliber, preferably just before the cutting glasses, directly or indirectly, and this height sensor is connected to the controller for signaling purposes, in order to forward the determined value to the control.

Furthermore, the input unit of the control is designed so that parameters to be specified, such as at least the target portion length, also the maximum permissible portion length and, if applicable, the difference for determining the slice length from the ascertained product height and, if applicable, various targets for calculating the visible slice spacing, are entered can be.

If the control is designed in such a way that it is able to calculate the necessary ejection distance from a specified target portion length, even with a transition portion at the transition between the discs of an old caliber and the discs of a new caliber the previously described method can be carried out with such a slicer and, apart from the aforementioned inputs on the input unit, any further intervention by the operator becomes obsolete.

The control is preferably also designed so that it knows the number of slices already placed in this portion, i.e. the cut slices, at any time during the production of a portion, which is an essential prerequisite for producing a salable transition portion.

Embodiments

• 1a, b: eine Aufschneide-Maschine in Form eines Slicers gemäß dem Stand der Technik in unterschiedlichen perspektivischen Ansichten,
• 1c: die Aufschneide-Maschine der 1a, b in der Seitenansicht,
• 1d: einen vereinfachten vertikalen Längsschnitt durch die Aufschneide-Maschine der 1a - c, also in gleicher Blickrichtung wie 1c, in dem die verschiedenen Förderbänder besser zu erkennen sind,
• 1e: den Vorgang des Herabfallens einer abgetrennten Scheibe in einer Vergrößerung und gleicher Blickrichtung wie 1d,
• 2: eine Aufsicht auf eine erste Variante einer abgelegten Übergangs-Portion,
• 3: eine Aufsicht auf eine zweite Variante einer abgelegten Übergangs-Portion,
• 4: eine Aufsicht auf eine dritte Variante einer abgelegten Übergangs-Portion.

Embodiments according to the invention are described in more detail below by way of example. Show it:

• 1a, b : a slicing machine in the form of a slicer according to the prior art in different perspective views,
• 1c : the slicing machine of the 1a, b in the side view,
• 1d : a simplified vertical longitudinal section through the slicing machine of the 1a - c , i.e. in the same viewing direction as 1c , in which the different conveyor belts can be seen better,
• 1e : the process of the falling of a severed pane in an enlargement and in the same viewing direction as 1d ,
• 2 : a top view of a first variant of a stored transition portion,
• 3 : a top view of a second variant of a stored transition portion,
• 4th : a top view of a third variant of a discarded transition portion.

the 1a , 1b show different perspective views of a slicer 1 for cutting several product sizes at the same time K side by side and filing in shingled portions P. from several slices each S. with a general direction of travel 10 * through the slicer 1 left to right as well 1c a side view of this slicer 1 .

1d shows a vertical section through such a slicer - simplified by omitting details that are less important for the invention 1 longitudinal 10 , the direction in which the caliber is fed K to the cutting unit 7th and thus the longitudinal direction of the slicer 1 lying caliber K , so with the same viewing direction as 1c .

It can be seen that the basic structure of a slicer 1 according to the prior art is that a cutting unit 7th with a rotating sickle knife 3 several, in this case four, across the feed direction 10 adjacent product calibres K from a feed unit 20th are fed from the front ends of the rotating sickle knife 3 one disc at a time S. separates.

For this purpose, the feed unit comprises 20th a feeder 4th in the form of an endless, revolving feed belt 4th , whose upper run at least in the feed direction 10 as well as being drivable against this, the width of this feed conveyor 4th adjacent calibers K mostly not on the infeed belt 4th rest themselves, but on crossbars 15th running across the width of the feed conveyor 22 and in the feed direction 10 spaced on the infeed belt 4th are arranged and the upper sides of the support surface 15 ' for each caliber K represent. In the tops of the cross bars 12th are aligned recesses for one of the calibres to be placed K , in this case four, are available to ensure adequate lateral guidance.

For cutting the product caliber K is the feeder 4th in the in the 1a - e shown inclined position with the low-lying cutting-side, front end and high, rear end, from which it is about one in its width direction, the 1st transverse direction 11 , extending pivot axis 20 ', which is located in the vicinity of the cutting unit 7th is located, can be folded down into an approximately horizontal loading position.

The rear end of one in the feed unit 20th lying caliber K - see in 1d the first caliber K1 of the four calibres lying one behind the other in this viewing direction - is each from a gripper 14a - d form-fitting with the help of gripper claws 16 held. This with regard to the position of the gripper claws 16 activatable and deactivatable gripper 14a - 14d are on a common gripper unit 13th attached, which along a rod-shaped gripper guide 18th in the feed direction 10 can be tracked.

• Denn für das Aufschneiden werden die vorderen Enden der Kaliber K jeweils durch eine für jedes Kaliber vorhandene sogenannte Brillenöffnung 6a - d geführt, die in einer plattenförmigen Schneidbrille 5 ausgebildet sind, die Bestandteil der Schneideinheit 7 ist, indem unmittelbar vor der vorderen, schräg nach unten weisenden Stirnfläche der Schneidbrille 5 die Schneidebene 3" verläuft, in der das Sichelmesser 3 mit seiner Schneidkante 3a rotiert und damit den Überstand der Kaliber K aus der Schneidbrille 5 als Scheibe S abtrennt. Die Schneidebene 3" verläuft lotrecht zum Obertrum des Zuförderers 4 und/oder wird von den beiden Querrichtungen 11, 12 aufgespannt.

Both the feed of the gripper unit 13th as well as the feeder 4th controllable drivable, but the specific feed speed of the caliber K by a so-called upper and lower product guide 8th , 9 is effected on the top and bottom of the caliber to be sliced K at their front end regions near the cutting unit 7th attack:

• Because the front ends of the caliber K each through a so-called eyeglass opening available for each caliber 6a - d out that in a plate-shaped cutting glasses 5 are formed, which are part of the cutting unit 7th is by placing immediately in front of the front, obliquely downward-facing end face of the cutting glasses 5 the cutting plane 3 " runs in which the sickle knife 3 with its cutting edge 3a rotates and thus the excess of the caliber K out of the cutting glasses 5 as a disc S. separates. The cutting plane 3 " runs perpendicular to the upper run of the feeder 4th and / or is from the two transverse directions 11 , 12th stretched.

The inner circumference of the glasses openings is used for this 6a - d the cutting edge 3a of the knife 3 as a shearbar.

The glasses openings 6a - d the interchangeable cutting glasses 5 are about the cross-sectional shape and size of the cut caliber K adapted, since their cross-sectional size is subject to production-related fluctuations, the cross-section of the glasses openings is 6a - d usually slightly larger than the cross-section of the caliber to be cut K .

In order to still achieve a good cutting result, and parameters such as the tracking force of the caliber K on the inner peripheral surface of the eyeglass opening 6a - d and to control other parameters is the lower and upper, each designed as a conveyor belt, product guidance 8th , 9 present, of which the lower product guide 9 with its upper run and the upper product guide 8th with the lower run of the corresponding conveyor belt on the bottom or top of the caliber K fit firmly.

As both product guides 8th , 9 can be driven in a controlled manner, in particular independently of one another, they determine the - continuous or clocked - feed rate of the caliber K through the cutting glasses 5 . Preferably the two product guides are 8th , 9 in the 1st transverse direction 11 separately for each caliber K available and controllable.

In addition, there is at least the upper product guide 8th in the second transverse direction 12th - the perpendicular to the surface of the upper run of the feeder folded up into the slicing position 4th runs - can be moved to adjust to the height H of the caliber K in this direction. Furthermore, at least one of the product tours 8th , 9 around one of their pulleys 8a , 8b , 9a , 9b be designed to be pivotable to the direction of the caliber K to be able to change adjacent dreams of their conveyor belt to a limited extent.

The corresponding to the inclination of the feed unit 20th and cutting unit 7th Panes that are inclined in the room when separated S. fall on one below the cutting glasses 5 beginning and in the direction of passage 10 * running discharge unit 17th which in this case out in the direction of passage 10 * several with their upper strands approximately aligned one behind the other discharge conveyors 17a, b, c exists, one of which can also be designed as a weighing unit.

The discs fall S. either directly to this conveyor 17a-c , as in 1d shown, or on a packaging element resting on it V such as a carrier box or a flat plastic tray, as in 1e shown.

In this side view of the 1e it can be seen that the lower end of the disc when it is cut off S. after detaching from the caliber K essentially without movement in the direction of passage 10 * falls vertically down, and the top of the disc S. - which is separated in time beforehand, thereby making an arc around the lower end, the disc S. so tilts down and if possible should be in an approximately horizontal, level position when it is on the discharge unit 17th hits.

The disks S. can be used individually and in the direction of flow 10 * spaced from each other on the discharge unit 17th fall or by appropriate control of the discharge unit 17th servings there P. form in which the disks S. touch, for example stacked or the in 1e and 2 , 3 Shingled portions shown P. .

Below the feed unit 20th there is also an approximately horizontally running residue conveyor 21 also in the form of an endlessly revolving conveyor belt, the front end of which is below the cutting glasses 5 and immediately below or behind the discharge unit 17th begins and with its upper run leftovers falling on it from there against the direction of flow 10 * transported to the rear.

For this purpose, at least the one in the direction of passage 10 * first conveyor 17a with its upper run opposite to the direction of travel 10 * be driven so that any remaining piece, for example, that falls on it can be transported to the rear and onto the lower-lying leftover conveyor 21 falls.

the 2 , 3 and 4th show in a plan view from above differently designed on the discharge unit 17th Discarded, transition portions Pü whose special feature is that the first slices S1 to S4 of the portion are from a previous caliber Cold were separated and a greater product height Stop The last targets S5 to S7 have, which are of a subsequent new caliber K-new with lower product height H-new were detached, assuming that the length LS a disc of height H of the corresponding caliber.

The portion Pü should in this case in a hollow M. of a packaging element V be deposited with the trough M. longitudinal 10 , the discharge direction 17 ', a trough length LM possesses, which is of course at least as large, is better greater than the given length LPsoll the portion to be generated, including the transitional portion visible here Pü .

Here is the dropping distance AA , which is also measured in the discharge direction 17 ', that distance in this direction that the discharge conveyor 17th and thus the packaging element lying on it V with the trough M. in each case in the discharge direction 17 'before the next slice falls on it.

The release distance AA is the distance between the - with the discharge direction 17 'pointing to the left - right ends of two successive disks, which, however, is not visible in the top view, since it is located under the disk last discarded.

What is visible, however, is the visible distance between the panes AS , namely that distance in the discharge direction 17 'between the left ends of two successive disks.

• Bei der ersten Variante der 2 besteht das Ziel darin, die Portionslänge LP der Übergangs-Portion Pü genauso groß zu gestalten wir die einer normalen Portion, also z.B. einer vorangegangenen Portion, die nur aus Scheiben mit der alten, großen Produkthöhe H-alt erzeugt worden wäre, insbesondere der vorgegebenen Portionslänge LPsoll.

In the lower area of the 2 is also in the side view the relative position of the partially superimposed slices S1 to S7 of the shingled portion Pü shown. If, as in this example, the product height H-new of the following caliber K-new is less than the product height Stop of the previous caliber Cold - where it is assumed that the length LS of the respective severed disc with the product height H matches - so the machine can 1 with the help of their control 1* knowing the number of slices S1 to S4 of the old caliber already deposited and knowing both the old and the new product height Stop , H-new When viewed from above, design the transitional portion in different variants:

• With the first variant of the 2 The goal is to adjust the serving length LP the transition portion Pü We design the same size as that of a normal portion, for example a previous portion made only of slices with the old, large product height Stop would have been generated, in particular the predetermined portion length LPsoll .

oder
von links nach rechts entlang der Oberseite der Übergangs-Portion gerechnet $$\text{LPsoll}=\text{LP}={\displaystyle \sum \text{AS-alt}+\text{ASü}}+{\displaystyle \sum \text{AS-neu}+\text{LS-neu}}$$

This is possible by adjusting the dropping distance AA between the slices over the entire transition portion Pü is left the same, resulting in an unchanged portion length LP leads, because then it applies
counted from right to left along the bottom of the transition portion $$\text{LPsoll}=\text{LP}=(\left(\text{n-1}\right)\times \text{AA}+\text{LS-old}$$

or
counted from left to right along the top of the transition portion $$\text{LPsoll}=\text{LP}={\displaystyle \sum \text{AS-old}+\text{ASü}}+{\displaystyle \sum \text{AS-new}+\text{LS-new}}$$

However, the distance between the panes is visible AS between the last slice S4 of the old caliber and the first slice S5 of the new caliber, the visible transition distance ASü , then greater than, on the one hand, the visible distance between the old discs and, on the other hand, the visible distance between the new discs, which is the constant ejection distance AA is equivalent to.

Would be the new product height H-new larger than the old product height Stop , on the other hand, this visible transition distance would be smaller than the otherwise existing visible pane distance AS-old = AS-new.

In 3 is shown how to get the clearances from the remaining visible discs AS different visible transition distance ASü can avoid or minimize by, for example, the visible disc spacings AS-old = ASü = AS-new are always the same.

This is possible by choosing a reduced release distance AAü at the transition between the last disc S4 of the old caliber and the first disc S5 of the new caliber, in this case the previous throwing distance AA-old for the transition-release distance AAü must be reduced by the difference by which the new, lower product height H-new is smaller than the old larger product height Stop . The new dropping distance AA-new again corresponds to the old release distance AA-old .

oder von links nach rechts entlang der Oberseite der Übergangs-Portion gerechnet wegen AS-alt = ASü = AS-neu = AS $$\text{LPsoll}>\text{LP}=\left(\text{n-1}\right)\times \text{AS}+\text{LS-neu}$$

However, this also affects the portion length LP less than the specified portion length LP should, and since the first slices S1 to S4 have already been thrown off and positioned at the end of the old caliber, this arises between the end of the portion P. and the end of the trough at - that is, with the discharge direction 17 'running from right to left - a greater distance on the right than on the left, because it then applies
counted from right to left along the bottom of the transition portion $$\text{LPsoll}>\text{LP}={\displaystyle \sum \text{AA-new}+\text{AAü}}+{\displaystyle \sum \text{AA-old}+\text{LS-old}}$$

or calculated from left to right along the top of the transition portion because of AS-old = ASü = AS-new = AS $$\text{LPsoll}>\text{LP}=\left(\text{n-1}\right)\times \text{AS}+\text{LS-new}$$

• Dabei wird für die Übergangsportion Pü die gleiche Portionslänge LP = LPsoll erreicht wie für die vorangegangenen Portionen, jedoch ist der sichtbare Scheiben-Abstand AS-neu sowohl zwischen den neuen Scheiben S5 bis S7 des neuen Kalibers als auch der sichtbare Übergangs-Abstand ASü größer als der alte sichtbare Scheiben-Abstand AS-alt, wobei vorzugsweise ASü übereinstimmt mit dem neuen sichtbaren Scheiben-Abstand AS-neu.

4th shows a mixed form of the design between that of the 2 and those of the 3 :

• This is for the transition portion Pü the same portion length LP = LPsoll is achieved as for the previous portions, but the distance between the slices is visible AS-new both between the new discs S5 to S7 of the new caliber as well as the visible transition distance ASü greater than the old visible distance between the panes AS-old , with preferably ASü corresponds to the new visible distance between the panes AS-new .

• von rechts nach links entlang der Unterseite der Übergangs-Portion gerechnet $$\text{LPsoll}=\text{LP}={\displaystyle \sum \text{AA-neu}+}\left(\text{AAü}=\text{AA-neu}\right)+{\displaystyle \sum \text{AA-alt}+\text{LS-alt}}$$
  
  oder
• von links nach rechts entlang der Oberseite der Übergangs-Portion gerechnet $$\text{LPsoll}=\text{LP}={\displaystyle \sum \text{AS-alt}+\left(\text{AS-neu}=\text{AS-neu}\right)}+{\displaystyle \sum \text{AS-neu}+\text{LS-neu}}.$$
  

If ASü = AS-new is required, the parameters at the transition and for the discs of the new caliber can be determined from the following relationships:

• counted from right to left along the bottom of the transition portion $$\text{LPsoll}=\text{LP}={\displaystyle \sum \text{AA-new}+}\left(\text{AAü}=\text{AA-new}\right)+{\displaystyle \sum \text{AA-old}+\text{LS-old}}$$
  
  or
• counted from left to right along the top of the transition portion $$\text{LPsoll}=\text{LP}={\displaystyle \sum \text{AS-old}+\left(\text{AS-new}=\text{AS-new}\right)}+{\displaystyle \sum \text{AS-new}+\text{LS-new}}.$$
  

List of reference symbols

1

Slicing machine, slicer

1*

steering

2

Base frame

3

knife

3

Axis of rotation

3 "

Knife plane, cutting plane

3a

Cutting edge

4th

Feed conveyor, feed belt

5

Cutting glasses

6a - d

Eyeglass opening

7th

Cutting unit

8th

upper product guide, upper guide belt

8a

Pulley on the glasses side

8b

Pulley facing away from glasses

9

lower product guide, lower guide belt

9a

Pulley on the glasses side

9b

Pulley facing away from glasses

10

Feed direction, longitudinal direction, axial direction

10 *

Direction of passage through the machine

11

1. Cross direction (width slicer)

12th

2. Cross direction (height direction caliber)

13th

Gripper unit, gripper slide

14.14 a - d

Grapple

15th

Crossbar

15 '

Support surface

16

Claw Claw

17th

Discharge unit

17a, b, c

Portioning belt, conveyor

18th

Gripper guidance

19th

Height sensor

20th

Feed unit

21

Leftovers conveyor

A.

Distance between the pulleys on the glasses side

AA

Throwing distance

AA-old

previous throw distance

AA-new

new release distance

AAü

Throwing distance at the transition

AS

visible distance between the panes

AS-old

Previous visible distance between the panes

AS-new

new visible pane distance

ASü

visible pane distance at the transition

H

Product height

Stop

previous product height,

H-new

new product height,

K

Product, product caliber, caliber

Cold

previous product, previous product caliber

K-new

new product, new product caliber

LM

Trough length

LP

Portion length

LPsoll

predetermined length of the portion, predetermined portion length, target portion length

LPmax

maximum permissible length of the portion, maximum permissible portion length

LS

Length of the slice, slice length in the direction of transport

LS-old

previous slice length,

LS-new

new disc length,

M.

trough

P.

portion

Pü

Transitional portion

S.

disc

V

Packaging element

Claims (12)

Method for automatically maintaining a predetermined maximum portion length (LPmax) of a shingled portion (P) of n slices (S) when slicing a product, in particular a product size (K), by means of a slicing machine (1), in particular a slicer (1 ), with a controllable portioning belt (17) which forms and transports the portions (P) in that - the product height (H) of a caliber (K) is automatically determined before it is sliced, characterized in that - the one required to achieve a predetermined target -Portion length (LPsoll) necessary discharge distance (AA) within the shingled portion (P) is automatically calculated depending on the product height (H), - the slicing machine (1) is automatically controlled so that the slices (S) come to rest shingled on top of each other with the calculated dropping distance (AA). (Controlled parameters :) Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the automatic control of the slicing machine (1) includes - controlling the speed of the continuously running portioning belt (17), or - controlling the step length of the stepwise running portioning belt (17), and / or - controlling the the time interval between the individual disconnection processes. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the slice length (LS) - is either determined to match the determined product height (H), - or deviates by a percentage factor or an absolute value, in particular lower than the determined product height (H) is set. (Before each new caliber :) Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dropping distance (AA) is determined by - subtracting the simple slice length (LS) from the desired portion length (LPsoll) and - dividing this result by the number of distances (n-1) in the form of the number of slices (n) of a portion (P) reduced by 1. (Caliber change within portion :) Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, based on the dropping distance (AA-old) established for the previous caliber (K-old) - at least the dropping distance (AAü) at the transition between the last disc (S4) of the previous caliber (K-old) and the first target (S5) of the new caliber (K-new) is automatically determined - in particular by subtracting the difference in the target length (LS-old) of the previous caliber (K-old) compared to the target length (LS-new) of the new caliber (K-new), - in particular, the new ejection distance (AA-new) between the targets (S5 to S7) of the new caliber (K-new) is automatically determined and / or - the ejection distance (AA-new) within the transition portion (Pü) for the new caliber (K-new) taking into account the target length (LS-new) of the new caliber (K-new) is determined in such a way that the visible target distance (AS-new) of the targets of the new caliber (K-new) is the same as that of itself table target distance (AS-old) of the targets of the old caliber (K-old) as well as the visible target distance (ASü) at the transition between these two groups of targets. Procedure according to Claim 5 , characterized in that the maximum permissible portion length (LPmax) of the transition portion (Pü) is adhered to by, if necessary - the dropping distance (AAü) at the transition to the new caliber (K-new), and / or - the Discharge distance (AA-new) within the change portion for the new caliber (K-new) can be set so reduced compared to the above calculation that the maximum permissible portion length LPmax of the transition portion Pü is maintained. Procedure according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the reduction takes place by a percentage factor or an absolute value, which is determined from the available remaining desired portion length (LPsoll) and the remaining actual portion length (LPist) resulting from the above calculation. (Determine product height :) Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the product height (H) is determined automatically - from the clear distance between the upper guide belt (8) and the lower guide belt (9), - in particular in the feed direction (10) just before the glasses opening (6a - d) of the cutting glasses (5), and / or - in particular by determining the clear distance (A) of the respective glasses-side deflection rollers (8a, 9a) of these two guide bands (8, 9) in the 2nd transverse direction (12 ) to the feed direction (10) and knowing the diameter of these deflection rollers (8a, 9a) and the thickness of the guide belts (8, 9). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the product height (H) is automatically determined by - contactless determination of the height of the top of the product caliber (K) in the 2nd transverse direction (12) by - scanning over the, in particular the entire Width of the top side - point-by-point determination at one or more defined width positions along the 1st transverse direction (11), - touching determination of the height of the top side of the product caliber (K) in the 2nd transverse direction (12) in the feed direction (10 ) shortly before the glasses opening (6a - d) of the cutting glasses (5) and knowing the height of the underside of the product caliber (K). Slicing machine (1), in particular slicer (1), for slicing a product, in particular product caliber (K), and placing it in the form of a shingled portion (P) of n slices (S) and automatically reaching a predetermined portion length (LPsoll ), with - a cutting unit (7) with a knife (3), - a feed unit (20) for feeding the caliber (K) to the cutting unit (7), - a discharge unit (17), - a control (1 * ) for controlling at least all moving parts of the slicing machine (1), characterized in that the slicing machine (1) comprises - at least one height sensor (19) for automatically determining the product height (H) of the product caliber (K) , in particular shortly before the cutting glasses (5), which is connected to the control (1 *) for signaling purposes, - an input unit of the control (1 *) which is designed so that at least one predetermined portion length (LPsoll) can be entered, whereby - the control (1 *) is designed so, that it is able to calculate the necessary discharge distance (AA) from the given portion length (LPsoll) and to control the machine (1), in particular its portioning belt (17), accordingly. Machine after Claim 10 , characterized in that the machine (1) and the control (1 *) are designed so that they know the number of already cut or deposited slices (S) at any time during the production of a portion (P). Machine after Claim 10 or 11 , characterized in that the input unit of the controller (1 *) is designed so that - a trough length (LM) and / or - a reference point of the trough (M) in the axial direction (10), in particular its beginning or end or Center point, can be entered.

Images