EP2900440B1 - Device and method for continuously producing portions - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for slicing a plurality of food products, in particular sausage, ham and / or cheese, wherein for each food product in each case a track is provided, along which it is transported in the direction of a moving knife. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for slicing at least two food products in two separate tracks, wherein each food product is transported along a track by a transport means in the direction of a cutting knife, which separates food slices from the food product.

Such devices or methods are known from the prior art, for example US Pat. No. 5,974,925 or the DE 195 18 583 C2 well known. However, the devices and methods according to the prior art have the disadvantage that not continuously cut food slices can be provided. As a result, complex buffers and the like must be made available in a slit line.

The known from the prior art devices further have the disadvantage that either a complicated structure is provided with a plurality of cutting blades, or the tracks laterally, ie substantially parallel to the main extension plane of the cutting blade, are displaceable, so as to change the food products in a slicing position to spend. Such devices are complicated, maintenance-prone and always have an idle for a cutting blade in a change time. In addition, it is thus not possible to cut several food products simultaneously with a cutting knife.

It was therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art.

The object is achieved with a device for slicing a plurality of food products, in particular sausage, ham and / or cheese, wherein for each food product in each case a track is provided, along which it is transported in the direction of a moving knife, each track independent of the at least one other track is provided adjustable from a loading into a cutting position.

The statements made on this subject of the present invention apply equally to the other objects of the present invention and vice versa.

The present invention relates to a device for slicing food products, such as sausage, ham and / or cheese. Such slicing devices are also referred to by the person skilled in the art as "slicers" or "high-performance slicers". These slicing devices have a moving, in particular rotating, blade which cuts food slices from the front end of a food product. In this case, the knife usually cooperates with a cutting edge, which is provided for example at the front end of a product support and which defines together with the knife the cutting plane in which food slices are separated from the food product. There is a cutting gap between the knife and the cutter bar, which should be as small as possible to prevent chipping of parts of the food product. But the cutting gap must be so large that the knife does not touch the cutting edge as possible. When slicing, the food product is transported continuously or intermittently in the direction of the cutting blade. The cut food slices, for example, fall on a storage table, where they are combined into portions. Once a portion is finished, it is removed from the drop area of the knife and slicing of a new portion can begin. According to the invention, the slicing device is provided with multiple tracks, ie several food products are cut by a knife, in particular at least partially simultaneously or at least partially sequentially. For this, the device has its own track for each food product, along which it is transported in the direction of the knife. Furthermore, according to the invention it is now provided that each track is provided independently of the at least one other track adjustable from a loading into a cutting position. In the loading position, where the track is preferably at least partially lowered, it is loaded with a new food product to be sliced. In the slicing position, in which the track is preferably inclined relative to the horizontal so that the track drops in the direction of the knife, the food product is cut open. By allowing each lane to change individually between positions, it is possible to feed one lane with a new food product while still cutting the food product in the other lane so that there is a continuous stream of product on cut food slices so that the food product can be fed to be provided in the line Buffer capacity at least reduced and / or the performance of the subsequent packaging machine does not need to be reduced.

Preferably, the respective track is adjustable in its inclination angle.

Preferably, each track has a conveying means, for example a belt conveyor or an endless belt, which can be driven independently of the conveying means of the other tracks. Thereby, the thickness of the slices which are cut off can be freely selected in each track. In addition, the loading of one track with a new food product can be done independently of the other track.
Furthermore, each track preferably has a gripper with which the end of the food product facing away from the cutting blade can be gripped in the respective track. This gripping preferably takes place towards the end of the slicing of the respective food product in order to stabilize the tail of the food product during slicing and / or to dispose of the non-sliced residual piece. Each gripper is preferably operable and / or driven independently of the other grippers.

Preferably, a gripper is provided in each track, with which the rear end of the food product is gripped. With this gripper, the food product can be transported in the direction of the cutting blade. In particular, however, the gripper serves to stabilize the food product when its slicing is already very advanced and / or to carry away an uncut end piece from the knife.

Preferably, the tracks have a common axis of rotation about which they are rotatable from the loading position to the cutting position and vice versa, with each track particularly preferably having its own drive and / or a transmission, so that two tracks can be independently transferred into the respective position are.

In a preferred embodiment, the device has a storage table on which the cut food slices are configured into portions. Particularly preferably, the storage table is movable in the horizontal direction transversely to the transport direction of the food products, so that food slices, which are cut in different tracks, can be stored at the same location on the storage table.

Preferably, the tracks are fixed transversely to the direction of the cutting blade, that is, in particular, not displaceable. Advantageously, such a continuous operation is possible, as a food product of a track in the cutting position is aufschneidbar while another track is adjustable to a loading position, without idling the Schneidemessers during Verstellzeit is necessary.

Particularly preferably, the tracks are adjustable only in their inclination angle, that is, in particular in directions parallel and / or perpendicular to the cutting blade substantially fixed. The person skilled in the art understands that this does not apply in particular to conveyors and / or grippers in order to ensure a food product feed.

Preferably, the device has exactly one cutting blade.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that if the tracks are fixed but adjustable in inclination angle, it is preferred to provide a cutting blade of a size sufficient to cut food products on each track without a change of position.

Alternatively or additionally, a track correction band is provided downstream of the slicing device, with which portions can be shifted from one track to another track.

Preferably, the slicing device according to the invention has a sensor which determines the not yet cut portion of each food product. On the basis of the signal of this sensor, a controller preferably controls the feed and / or the reloading of each track so that portions are cut open continuously.

Another object of the present invention is a method for cutting at least two food products in two separate tracks, each food product is transported along a track of a transport in the direction of a cutting knife, the food slices separated from the food product, in which the feed rate and / or the reloading time of the respective track is selected so that food slices are continuously separated from at least one food product.

The statements made on this subject of the present invention apply equally to the other objects of the present invention and vice versa.

Preferably, the slicing device has two, three, four or even more product lines, each of which can be loaded with a food product that is transported along the route in the direction of the cutting blade. The food products can be cut at least temporarily simultaneously or sequentially. The feed in each track can be adjusted individually, so that the thickness of the slices which are separated from the respective food product can be different. For example, if the slicing apparatus has three product trays, for example, two food products may be sliced while the third one is being reloaded. During the time in which a new food product is then inserted into this route, the other two routes are reloaded, etc. With four or more routes, a similar approach is conceivable, with two routes can be two loaded and two cut open. Each route preferably has a gripper with which the end of the food product facing away from the knife can be gripped. These grippers are preferably independently operable and / or driven.

In the following, the invention is based on the FIGS. 1 and 2 explained. These explanations are merely exemplary and do not limit the general inventive concept. The explanations apply equally to all articles of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a slicing device 5. The slicing device 5 has a knife 11 which cuts a food product 2 in food slices 12. For this purpose, each food product 2 with a conveying means 4, in this case two conveyor belts 4, is transported continuously or intermittently in the direction of the cutting plane 6 of the knife 11. The lower conveyor belt 4 is at the same time a product support. The cutting blade 11 is fixed to a rotating blade holder 3 and acts with a cutting edge 9 (see. FIG. 2 ) intersecting, which is provided for example at the front end of a product support 4 and which together define the cutting plane 6. Between the knife 11 and the cutting edge 9, a so-called cutting gap is present, which should be as small as possible, but must be so large that the knife does not touch the cutting edge. This gap must be adjusted regularly. This can be done by a movement of the knife and / or the cutting edge. In addition, the cutting edge must be aligned parallel to the knife. After cutting the food slices usually fall on a storage table 1, which is provided with means of transport, on which they are each configured to a portion 14, here a stack. The finished portions 14 are then from the Cutting knife area removed and then packed. The slice thickness results from the feed distance of the food product between two cuts. At constant blade rotation speed, the regulation of the slice thickness is carried out via the feed rate of the food product. The slicing device may have one gripper (not shown) per feed path, which grips the rear end 13 of the food product 2 before or during the slicing process and stabilizes it during the slicing process.

According to the invention, the slicing device is provided in multiple tracks, i. H. that a plurality of food products 2 are cut open by a knife, in particular at least temporarily at the same time or at least temporarily sequentially. For this purpose, the device has for each food product its own track 7, along which it is transported in the direction of the knife 11. Furthermore, according to the invention, it is now provided that each track 7 is provided so as to be adjustable independently of the at least one other track from a loading position 8 into a cutting position 10. In the loading position 8, in which the track is preferably at least partially lowered, it is loaded with a new food product 2 to be sliced. In the slicing position 10, in which the track is preferably inclined relative to the horizontal so that the track drops in the direction of the knife, the food product is cut open. By allowing each lane 7 to change individually between positions, it is possible to feed one lane with a new food product while still cutting the food product in the other lane so as to provide a continuous product stream of cut food slices such that the buffer capacity to be provided in the line is at least reduced and / or the performance of the subsequent packaging machine need not be reduced. Here, the tracks 7 are immovable in a direction substantially parallel to the cutting blade, i. fixedly arranged.

FIG. 2 shows details of the slicing device according to the invention. It can be clearly seen that the slicing device according to the invention is designed in the present case two lanes, that has two tracks 7, each provided with its own transport means 4, with a food product 2 each independently of the other track in the direction of the knife movable is. Furthermore, it is off FIG. 2 to recognize that each track is designed so that it is independent of the other track from a loading position 8 in a loading position 10 can be converted, which is done in the present case by rotating or pivoting the respective track.

FIG. 2a shows both tracks in the loading position 8. Then, a track is raised to the loading position and the food product transported by the transport in the direction of the cutting blade and cut there (see. FIG. 2b ). Once the cold cuts of this food bar has reached a certain degree of progress, the other track is also moved to the slicing position 10 and the product 2 is transported in the direction of the knife, but not cut open, which is in Figure 2c is shown. The cold cuts only begin when the other product is at least largely cut open. Once the cold cuts of this product is completed, the other product is cut and the other track is returned to the loading position 8 (see. Figure 2d ) and provided with a new product (cf. FIG. 2e ). So it is possible to produce a continuous stream of sliced food slices.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

tray table

2

Food product

3

knife receiver

4

Support surface, means of transport of a track 7

5

slicing

6

cutting plane

7

track

8th

loading position

9

cutting edge

10

Aufschneideposition

11

Knives, circular knives

12

Food slices

13

Back side of the food product

14

Portion, food portion

Claims (9)

1. Device (5) for slicing a plurality of foodstuff products (2), in particular sausage, ham, and/or cheese, wherein one track (7) is in each case provided for each foodstuff product (2), along which track (7) said foodstuff product (2) is transported in the direction of a moving blade (11), characterized in that each track, independently of the at least one other track, is provided so as to be adjustable from a feeding position (8) to a slicing position (10).
2. Device (5) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the respective track (7) in terms of the inclination angle thereof is adjustable.
3. Device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each track (7) has a conveying means (4) that is drivable independently of the conveying means of the other tracks (7).
4. Device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tracks have a common rotation axis.
5. Device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said device (5) has a placing table (1) on which the severed foodstuff slices are configured to form portions.
6. Device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a track-correction belt is provided downstream.
7. Device (5) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said device (5) has a sensor that detects the as yet unsliced proportion of each foodstuff product.
8. Device (5) according to Claim 7, characterized in that a controller controls indexing and/or restocking of each track such that portions are continuously sliced.
9. Method for slicing at least two foodstuff products (2) in two separate tracks (7), wherein each foodstuff product is transported by a transportation means (4) along a track in the direction of a cutting blade (11) which severs foodstuff slices from the foodstuff product (2), characterized in that the indexing speed and/or the restocking time of the respective track are/is chosen such that foodstuff slices are continuously severed from at least one foodstuff product.

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