EP3539739B1 - Machine for slicing into package - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging machine for packaging product slices with a plurality of work stations and a slicing device for slicing a product bar into product slices. The present invention also relates to a system consisting of a slicing device and a packaging machine.

In the field of food processing, for example when cutting product sticks into food slices and packaging them, the aspect of hygiene and the compactness of the machines, preferably the shortest possible machine length and/or system length, is becoming increasingly important. The closest state of the art is the EP 0 180 840 A1 .

It was therefore the object of the present invention to provide a packaging machine and/or a system consisting of a packaging machine and a slicing device that meets high hygienic requirements and the shortest possible length of the machine and/or the system.

The task of a packaging machine is solved according to patent claim 1.

The disclosure made with respect to this subject matter of the present invention applies equally to the other subject matters of the present invention and vice versa.

The present invention relates to the slicing of a product stick into product slices. This product stick is in particular a food stick, for example a sausage, cheese or ham stick. A product stick in the sense of the invention can also be a natural ham. This product stick is sliced into product slices using a slicing device. The product stick is transported continuously or intermittently in the direction of a moving, preferably rotating, knife, which cuts the product slices from the front end of the product stick. The thickness of the slices is determined by the feed path that the product stick travels between two cuts. The cut product slices are placed in a packaging tray that is part of a package. After cutting, the food slices preferably fall directly onto the bottom film web or into a packaging tray.

This has the advantage that conveyor belts, which are normally present next to the slicing device and which transport the product slices from the slicing device to the packaging machine and place them in packaging trays, can be largely dispensed with. This shortens the distance over which the product slices can become contaminated with dirt particles or germs. In addition, the system can be designed to save space, which also allows the system to be operated in smaller production facilities.

As a rule, several food slices are put together to form a portion. The configuration of this portion preferably takes place directly on the bottom film web or directly in the packaging tray.

Also not claimed but disclosed is a method for cutting a product bar into product slices using a cutting device, in which the cut product slices are placed on a storage table and from there placed on a bottom film web and/or in a packaging tray.

In this subject matter of the present disclosure, the food slices are also not transported from the slicing device to the packaging machine using conveyor belts. In the present case, a deposit table is provided below the cutting knife, on which the cut product slices are first deposited and from there placed on the bottom film web and/or in a packaging trough or preferably thrown off.

This embodiment of the disclosed method is also characterized by improved hygiene. In addition, the method is significantly more space-saving than methods according to the prior art.

The storage table preferably has at least one, preferably several transport means, for example endless belts, which move relative to the storage table. The storage table is also preferably movable in a plane, for example a horizontal plane, in at least one spatial direction and/or rotatable about one or more axes, in particular a vertical and a horizontal axis. The storage table is preferably located above the bottom film web or the packaging tray.

The packaging machine preferably works in cycles, with a plurality of packaging trays, for example, being produced in one cycle, in particular by deep-drawing the bottom film web, filled with product slices and closed with a cover film or just filled and closed with a cover film. In one cycle, a so-called format of packaging is produced, which preferably consists of several tracks that are parallel to the running direction of the bottom film web and particularly preferably several columns that are aligned perpendicular to the transport direction of the bottom film web. Alternatively, a format can also have just one track with one or more packages.

According to a preferred embodiment, the portions of at least one column are collected on the deposit table and then placed, in particular dropped, directly onto a bottom film web or into a packaging tray. The bottom film web of the packaging machine is then cycled further by one column, which is filled as soon as a sufficient number of portions have been cut open on the deposit table.

In a preferred embodiment, this storage table is also used to sort out bad portions where the quality of the sliced slices does not correspond to the desired quality and/or which do not have a sufficient number of product slices. The storage table can also preferably be used to sort out cut slices that arise when a food bar is cut for the first time and/or end pieces of the food bar that can no longer be cut in a controlled manner. One or more of these sortings can be carried out, for example, by the storage table moving transversely to the transport direction of the bottom film web/packaging trough or, for example, moving against the transport direction of the bottom film web/packaging trough. In particular, the bad portions, cut slices and/or the leftover pieces are preferably conveyed into a container and used for another purpose. Incomplete portions can be used in particular to complete portions.

According to a further preferred embodiment, an incomplete portion, a bad portion, at least one cut slice and/or an end piece is caught with a collecting means before it is deposited, in particular falls, on the bottom film web or into the packaging tray. Alternatively or additionally, the incomplete portion, the bad portion, at least one cut slice and/or the end piece reach, in particular fall, on the bottom film web and/or into the packaging tray and are removed there again using a removal device. For example, a robot can be used for this purpose which has a collecting surface which is optionally arranged in the discharge area downstream of the cutting blade in order to collect the incomplete portion, the bad portion, at least one cut slice and/or an end piece. This robot can also alternatively or additionally have a gripper which removes the incomplete portion, the bad portion, at least one cut slice and/or an end piece from the bottom film web or from the packaging trough.

Several product slices can be placed on a bottom film web and/or in a packaging tray as a portion and/or several portions can be placed on a bottom film web and/or in a packaging tray.

Preferably, several product slices are placed on the bottom film web and/or in a packaging tray as a portion. The product slices are stacked or shingled, for example. According to a preferred embodiment, the bottom film web and/or the packaging tray is moved relative to the preferably stationary slicing device for shingling. Alternatively or additionally, the slicing device is moved relative to the preferably stationary bottom film web and/or the preferably stationary packaging tray for shingling. Furthermore, the distance between the slicing device and the film web and/or the packaging tray is preferably changed during the creation of a portion. This preferred embodiment is particularly advantageous in the case of stacked packaging in order to ensure that the flight path of each food slice in a portion is always the same.

According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, several portions are arranged on a bottom film web and/or in a packaging tray, i.e. in a package. These can be arranged one above the other or next to each other and can be stacked or shingled.

The cutting blade of the slitting device can make empty cuts during the further transport of the bottom film web or the packaging tray.

In order to transport the packaging further, it may be necessary for the cutting knife to make so-called empty cuts, during which the cutting knife performs its movement, for example its rotary and/or orbital movement, without cutting food slices from the product bar. These empty cuts can This can be achieved by pulling the product bar back from the cutting blade and/or by moving the cutting blade away from the front end of the food bar. This means that during the further transport of the bottom film web or the packaging tray, no slices are cut off that would then have to be temporarily stored. Because the front end of the food bar and the cutting blade are moved away from each other during the empty cut, no so-called snippets are created, i.e. incompletely severed food slices that would then fall onto the bottom film web or into the packaging tray. Preferably, the further transport of the bottom film web or the packaging takes place so quickly that the food bar cannot deform to the point where it gets caught in the cutting blade, despite the front end being at a distance from the cutting blade.

The bottom film web and/or a packaging tray and the slicing device can be moved relative to each other during slicing.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous for producing portions on the bottom film web or in the packaging tray. The relative movement can take place in a horizontal and/or vertical plane.

The bottom film web and/or a packaging tray can be tilted for filling with at least one food slice.

In this embodiment, the packaging tray is tilted for filling with at least one slice of food, but preferably with a portion. In this case, the insertion is preferably carried out using a storage table, which preferably has an insertion belt. The inclination of the packaging means that the slice of food or the portion can be inserted very easily and without vibration. The inclination preferably takes place around a particularly preferably horizontal axis, which is most preferably aligned transversely to the transport direction of the bottom film web or the packaging tray.

A portion consisting of several product slices can be weighed in the packaging during slicing or immediately after slicing.

In this case, the packaging machine has a scale, which is preferably arranged below the cutting blade. The food slices that fall into the respective packaging trough or onto the bottom film web are immediately weighed. it can be ensured on site that the respective packaging has the required TARGET weight. If the ACTUAL weight is too low, one or more product slices are cut off and placed on the bottom film web or in the packaging trough. If the ACTUAL weight is too high, the preferred procedure is for the machine or system control to remember the affected packaging and, after the packaging has been separated in the cutting station, to eject it from the process or for one or more food slices to be removed from the packaging. It is particularly preferred to weigh the individual slices during the process and, shortly before the TARGET weight is reached, to use forecast calculations to achieve the TARGET weight particularly accurately, thus avoiding overweight packaging with a particularly high degree of probability.

The slicing device can have a feed for the product bar and a moving, in particular rotating, cutting knife which cuts product slices from the product bar, wherein the movement of the feed and/or the cutting knife is controlled as a function of the feed of the bottom film web and/or the packaging tray.

In this subject matter of the present disclosure, the slicing device has a feed with which the product bar is moved in the direction of the cutting knife. Furthermore, the slicing device has a moving, preferably rotating, cutting knife that cuts product slices from the front end of the product bar. For portioning or further transport of the packaging, it may be necessary for the cutting knife to carry out so-called empty cuts, during which the cutting knife carries out its movement without food slices being severed from the product bar. These empty cuts can be achieved by pulling the product bar back from the cutting knife and/or by moving the cutting knife away from the front end of the food bar.

At least one of the movements of the feed and/or the cutting knife can be controlled depending on the feed of the bottom film web and/or the packaging tray. In this case, the packaging machine has the so-called "lead" in terms of control technology, ie the movements of the cutting device follow signals generated by the packaging machine.

Also disclosed is a method in which the slicing device has a feed for the product bar and a moving, in particular rotating, cutting knife which cuts product slices from the product bar and in which the feed of the bottom film web and/or the packaging tray is controlled as a function of the movement of the feed and/or the cutting knife.

Essentially, reference can be made to the embodiment according to the method described last, whereby in the present case the advance of the bottom film web and/or the packaging tray is controlled depending on the movement of the advance and/or the cutting knife. In the present case, the slicing device has the lead. This method is particularly advantageous when so-called shingled portions are to be produced and the movement of the bottom film web or the packaging tray relative to the cutting knife takes place by a movement of the bottom film web or the packaging tray itself.

Preferably, several product bars are cut open at least at times simultaneously, preferably independently of one another. For this purpose, the slicing device preferably has several so-called feed paths, along each of which a product bar is transported. During a cyclical movement of the cutting blade, for example a rotation, several product slices are cut off essentially simultaneously.

Preferably, the number of products is different, in particular smaller or larger, or equal to the number of tracks of the packaging machine. In particular, if the number of product bars that are cut open at the same time is smaller than the number of tracks, a storage table is preferably provided, which can be moved in particular transversely to the transport direction of the bottom film web or the packaging trough and on which a number of portions corresponding to the number of tracks that are loaded in one cycle can be placed before they are placed in the packaging troughs. Alternatively, not all tracks of a product are filled with a portion at the same time, but at least partially one after the other. Alternatively, not all food bars in the slicing device are cut off a slice when the blade is rotated. This is preferably done in particular when the number of products, the food bars, is larger than the number of tracks of the packaging machine. To prevent a food slice from being separated from the respective product, the product can be withdrawn from the cutting plane, for example.

Preferably, the method uses a storage table to adjust the number of product bars cut off at the same time to the number of tracks. The person skilled in the art will understand that this naturally also applies if only one product bar is cut open and the number of tracks and/or the number of portions per track and cycle is greater than 1.

In a preferred embodiment, different product bars are cut open. Most preferably, each portion has product slices from different product bars. This can be achieved, for example, by moving a storage table while a portion is being cut open so that the respective portion is arranged in alternating trajectories of the food slices of the respective food.

The subject matter of the present invention is a packaging machine for packaging product slices, having a plurality of work stations, wherein one work station is a slicing device.

The disclosure made with respect to this subject matter of the present invention applies equally to the other subject matters of the present invention and vice versa.

The present invention relates to a packaging machine for packaging product slices with a plurality of work stations, for example a forming station in which packaging troughs are formed, for example deep-drawn, into a bottom film web, optionally an insertion station in which the product slices are placed in the packaging troughs, a sealing station in which a lid film is sealed to the bottom film web in order to hermetically seal the filled packages, and preferably a cutting station in which the packages are separated.

According to the invention, this packaging machine now also has a slicing machine with which a product bar, also called a product loaf, is divided into a large number of product slices. These product slices are then packed in packaging. According to the invention, the slicing device is provided in the area of the so-called insertion station. It is particularly preferably located above the insertion station so that the cut food slices fall onto the bottom film web or into the packaging trough.

Preferably, the packaging machine and the slicing device have a common frame. Furthermore, the slicing device preferably has means by means of which the bottom film web and/or the packaging troughs are guided and/or transported along the packaging machine. These means can move in two opposite directions in order to produce shingled portions, for example.

According to the invention, the packaging machine is a so-called tray sealer, in which prefabricated individual packaging trays are filled with a packaged product and these packaging trays are then sealed with a cover film. The packaging trays are delivered to the packaging machine in stacks, so that the tray sealer has a so-called separating station in which the packaging trays are unstacked, i.e. separated. According to the invention, the cutting device is located downstream of the packaging tray separating station and upstream of a sealing station in which a cover film is sealed to the packaging tray.

Preferably, in the tray sealer, the distance between two packaging troughs upstream of the slicing device is adjusted to a desired size. Alternatively or additionally, the packaging machine has means by means of which it is possible to determine where the respective packaging trough is located in the packaging machine, so that its transport can be controlled or regulated in such a way that it is located exactly below the flight path of the food slices for loading and/or in the deposit area of a deposit table, if present.

Furthermore, a slicing device for slicing a product bar into product slices is disclosed, which has a means for guiding and/or transporting the bottom film and/or a packaging tray.

Another disclosed subject matter is a slicing device for slicing a product bar into product slices, which has a recess through which a packaging machine can be passed.

In this embodiment, the slicing device has a frame with a recess that is large enough for the packaging machine to be guided through. This allows the slicing device to be pushed onto the packaging machine, for example, from one end of the packaging machine and then along or against the transport direction of the bottom film web and/or the packaging tray. be moved along the packaging machine until the slicing device is in the desired position. This position can be changed as desired. To clean the packaging machine and/or the slicing device, the slicing device can be moved relative to the packaging machine or removed from the packaging machine. In a further embodiment, the slicing device is designed to be at least partially pivotable away and/or open, preferably pivotable up, for example to enable or facilitate cleaning of the packaging machine and/or the slicing device.

According to the invention, the packaging machine has a means that prevents product particles from getting into the packaging.

When slicing product loaves, it often happens that the knife tears product particles off the product loaf. The slicing device and/or the packaging machine according to the invention now has at least one means that prevents such particles from getting into the packaging. For example, the means is a sheet or a band that is arranged in the area of the cutting knife, preferably below the cutting knife and particularly preferably at least partially above the bottom film web or the packaging tray, and thereby prevents product particles from getting into the packaging. However, the means can also be a gas, in particular air, stream that, for example, sucks and/or blows away the particles as they are formed or from the packaging tray. Alternatively or additionally, the means is a means that, for example, generates an electrical charge that attracts or repels the product particles and thus keeps them away from the packaging tray.

Another disclosed subject matter is a slicing device for slicing a product bar into product slices, which has a deposit table which is additionally a feeder and which places the product slices and/or portions on a bottom film web or in a packaging tray.

In this embodiment, the slicing device has a deposit table, which is preferably provided below the cutting blade and onto which the food slices fall after cutting. This deposit table is also a feeder, which places or deposits the product slices or portions onto a bottom film web or into a packaging tray. For this purpose, the deposit table is preferably provided with at least one, particularly preferably with several, endless belts, which, after For example, once one or more portions have been completed on the storage table, place them on the bottom film track or in a packaging tray. The endless belts can be driven together or independently of one another.

The deposit table is preferably designed as a so-called shuttle belt. A shuttle belt is an endless belt that has a quickly retractable front edge that is actuated while the endless belt is preferably stationary. This causes the product slices or portions to fall essentially vertically onto the bottom film or into the packaging trough.

Preferably, the storage table is movable in at least one plane in one or more spatial directions, which are particularly preferably arranged parallel or perpendicular to one another. For example, the table is movable horizontally in a plane in at least one, preferably two, or more spatial directions. Alternatively or additionally, the storage table is height-adjustable, i.e. it can be adjusted in height towards the cutting blade and away from it. This means that the storage table can be vertically spaced from the product bar and/or the cutting blade, for example, so that each product slice has the same or a deliberately different drop height, for example to achieve a symmetrical deposit pattern of the product slices. Particularly preferably, the table and/or the belts provided with it are moved by a defined distance in, for example, a horizontal direction before each product slice is cut, in order to achieve a pronounced shingle pattern or, when moved in the opposite direction, for example a particularly straight stack of slices.

Alternatively or additionally, the storage table can be rotated around a horizontal axis. This means that the storage table can be tilted, for example, after a portion has been completed, which makes it easier to place it on a bottom film web or place it in a packaging tray. Alternatively or additionally, the storage table can be rotated around a vertical axis, for example to produce circular portions.

In a preferred embodiment, the storage table is designed as a scale so that while a portion is being cut it can be determined whether it has the desired minimum weight.

Another disclosed subject matter is a slicing device for slicing a product bar into product slices or a packaging machine, each in particular as described above, wherein it comprises a sensor which detects at least one quality feature of the product slices and/or the portions.

A quality feature is, for example, the temperature, the color, the slice shape and/or the slice size, the portion shape and/or the portion size, fat content, so-called "blood spots", too few or too many holes, especially in cheese, and/or the presence of foreign bodies. The sensor signal is preferably forwarded to a control system, which sorts out slices of poor quality, for example. The storage table, the collecting device and/or a removal device can be used for this. Alternatively or additionally, packages with a defective product can be sorted out, especially after they have been sealed with a lid film.

A further disclosed subject matter is a slicing device for slicing a product bar into product slices and/or a packaging machine, in each case in particular as described above, which has an irradiation means which preferably irradiates the cut portion of the product bar and/or the cut product slice and/or the sliced portion and thereby at least partially disinfects it.

Preferably, the slicing device and/or the packaging machine has an irradiation means which irradiates the cut portion of the food bar and/or the cut product slice and/or the cut portion and thereby at least partially disinfects it.

This design of the slicing device has the advantage that the shelf life of the product slices in the produced packaging is increased.

Preferably, the cut product slice is irradiated on both cut surfaces. Preferably, the slicing device or the packaging machine has a means by which the rays of the irradiation agent are directed specifically onto the cut and/or the cut product slice and/or the sliced portion.

Another disclosed subject matter is a packaging machine or a slicing device which has a means for changing the position of the bottom film web and/or a packaging tray and the slicing device relative to each other.

For example, the vertical distance between the cutting knife and the transport plane of the bottom film web and/or a packaging tray can be changed.

Alternatively or additionally, the angle at which the slicing device, in particular the cutting knife, and/or the feed unit of the product bar are arranged relative to the transport plane of the bottom film web or the packaging tray is changed.

By means of the measures mentioned above, for example, the fall height, the fall angle or the fall curve can be changed in relation to the plane in which the bottom film web or the packaging is guided.

Another object of the present invention is a system according to claim 3.

A further disclosed subject matter is a slicing device and/or a packaging machine, in each case in particular as described above, in which the region of the knife and/or the discharge region of the cut-off food slice and/or the insertion region is provided with negative pressure and/or a modified atmosphere.

According to this subject matter, the cutting and/or ejection and/or insertion of the respective food slice takes place under a changed atmosphere compared to the ambient atmosphere. Preferably, this changed atmosphere is also present in the area of the bottom film web or the packaging tray. For example, the knife and/or the ejection area and/or the insertion area can be at least partially encapsulated and under negative pressure and/or a gas with a different composition than air can be introduced into this encapsulation.

Preferably, the negative pressure and/or the changed atmosphere then surrounds the cut-off slice in the packaging at least temporarily, in particular until it is sealed with a lidding film.

Figur 1

zeigt eine erste Ausführungsform einer Verpackungsmaschine.

Figur 2

zeigt eine Vorrichtung mit einem Partikelfänger.

Figur 3

zeigt eine Vorrichtung mit einem Ablagetisch.

Figur 4

zeigt eine Ausführungsform zum Beladen eines Formates.

Figur 5

zeigt eine Ausführungsform, bei der die Anzahl der aufgeschnittenen Produktstangen kleiner ist als die zu befüllenden Verpackungen in einer Spur.

Figur 6

zeigt die Neigung der Verpackungsmulden bei deren Befüllung.

In the following, the invention is described on the basis of Figures 1 - 6 These explanations are merely examples and do not restrict the general inventive concept. The explanations apply equally to all objects of the present invention.

Figure 1

shows a first embodiment of a packaging machine.

Figure 2

shows a device with a particle catcher.

Figure 3

shows a device with a storage table.

Figure 4

shows an embodiment for loading a format.

Figure 5

shows an embodiment in which the number of cut product bars is smaller than the number of packages to be filled in one lane.

Figure 6

shows the inclination of the packaging troughs when they are filled.

Figure 1 shows a packaging machine 27. In the present case, the packaging machine is a so-called form-fill-seal packaging machine, in which a bottom film web 14 is transported, in particular in cycles, along the packaging machine, here from right to left, as indicated by the arrow 20. The packaging machine 27 is only shown schematically and in the present case has a forming station upstream (not shown) in which the packaging troughs 13 are formed into the bottom film web, in particular under the influence of pressure and heat. These packaging troughs are then transported in the direction of the arrow 20 into the area of a slicing device 26, which according to the invention is part of the packaging machine. This slicing device has a feed unit 11, for example an endless belt, and a moving, here rotating, cutting knife 12. A product bar 10 is transported by means of the feed unit 11 in the direction of the cutting knife, which cuts off food slices 25 from the front end of the product bar, which fall along a falling curve directly into the packaging trough 13, which is symbolized by the arrow 16. The thickness of the food slice is determined by the advance of the product bar 10 between two cuts. In the present case, the portion, which consists of several product slices 25, is shingled, i.e. the slices only partially overlap. To achieve this, either the bottom film web 14 or the packaging trough can be transported by a certain amount in or against the transport direction 20 of the bottom film web 14 between the dropping of two food slices. Alternatively or additionally, the slicing device 26 can be displaced, at least partially, relative to the bottom film web 14 and/or the packaging trough 13 in order to produce a shingled portion. Furthermore, the position of the slicing device 26 can preferably be changed relative to the transport plane of the bottom film web 14 and/or the packaging tray 13. This can be done by changing the position of the slicing device and/or by changing the position of the transport plane the bottom film and/or the packaging trough. For example, the drop height h can be changed in this way. Alternatively or additionally, the feed angle 17 of the product sticks can be changed. Both measures alone or in combination lead to a change in the flight curve of the food slices. The person skilled in the art will recognize that several product sticks 10, which are arranged one behind the other with respect to the paper plane , can be cut open by the knife 12 at the same time. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the packaging machine is also designed with multiple lanes, i.e. when several packages to be filled are arranged one behind the other with respect to the paper plane . As soon as a portion has been arranged in the packaging trough, the bottom film web and/or the packaging trough are transported further until an empty packaging trough is in the discharge area of the slicing device. During this time, in the present case, no product slices may be cut off the product stick. This is preferably done by the cutting blade 12 making idle cuts, ie continuing to rotate, preferably at an unchanged speed, without food slices 25 being cut off from the product bar. This is preferably achieved by the front end of the product bar 10 being pulled back by the cutting blade, for example with the feed unit 12 and/or by the cutting blade 12 being moved away from the front end of the food bar, preferably parallel to its axis of rotation. The idle cuts are preferably carried out until an empty package is located in the discharge area of the slicing device.

Figure 2 essentially shows the embodiment according to Figure 1 , wherein in the present case a particle catcher 18 is additionally provided, which prevents particles that are torn off the product bar during cutting from getting into the packaging. In the present case, the particle catcher is an endless belt with an upper belt 18a and a lower belt 18b, wherein the upper belt 18a is guided above the packaging trough 13 or the lower film web 14 and the lower belt 18b is guided below the lower film web 14 or packaging trough 13. The endless belt is preferably movable transversely to the transport direction 20, preferably provided so as to encircle two rollers (not shown). This allows particles that settle on the particle catcher to be transported away from the discharge area of the slicing device and removed from the particle catcher, for example with a cleaning agent, for example a scraper. This enables continuous or intermittent removal of torn-off particles.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a packaging machine or a slicing device which essentially corresponds to the embodiment of the packaging machine according to Figure 1 corresponds, but which in the present case has a storage table 19. The cut product slices 25 fall onto the storage table 19 and are configured thereon, preferably into portions 15. Preferably, several portions are arranged on the storage table simultaneously or one after the other. Preferably, several portions 15 are formed or collected on the storage table 19 before they are placed on the bottom film web 14 or placed in a packaging trough 13. For this purpose, the storage table preferably has at least one conveyor belt, here an endless belt, which in the present case rotates anti-clockwise as soon as one or more portions have been completed. The movement of this conveyor belt can also be used to configure a portion, for example for shingling. The respective portion falls or slides from the storage table 19 into the packaging 13. Preferably, the storage table is provided as a whole or partially movable in one plane, for example a horizontal plane, in two spatial directions. This can be done by moving the storage table as a whole and/or only parts of it, for example the endless belt. The storage table is also preferably provided so that it is height-adjustable, ie its distance from the cutting blade 12 can be changed. The storage table 19 can very particularly preferably be pivoted and/or rotated about at least one horizontal and/or vertical axis. The storage table can have one or more conveyor belts, which can preferably be operated separately from one another.

Figure 4 shows a top view of a packaging machine or the slicing device. It can be seen that the feed 21, around which the bottom film web 14 and/or the packaging troughs 13 are transported in one cycle, in the present case consists of two columns 29 each with four tracks 28. In the present case, the deposit table 19 is designed to be so wide (horizontal extension transverse to the transport direction) that two finished portions can be placed simultaneously in the packaging troughs in two tracks. At the same time, the deposit table 19 is designed to be so long (horizontal extension parallel to the transport direction) that it can completely accommodate at least the portions for one take-off for two tracks. In the present case, even the portions for the entire take-off (two columns and four tracks) can be accommodated by the deposit table at the same time. In the present case, the deposit table 19 has two conveyor belts 23, here two endless conveyor belts, which can be driven together or independently of one another. To also remove the two lower tracks of the trigger In order to be able to fill the tray with portions 15, the storage table 19 is moved in the direction 22 of the lower tracks after the portions have been placed in the upper tracks.

Figure 5 shows a slicing device in which two product bars 10 are cut open simultaneously. In the present case, the packaging machine or the slicing device also has a storage table which, as symbolized by the double arrow, is moved transversely to the transport direction 20 in order to be able to supply all tracks 28 with portions 15, although the number of product bars 10 cut open simultaneously is smaller than the number of tracks to be fed simultaneously.

Figure 6 shows a further embodiment of the slicing device or the packaging machine. In the present case, the deposit table is also simultaneously a discharge device with which insufficient portions or cuts 24 are discharged. In the present case, this is done by moving the conveyor belts of the deposit table clockwise and transferring insufficient portions 24 to another conveyor belt with which they are removed from the device. Furthermore, in the present case, the packaging trough is inclined relative to the transport direction 20 in order to fill it in order to facilitate filling. In addition, in the present case, the transport level of the bottom film web and/or the packaging troughs is raised.

List of reference symbols:

10

Product bar

11

Feed

12

Knife, deliberately out of round

13

Packaging tray

14

Bottom film web

15

portion

16

Drop direction

17

Feed angle of the product bars

18

Means to prevent contamination of packaging, particle traps

18a

Cross section of the upper belt of a cross conveyor belt

18b

Cross section of the lower belt of a cross conveyor belt

19

Storage table

20

Transport direction of the film with packaging trays

21

an advantage

22

Direction of movement of the insert tape to fill the other tracks

23

Transport belt/tape

24

Waste

25

Product slices

26

Slicing device, slicer

27

Packaging machine

28

track

29

columns

H

Distance between product support and packaging tray and/or film web

Claims (3)

1. Packaging machine (27) for packing product slices (25), having a plurality of workstations, wherein one workstation is an insertion station and one workstation is a slicing apparatus (26), wherein the slicing apparatus is provided in the region of the insertion station, in particular above the insertion station, wherein the packaging machine is a tray sealer which has pack cavity singularizing station in which the pack cavities (13) are singularized, and that the slicing apparatus is disposed downstream of the pack cavity singularizing station and upstream of a sealing station in which a cover seal is sealed onto the pack cavity (13), characterized in that said packaging machine (27) has a movable belt (18) which prevents product particles from making their way into the packaging and which is at least in part disposed above the lower-film web or the pack cavity.
2. Packaging machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the slicing and/or dropping of the cut-off foodstuff slice onto and/or the placing of the foodstuff slice in the pack cavity takes place under a vacuum and/or a modified atmosphere.
3. System consisting of a slicing apparatus (26) and a packaging machine (27) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said slicing apparatus (26) and packaging machine (27) have a common controller and/or a common operating unit.

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