BE1021941B1 - CUTTING MACHINE AND AUTOMATICALLY PACKING A BREAD - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine and a method for automatically cutting a loaf (3) into slices, following a loaf (3) is moved in a direction of movement (4) essentially vertical from a first compartment (1) to a second. compartment (2), during the movement of the bread (3) the latter being cut into slices between the first and the second compartment in a cutting plane extending essentially transversely with respect to the direction of movement (4). A strip (9) of packaging material is fed to the lower compartment and a loop is formed from this strip (9), the cut slices of the bread (3) being lowered into the lower compartment to accommodate them in the loop and the opposite side edges (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b) of the loop being connected to each other, so as to form a bag (20) for the cut bread.

Description

The invention relates to a slicing machine for automatically slicing a bread or a similar commodity. This machine includes a first loading compartment, which is connected to a second receiving compartment, and a cutting member for cutting slices of bread between the first and second compartments by defining a cutting plane. The machine also has a bread support surface provided in the first compartment and extending vertically or inclined at an angle of less than 45 ° to a vertical direction. This support surface defines a direction of movement of the bread which extends parallel to the support surface. A mobile support is provided in the second compartment. This support is movable in said direction of displacement to support the sliced portion of the bread. In particular, the invention relates to a machine whose base occupies a relatively small area in comparison with conventional automatic slicers and wherein a bread is moved in a substantially vertical direction during cutting. Such machines are known from the prior art of the art.

Documents DE 4431808 and DE 9310092 describe such a bread slicer in which the bread is transported vertically and cut into slices during its downward or upward movement.

A disadvantage of slicers, in which the bread is transported vertically or in a slightly inclined direction relative to the vertical, is that it takes a certain amount of dexterity to grasp the cut bread and to pack it in a bag, keeping the slices together .

Machines for cutting and automatically wrapping a loaf in which it is moved in a substantially horizontal direction are, for example, described in EP 2520501. However, the proposed solution for such horizontal machines can not be applied to a simple way to machines, in which the bread is moved in a substantially vertical direction. The invention aims to provide, on the one hand, a method and on the other hand, a machine to automatically cut a bread in which it is moved, when cutting in a vertical direction or slightly direction inclined relative to the vertical, which allows to automatically pack the cut bread in a bag. For this purpose, the machine according to the invention comprises a packaging device for packaging the cut bread in a bag made of a strip of packaging material. This device comprises a holding member for grasping and holding an end of said strip and at least one guide element for introducing said strip into the second compartment. The holding member is movable with respect to the guide element between a close position, to enable a free end of said strip to be grasped, and a remote position to extend this strip between the holding member and the element. in an area between the second compartment and the section plane.

This machine also has a traction member for forming a loop in the band, extended between the holding member and the guide element, so that this loop extends into the second compartment to accommodate the cut bread .

The aforesaid movable support is movable laterally with respect to the direction of movement of the bread to the side of said strip to allow removal of said support from said loop and to connect the opposite side edges of the loop so as to form a bag.

Advantageously, the holding member comprises at least one clamp for gripping the free end of said strip in the close position aforesaid.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the aforesaid mobile support comprises the traction member. In particular, the mobile support and the traction member preferably form a whole.

According to an interesting embodiment of the invention, the packaging device comprises a connecting member for associating the opposite side edges of the aforementioned loop to each other so as to form a bag for the cut bread. The connecting member comprises, for example, at each side of the supply path of the strip, a welding assembly for gripping the corresponding opposite side edges of the loop to connect these edges to one another.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the member of the welding assembly comprises two parts movable relative to one another between a connecting position, in which the opposite lateral edges of said loop are clamped together. between these parts, and a remote position, in which the band forming said loop extends freely between these parts.

Interestingly, the cutting member comprises a blade which is movable in a cutting plane extending substantially transversely to said direction of movement of the bread between the first compartment and the second compartment. This blade preferably has a circular shape and is driven around its central axis. The invention also relates to a method for automatically cutting a sliced bread or similar product, wherein a bread is placed in a first load compartment and then moved in a direction of movement to a second receiving compartment. Said displacement direction is substantially vertical or inclined at an angle less than 45 ° with respect to a vertical direction. When moving the bread, it slices it between the first and second compartment in a cutting plane extending substantially transversely to the direction of travel while supporting the cut portion of the bread.

This method is characterized by feeding a web of packaging material to the second compartment and forming a loop of that web with an opening which is directed to the first compartment while the loop extends. at least partially in the second compartment. The sliced portion of the bread is arranged in this loop and, preferably after its complete cutting, is connected the opposite side edges of the loop to each other, so as to form a bag for the cut bread.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method, according to the invention, said loop is formed as the cut portion of the bread moves.

Advantageously, the cut portion of the bread is supported in said loop by means of a movable support and, after complete cutting of the bread, the mobile support is removed from the loop to enable the opposite side edges of the latter to be connected to each other. other. In an interesting way, said strip is extended in an area situated between the second compartment and the cutting plane and the aforesaid loop is formed by moving the aforesaid movable support in the second compartment in the direction of displacement by driving said strip, of which a free end is maintained in said zone outside the path of the bread. Other details and particularities of the invention will emerge from the description given below, by way of nonlimiting example, of some particular embodiments of the machine and the method, according to the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings. .

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a portion of the machine, according to a first embodiment of the invention, when introducing an uncut bread into a first load compartment.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 after a portion of the bread has been cut off and when a loop is forming in the packaging material web.

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figures 1 and 2 showing the bread cut completely sliced and being in the receiving compartment.

Figure 4 is a view similar to that of the preceding figures, when removing the movable support of the loop.

Figure 5 is also a view similar to that of the preceding figures illustrating that the opposite side edges of the loop are connected to each other by a connecting member forming a bag for the cut bread.

Figure 6 is a view similar to that of the preceding figures showing that the holding member releases the free end of the packaging material strip.

Figure 7 is a view similar to that of the preceding figures at the time when the bagged bread is removed from the machine and the holding member grasps, in its close position, the free end of the band.

Figure 8 is a view similar to that of the previous figures showing the holding member in its remote position and the movable support placed above the band to receive a bread cut.

In the different figures, the same reference numerals relate to similar or identical elements. The invention generally relates to a method and a machine for automatically cutting a sliced bread. The bread is first placed in a first compartment. Then, the bread is moved to a second adjacent compartment in a direction that is substantially vertical or inclined at an angle less than 45 ° with respect to a vertical direction. When moving the bread, it is sliced by means of a cutting member located between the first and second compartment while supporting the cut portion of the bread.

In the compartment below the cutting member, a strip of packaging material is fed and a loop of this strip is formed in this compartment with an opening which is directed towards the other compartment. The sliced bread, or cut portion thereof, is then lowered into this loop and the opposite side edges thereof are connected to each other so as to form a bag for the cut bread.

The packaging material may be formed of paper or other material, such as a plastic or aluminum, etc. The band of this packing material is normally wider than the width of a bread to be cut.

Figures 1 to 8 show the execution of successive steps of a method for cutting and packaging a bread, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, by means of a machine proposed by the invention.

The machine, according to this embodiment of the invention, has a first loading compartment 1, which is connected to a second receiving compartment 2. The first compartment 1 extends above the second compartment 2, so that the bottom of the first compartment is connected to the upper part of the second compartment. For clarity of the figures, the frame of the machine is not shown.

In order to cut and bag a bread 3, it is introduced into the first compartment 1 and then transported to the second compartment in a direction of movement indicated by the arrow 4.

The first compartment 1 has a support surface 7 for the bread 3 which extends vertically or inclined at an angle less than 45 ° with respect to a vertical direction. This support surface 7 defines the direction of movement 4 of the bread parallel to this support surface 7.

Between the first and the second compartment is provided a cutting member 5 which cuts slices of the bread 3 during its movement to the second compartment 2. This cutting member 5 defines a cutting plane according to which the slices are cut, which extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel 4 of the bread 3. The cutting member preferably comprises a blade 6 which is movable along the cutting plane in a space provided for this purpose between the first compartment 1 and the second compartment 2. As shown in the figures, this blade 6 has, for example, a circular shape and is driven around its central axis. In addition, this blade 6 is driven so as to undergo a back and forth movement between an advanced position and a withdrawn position. When moving from the withdrawn position to the advanced position, the blade 6 crosses the path of the bread 3 to cut a slice of it. In the removed position of the blade 6, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, the bread 3 can advance in its direction of travel 4 over a distance corresponding to the thickness of a wafer.

According to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 8, the machine also comprises a movable support 8 which is provided in the second compartment 2. This support 8 is movable in said direction of movement 4 to support the cut portion in slices of the bread 3. Thus, when the cutting of a first slice of the bread 3 is started, the mobile support 8 is positioned below the cutting plane at a distance corresponding to the thickness of this slice in the direction moving 4.

The mobile support 8 goes down in the direction of displacement 4 of the bread in discrete steps corresponding to the thickness of a slice supporting the cut portion of the bread, as shown in FIG. 2. After each movement of the support 8, a slice bread is cut.

This machine also comprises a packaging device for packaging the cut bread in a bag formed of a band 9 of packaging material. A stock formed by a roll 10 of this web 9 of packaging material is preferably provided in the machine.

The packaging device has a guide element 11 for feeding said strip 9 into the second compartment 2 along a feed path. The guide element 11 is located below the sectional plane, at the upper part of the second compartment, and comprises two cylinders 11a and 11b parallel between which the strip 9 is guided and directed towards this second compartment 2. The surface of these cylinders 11a and 11b thus constitute a guide surface extending essentially transversely to the direction of movement 4 of the roll 3.

The packaging device also comprises a holding member 12 located at the location of the upper part of the second compartment 2 for holding a free end 13 of the band 9. This end 13 extends through and somewhat beyond of the guide element 11, so that this end 13 can be grasped by the holding member 12.

In order to be able to grip this free end 13 of the band 9, the holding member 12 is movable with respect to the guide element 11 between a close position, to allow the end 13 of the band 9 to be grasped, and a remote position, to extend the band 9 between the holding member 12 and the guide member 11 in an area between the second compartment 2 and the cutting plane.

In the close position, as shown in FIG. 7, the end 13 of the strip is grasped by the holding member 12. Then, this holding member 12 moves towards its remote position, as represented in FIG. by retaining the band 9, so that the band extends between the holding member 12 and the guide element 11.

In the embodiment of the machine, according to the invention, shown in the figures, the holding member comprises two grippers 12a and 12b which make it possible to grip the opposite lateral edges of the band 9 at the end location. free 13 in the close position aforesaid. These clamps 12a and 12b are movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the guide element IL

In an alternative embodiment of the holding member 12, this member may comprise a single clamp, making it possible to grip the end 13 of the band 9, which extends over a width corresponding to the width of the band 9 and parallel to the guide element 11.

The machine according to the invention also comprises means for forming a loop in the band 9 extending between the holding member 12 and the guide element 11. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. , the means for forming a loop comprise a traction member provided in the second compartment 2 and arranged so as to extract the band 9 from the guide element 11.

Thus, the aforesaid mobile support 8 forms this traction member, which makes it possible to form a loop in the band 9 extended between the holding member 12 and the guide element 11. This loop extends essentially in the second compartment 2 and has an opening 14 which is directed towards the first compartment 1.

The loop is formed as and when advancing the cut portion of the bread in the second compartment 2 by the action of the movable support 8. During the downward movement of the movable support 8, it causes the part of the band extended between the guide member 11 and the holding member 12 by exerting a thrust force on this part. Thus, by advancing the movable support 8, the loop of the band 9 is enlarged until the bread 3 is cut completely, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. While the movable support 8, supporting the cut portion of bread 3, advance and descend in the second compartment 2, the band 9 slides on the lower surface of this support 8 and is removed from the guide member 11 by forming and enlarging said loop. The portion of the cut bread, or the bread cut completely, is therefore disposed in the loop formed of the band 9 of packaging material.

The movable support 8 is movable laterally with respect to the direction of movement 4 of the bread 3 to the side of the band 9 to allow to remove the support 8 of the loop when the bread has been cut completely. In FIG. 4, the arrow 8a shows schematically the withdrawal of the support 8 from the loop. The cut bread is then supported by the bottom of the loop.

After the support 8 has been removed from the loop, the opposite lateral edges 15a, 15b and 16a, 16b of the loop are connected to each other to form a bag which contains the cut bread, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

To connect the opposite side edges of the loop to each other the packaging device comprises a connecting member 17 comprising at each side of the feed path of the band 9 a welding assembly 18. The connecting member 17 allows in particular, to grip the corresponding opposite lateral edges 15a, 15b and 16a, 16b of the loop to connect these edges to each other. For this purpose, the welding assembly 18 comprises two parts 18a and 18b which are movable relative to each other between a connecting position, in which the opposite lateral edges 15a, 15b and 16a, 16b of said loop are sandwiched between these parts 18a and 18b, and a remote position, in which the band 9 forming said loop extends freely between these parts 18a and 18b.

In FIG. 5, the parts 18a and 18b of the welding assembly 17 are in said connection position after the displacement along the arrows 19.

When the packaging material comprises a plastic material, the welding assembly is such as to enable the opposite edges to be connected, for example, by thermal welding. In other cases, the welding assembly makes it possible, for example, to connect the edges to one another by staples, to fold them or to stick them by the application of an adhesive between these edges, etc.

When the opposite edges 15a, 15b and 16a, 16b of the loop of the band 9 are bonded to each other, a bag 20 is formed, which contains the cut bread 3. The connecting member 17 then releases the bag 20, as shown in Figure 6. Thus, the parts 18a and 18b of the welding assembly 18 are found in the remote position.

Cutting means 21 are present to separate the bag 20 from the portion of the strip 9 which extends at the location of the guide element 11. The cutting means 21 comprise, for example, a knife which can undergo a reciprocating movement along the guide member 11. The holding member 12 releases the end 13 which borders the opening of the bag 20. Then, the bread cut and bagged can be removed from the second compartment.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the movable support 8 is placed below the formed bag and to raise it, supporting the bagged bread, until the bag 20 can be removed from the first compartment 1.

In order to be able to cut and package a successive bread, the holding member 12 is moved to its close position in order to grip the free end 13 of the band which extends beyond the guide element 11, as shown in FIG. Figure 7. Then, the holding member 12 is moved to its remote position by removing the band 9 from the guide member 11 and the movable support 8 is repositioned above the band 9, which extends between the guide member 11 and the holding member 12, as shown in Figure 8. A bread can then be introduced into the first compartment 1 (Figure 1) to be sliced and to be bagged.

The machine, according to the invention, may optionally comprise a pusher movable in the first compartment 1 which moves in the direction of movement 4 of the bread 3. This pusher, which is not shown in the figures, allows to drive the bread 3 to direct it to the second compartment 2. Thus, a bread cut is introduced into the first compartment 1 in the space between this pusher and the mobile support 8. Means can be provided to determine the length of the bread s extending between the pusher and the movable support 8. On the basis of this length, for example, the number of slices to be cut is calculated and the distance on which the movable support 8 is to descend into the second compartment is defined.

This movable pusher may have hooking means for the bread 3, which are such as to make it possible to hold the end of the bread 3 opposite the end near the mobile support 8.

In general, the machine preferably also comprises means for measuring the length of the bread to be cut in order to be able to advance the mobile support over a distance that accords with the length of the bread when it is cut. Such means include, for example, a contactor, which generates an electrical signal when the pusher comes into contact with the bread. If a pusher is not provided, the means for measuring the length of the bread may comprise another type of sensor, such as, for example, an optical eye which detects the passage of the upper end of the bread during the downward movement of the support 8.

Although the embodiments of the machine and method of the invention, described above, have a movable support 8 which comprises a traction member, it is also possible for the mobile support 8 and the traction member to constitute two separate parts.

In such a case, the movement of the traction member may precede the movement of the movable support 8. Thus, the loop in the second compartment can already be formed before the cutting of the bread has been started. The mobile support 8 then moves the cut bread, or the cut portion of the bread, into the loop of the band 9. Before connecting the opposite side edges of the band 9 to each other, the traction member and the support 8 are removed from the loop in a similar manner as described above.

In general, the traction member is provided in the second compartment 2 to extract the band 9 from the guide element 11. Thus, the traction member is movable in said direction of movement 4 of the bread between a starting position on the one hand, in which the traction member is located above the band 9, when the latter is extended between the guide element 11 and the holding member 12, and a lowered position, d on the other hand, wherein said loop has been formed. The traction member makes it possible to exert a thrust force essentially in the direction of displacement 4 on the band 9 during its displacement from the starting position to the lowered position. During the descent of the traction member, the loop is enlarged and the band 9 is extracted from the guide element 11.

It is also possible to introduce the bread to be cut into the second compartment 2. Before introducing the bread 3, the mobile support is positioned in the bottom of this compartment 2 so as to be able to place the bread on this support 8. Next, the bread 3 is moved by raising the mobile support 8 to the first compartment 1. During its upward movement, the bread is sliced, as for example described in DE 4431808. Meanwhile, a loop is formed of the band 9 by the traction member in the second compartment 2. After the bread has been cut completely, the mobile support 8 goes down to accommodate the bread cut in the previously formed loop.

After removal of the pull member and the movable support of the loop, a bag is formed by connecting the opposite side edges of the loop to each other.

It goes without saying that the members and the elements of the machine which is mobile or displaceable can be driven by drive means such as, for example, an electric motor. This is, for example, the case for the mobile support 8, the traction member, the cutting member, the holding member, etc. The guide member 11 may, for example, comprise two guide rolls which are driven about their axes by an electric motor to advance the band of packaging material to the second compartment. The roll 10 comprising the stock of the web 9 can also be driven by an electric motor.

In the embodiment of the machine according to the invention, shown in the figures, the means for forming a loop comprise a traction member which also constitutes the mobile support 8. However, the means for forming a loop may comprise, instead of traction means or, in addition to this traction element, drive means for the belt 9. These drive means are, for example, formed by an electric motor which drives the roller 10 or the cylinders 1a. and 1 lb of the guide member 11.

Thus, these drive means allow, for example, to feed a length of the strip 9 to the second compartment 2 necessary to accommodate an additional slice in the loop each time a slice is cut bread 3. In such a case it is not necessary to provide a mobile support 8 for the part of the cut bread since the bread is supported by the band 9.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the means for forming a loop comprises drive means for feeding in one step the entire length of the band required to form the bag. Thus, the loop of the packaging material can already be formed before the cutting of the bread has been started.

It is also possible that the loop is formed and the strip is fed as the sliced portion of the bread advances in the second compartment only by the pushing force that is exerted by the bread on the strip. In such a case, the machine preferably comprises a pusher as described above. The invention is of course not limited to the various embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying figures, but it is clear that many other variants could be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

As mentioned above, the invention relates to a machine for automatically cutting a bread, in particular a bread slicer, having a support surface for the bread, which is preferably slightly inclined relative to the vertical. This support surface is, in particular, inclined at an angle less than 45 ° relative to a vertical direction and preferably less than 30 ° or 15 ° relative to the vertical direction. It is also possible that this support surface extends substantially vertically.

Claims (21)

claims 1. Slicing machine for automatically slicing bread (3) or the like, comprising: - a first loading compartment (1), which is connected to a second receiving compartment (2), - a cutting member (5) ) for cutting slices of the bread (3) between the first and the second compartment and defining a cutting plane, - a support surface (7) for the bread (3), this surface (7) being provided at least in the first compartment (1) and extending vertically or inclined at an angle less than 45 ° with respect to a vertical direction and defining a direction of movement (4) of the bread (3) extending parallel to the surface support member (7), - a movable support (8) provided in the second compartment (2) which is movable along said direction of movement (4) of the bread (3) to support the sliced portion of the bread (3), this machine being characterized in that it comprises - a d packaging device for packaging the cut bread in a bag (20) formed of a strip (9) of packaging material, said device having a holding member (12) for holding an end (13) of said strip ( 9) and at least one guide element (11) for feeding said strip (9) into the second compartment (2) along a feed path, the holding member (12) being movable relative to the guiding (11) between a close position, to allow to enter a free end (13) of said strip (9), and a remote position, to extend the strip (9) between the holding member (12) and the guiding element (11) in an area between the second compartment (2) and the cutting plane; - means for forming a loop in the band (9) extended between the holding member (12) and the element guide (11), this loop extending into the second compartment (2) to accommodate the bread cut in three reeds, - the movable support (8) being movable laterally with respect to the direction of movement (4) of the bread (3) to the side of the band (9) aforesaid to allow said support (8) to be removed from said loop and connecting the opposite side edges (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b) of the loop to form a bag (20). 2. Machine according to claim 1, wherein the means for forming a loop comprises a traction member provided in the second compartment and arranged to extract the strip (9) of the guide member (11). 3. Machine according to claim 2, wherein the traction member is movable in said direction of movement (4) between a starting position, wherein the traction member is located above the extended band (9). between the guide member (11) and the holding member (12), and a lowered position in which said loop has been formed, the traction member being such as to allow a thrust force to be exerted essentially along said moving direction (4) on the web (9) as it moves from the starting position to the lowered position. 4. Machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the movable support (8) comprises the traction member. 5. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the holding member (12) comprises at least one clamp for gripping the free end of said strip in the close position aforesaid. 6. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the holding member (12) comprises two grippers (12a, 12b) for gripping the opposite side edges (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b) of the band (9) at the location of said free end (13) in the close position aforesaid. 7. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the packaging device comprises a connecting member (17) for connecting the opposite side edges (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b) of the aforesaid loop each to others so as to form a bag (20) for the cut bread. 8. Machine according to claim 7, wherein the connecting member (17) comprises, on each side of the supply path of the strip (9), a welding assembly (18) for gripping the opposite side edges (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b) corresponding loop to connect these edges to each other. Machine according to claim 8, wherein the welding assembly (18) comprises two parts (18a, 18b) which are movable relative to one another between a connecting position, in which the opposite side edges said loop are sandwiched between these portions (18a, 18b), and a remote position in which the band (9), forming said loop, extends freely between these portions (18a, 18b). Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cutting member (5) comprises a blade (6) which is movable along a cutting plane extending substantially transversely to said direction of movement. (4) bread (3) between the first compartment (1) and the second compartment (2). 11. Machine according to claim 10, wherein said blade (6) has a circular shape and is driven about its central axis. 12. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 11, comprising a movable pusher arranged in the first compartment (1) and movable in said direction of movement (4) bread (3) for driving the bread ( 3) to direct it to the second compartment (2). 13. Machine according to claim 12, wherein the movable pusher has hooking means for the bread (3), which are such as to hold the end of the bread (3) opposite the end near the movable support (8). Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the guide element (11) comprises a guide surface extending substantially transversely to the direction of movement (4) of the bread (3). A method of automatically cutting a sliced bread (3) or the like into which a bread (3) is placed in a first compartment (1) and then moved in a direction of travel (4) to a second compartment (2), one of these compartments being located at a lower level relative to the other compartment, said moving direction (4) being substantially vertical or inclined at an angle less than 45 ° with respect to a direction vertical, during the displacement of the bread (3) the latter being sliced between the first and the second compartment in a cutting plane extending substantially transversely to the direction of movement (4), characterized in that a strip (9) of a packaging material is fed to the lower compartment and a loop of this strip (9) is formed with an opening which is directed towards the other compartment while the loop extends at least partially into the lower compartment, the cut slices of the bread (3) being lowered into the lower compartment to accommodate them in said loop and the opposite lateral edges (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b) of the loop being connected to each other, so as to form a bag (20) for the cut bread. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the second compartment (2) is at a lower level than the first compartment (1) and in which the cut portion of the bread (3) is supported when moving the first compartment ( 1) to the second compartment (2), during this movement the sliced portion of the bread (3) being accommodated in said loop in the second compartment (2). 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said loop is formed as the displacement of the cut portion of the bread. 18. A method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the cut portion of the bread (3) is supported in said loop by means of a movable support (8) and, after complete cutting of the bread (3), the movable support (8) of the loop for connecting the opposite side edges (15a, 15b, 16a, 16b) of the loop to each other. 19. A method according to claim 18, wherein said strip (9) is extended in an area between the second compartment (2) and the cutting plane and forming the aforesaid loop by advancing the aforesaid movable support (8) in the second compartment (2) in the direction of displacement (4) driving said strip (9), which maintains a free end (13) in said area outside the path of the bread (3). 20. Process according to 16 or 17, wherein the cut portion of the bread is supported in said strip (9). 21. The method of claim 15, wherein the first compartment (1) is located at a lower level relative to the second compartment (2) and wherein the bread is lowered after its complete slicing to arrange it in said front loop. or after the opposite side edges of the loop are connected to each other.