BE1024014B1 - MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY CUTTING A BREAD. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for automatically cutting a sliced bread in which the bread (2) is introduced into a loading compartment (4) and moved in a cutting direction (13) through a set of blades (6) on a base (4a, 5a) substantially planar for slicing the bread (2), wherein the bread (2) enters an unloading compartment (5) as it is cut. When a portion of the cut bread is present in the unloading compartment (5), at least one holding plate (8,9) mounted on a movable support (10,11) is advanced in the unloading compartment (5) towards the cut portion of the bread (2) until the holding plate (8,9) comes into contact with the bread (2). The direction of movement of the holding plate (8, 9) is then reversed during the cutting of the bread (2) while maintaining contact between the bread (2) and the holding plate (8, 9) up to the complete cutting of the bread.

Description

Machine to automatically cut a bread

The present invention relates to an automated cutting device sliced breads.

Automated cutting devices for sliced breads are well known. They are found in most bakeries and also in supermarkets. These devices or automatic bread slicers operate according to the following principle: the user of the device introduces bread he wants to slice by placing it in a loading compartment. This compartment is traditionally arranged between a bread pusher and a set of parallel blades for slicing said bread. The user then starts the device by switching on the switch provided for this purpose. This causes the reciprocating movement of the blades back and forth and in a translation movement transversely to the direction of the blades of the pusher. The bread is, therefore, moved by this pusher towards the blades and cutting begins when it comes in contact with them. The user retrieves his sliced bread in an unloading compartment disposed on the side of the blades opposite to that where the bread loading compartment is placed in the device. It only remains for this user to pack the cut bread.

A problem with this type of device is that slices of bread tend, during its cutting and even more once it is completed, to deviate from each other, so that it is then difficult for the user to collect them in order to proceed with the packaging of the cut bread. This problem forces the user to watch for the sliced portion of the bread which, during cutting, emerges from all the blades in the unloading compartment and to manually grasp this sliced portion by its ends on either side of the set of slices to prevent them from deviating from one another until the end of the cutting operation. Such manipulation therefore requires the user to focus his attention on the cutting operation for its duration, to lean forward to see the portion of the bread to be grasped, and to remain in this uncomfortable position until the end of the cutting operation. In addition, this manipulation can be dangerous insofar as the user would introduce his hands too much towards all the blades and would then make contact with them. This could cause injury, especially in young children, for whom the cutting of a bread by such a device can be a fun game. Moreover, in order to meet increasingly stringent safety standards, the automated slice bread cutters are preferably each day provided with covers for covering the bread discharge compartment and arranged in such a way that that cutting is interrupted as soon as this lid is no longer closed. Thus, it is no longer allowed the user to enter the bread being cut to prevent the slices, which constitute it, do not deviate from each other until this cut is not fully completed, c that is, at a time when the slices have already spread well. The generalization of the use of such protective covers therefore makes it necessary to find alternative means for handling the bread being cut by the user to prevent the slices of this bread can deviate from each other.

Various solutions to this problem have been proposed. For example, it is known to dispose laterally in the bread discharge compartment, vertically on either side of all the blades, a set of semi-rigid plastic blades oriented obliquely with respect to all the blades. , towards the front of the unloading compartment. When the bread emerges from this set of blades in the compartment, it comes into contact with each of the sets of plastic blades. These deform to adapt to the shape of the cut bread and therefore exert pressure on both sides of the bread, each in the opposite direction and transversely to the cutting plane of the bread slices. Thus, all slices tend to be held in place. Such a system nevertheless has certain disadvantages. First, the flexibility of the plastic blades can not be changed, as can their rest orientation. Therefore, depending on the size and flexibility of the bread to be cut, they may either not be enough to prevent these slices from deviating from each other during or after cutting, or make it difficult to grip the bread cut by the once the cut is complete.

Another system has also been proposed, consisting of a curtain of rigid rods suspended from a rail and being able to move freely perpendicular thereto. Such a curtain is arranged vertically in the bread discharge compartment, parallel to all the blades and at a distance from it. When the bread is released into the discharge compartment during cutting, the stems that it meets are raised in its path by the pressure it applies to them while those on both sides of the bread and that This one does not touch keep their vertical position and in this way hold it on both sides of its two outermost slices, thus preventing the slices from moving apart from each other. Such a system, however, also has certain disadvantages. Indeed, the distance between the curtain of rigid rods and all blades of the cutting device being fixed, this distance may be excessive to properly retain a small cut bread, or, on the contrary, insufficient to properly retain a bread large size. In addition, as soon as a portion of the curtain rods is raised by the passage of the bread, they have their points towards the user, which may constitute a danger of injury, especially again for children.

Another system is proposed in US 1,790,022. A cut bread is held in its loaf form by inserting staples from opposite ends.

EP 1 857 233 describes a system in which the length of the bread in the direction of the set of blades is determined and that pallets are moved in the unloading compartment until they laterally enclose the blade. bread during its cutting to prevent the slices of bread cut away from each other. Such an arrangement has the disadvantage that, depending on the properties of the bread, it no longer slips or slides more sufficiently between the pallets, so that the bread is compressed by the action of the pusher. In addition, it has been found that in some cases, for example, due to an irregular shape of the bread, the slices at its ends are not held by the pallets and are separated when they come into contact with the pallets.

The present invention solves the aforementioned problems by providing a device for automatically cutting a sliced bread comprising a frame, a loading compartment in the device of a bread to be cut and an unloading compartment thereof, each comprising a substantially flat base. This device comprises a set of bread cutting blades arranged substantially parallel to each other between said loading and unloading compartments and a pusher arranged to be moved in the load compartment between a first position, in which a bread can be introduced. in this compartment, and a second position adjacent to all the blades, wherein the cut bread can be removed from the unloading compartment. Thus, the bread can move in a cutting direction through all the blades during the cutting of the bread.

This device further comprises at least one holding plate, fixed on a movable support, which is driven by drive means for moving this holding plate in the unloading compartment, substantially parallel to its base and transversally to the direction movement of the pusher, between a first position, wherein the holding plate is located near a lateral edge of said base, and a second position, wherein the holding plate is in contact with the bread during its cutting .

The device according to the invention is characterized in that at least a portion of the holding plate is oriented obliquely with respect to said cutting direction and is elastically movable relative to its support.

By the presence of this holding plate, the slices of the bread can be held against each other and do not deviate from one another during the cutting of the bread until it is removed from the unloading compartment.

According to the invention, the holding plate is advanced in the unloading compartment towards the cut portion of the bread in a direction substantially parallel to said base and substantially perpendicular to the cutting direction until the holding plate comes into contact. with the bread. Then, the direction of movement of the holding plate is reversed during the cutting of the bread by maintaining contact between the latter and the holding plate until its complete cut.

The contact between the bread and the holding plate, during the inverted movement, is ensured by the fact that this plate is oriented obliquely with respect to the cutting direction and is elastically movable relative to its support. Thanks to the elasticity of the holding plate, the latter remains tight against the lateral side of the portion of the bread that is cut. Other details and features of the invention will emerge from the description given below by way of non-limiting example of some particular embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical section of a device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a view from above of a part of the device of FIG. 1, according to a first embodiment of the invention, representing the pusher, the set of blades and the holding plates, when a bread is introduced into the load compartment.

Figure 3 shows a view similar to that of Figure 2 when the cutting of the bread is more advanced.

Figure 4 shows a view similar to that of Figures 2 and 3 when the bread is almost completely cut into slices.

Figure 5 shows a view similar to that of Figures 2 to 4 at the time the bread is cut completely and can be removed from the unloading compartment.

Figure 6 is a front view of a portion of the device shown in Figure 1, according to an interesting embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 represents a view from above of the part of the device represented in FIG. 6.

In the different figures, the same reference numerals refer to similar or identical elements.

FIG. 1 represents a device 1 for automatically cutting a sliced bread 2, according to the invention, comprising a frame 3, a compartment 4 for loading a bread to be cut and a compartment 5 for unloading the cut bread, comprising each a base 4a, 5a substantially flat. This device further comprises bread slicing blades 6 arranged substantially parallel to each other between said loading and unloading compartments 4 and a pusher 7 which can be moved in the loading compartment 4 between a first position Al , in which a bread can be introduced into this compartment, and a second position A2 adjacent to the set of blades 6, in which the cut bread 2 can be removed from the unloading compartment 5.

To introduce the bread 2 into the loading compartment 4, it is placed on the base 4a of this compartment 4, between the set of blades 6 and the pusher 7. Then, the pusher 7 is moved in the direction of the set of blades 6 to push the bread through the blades so as to cut it. The width of the bread 2 is preferably determined according to the cutting direction. For this purpose, means for determining the width of the bread 2 are present.

These means for determining the width of the bread may comprise any system known to those skilled in the art.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the distance between the pusher 7 and the set of blades 6 is determined at the moment when the bread is clamped between this pusher 7 and the set of blades 6 after its introduction into the compartment loading 4 and before cutting. This distance corresponds to the width of the bread 2 according to the cutting direction. In such a case, the means for determining the width of the bread comprise, for example, a contact detector provided with the pusher 7. This detector is activated when the pusher 7 comes into contact with the bread 2 which is located against the assembly. 6. In an interesting way, the width of the bread 2 is determined by measuring the intensity of the electric current consumed by a motor which drives the pusher 7. This intensity increases at the moment when the bread is clamped between the pusher 7 and 6. When this intensity reaches a predetermined value, the width of the bread is determined based on the position at this moment of the pusher.

Figure 2 shows the loading compartments 4 and unloading 5 after the introduction of a bread 2 in the loading compartment 4. The pusher 7 is advanced in its first position Al, in which the bread 2 is sandwiched between this pusher 7 and the set of blades 6.

Holding plates 8 and 9 for the cut bread are provided in the unloading compartment 5. Each holding plate 8 and 9 is fixed on a movable support 10 and 11, which is driven by drive means for moving the plate in the unloading compartment. The supports 10 and 11 extend below the base 5a of the unloading compartment 5 where they are guided by rails 12 extending substantially parallel to the assembly of the blades 6. Thus, the supports 10 and 11 and the corresponding holding plates 8 and 9 can move substantially parallel to the base 5a and transversely to the direction of movement of the pusher 7.

When the bread 2 is introduced into the loading compartment 4 the holding plates 8 and 9 are positioned in a first position B1 near the opposite lateral edges of said base 5a. In the example shown in FIG. 2, this first position B1 of the holding plates 8 and 9 is situated at each lateral end of the set of blades 6.

The holding plates 8 and 9 preferably extend substantially perpendicular to the base 5a of the unloading compartment 5 and are oriented obliquely with respect to the cutting direction of the bread 2. The fact that the holding plates are obliquely oriented means that the distance between a first end 14 of each holding plate 8 and 9, directed towards the set of blades 6, and a plane of symmetry of the device extending in the cutting direction is greater than the distance between a second the opposite end 15 of the holding plate 8 and 9 and this plane of symmetry.

Thus, in the case where two holding plates 8 and 9 are present, the distance between the first ends 14 is smaller than the distances between the second ends 15 of these plates 8 and 9.

The cutting direction is indicated in the figures by an arrow 13. In general, the cutting direction 13 extends in a plane which is perpendicular to the set of blades 6 and / or to the longitudinal direction of the pusher 7. It corresponds to the direction in which the bread 2 is advanced during its cutting.

The holding plates 8 and 9 are elastically movable relative to their associated support 10 and 11. Thus, the holding plates can move resiliently, in particular resiliently, when they come into contact with the cut portion of the 2 in the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, the holding plates 8 and 9 are formed by a metal or plastic plate which can flex resiliently .

In another embodiment of the invention, this holding plate 8 or 9 is, for example, hinged relative to its support 10 or 11, while, for example, a compression spring is fixed between the holding plate and its support.

The holding plates 8 and 9 are preferably bent in the cutting direction, as shown in the figures. The surface of the holding plates 8 and 9 on the side of the bread 2 has, in particular, a convex shape.

In order to ensure that the bread can move substantially freely between the holding plates 8 and 9 in the cutting direction, the surface of these plates 8 and 9 is preferably smooth, so that the bread 2 can slide unhindered against these surfaces.

By the action of the pusher 7, the bread 2 is moved through all the blades 6 until it is completely cut into slices. When a predetermined portion of the bread 2 has been cut, the supports 10 and 11 are moved in the direction of the bread 2 until the holding plates 8 and 9 come into contact with the bread in a second position B2 of the plates 8 and 9.

These supports 10 and 11 with the holding plates 8 and 9 are preferably set in motion to come into contact with the bread 2 when a portion of at least a quarter of it is cut. Advantageously, the holding plates 8 and 9 come into contact with the bread when about half of its width is cut off, as shown in FIG.

To initiate the movement of the holding plates 8 and 9 from their initial position B1 to their second position B2, the device according to the invention comprises, in an interesting manner, a first switch for triggering the drive means holding plates 8 and 9, when the bread 2 has moved a predetermined distance through all the blades 6 in the unloading compartment 5.

This first switch may, for example, include a timer that takes into account the speed of movement of the pusher 7 from its first position A1 to turn on a motor to bring the holding plates 8 and 9 of the bread 2 when where the predetermined portion of the bread has been cut.

The supports 10 and 11 may be driven by a system, which is for example described in the document EP 1 857 233 and in which the drive means are arranged to be able to slide freely in a rail 16 fixed to the frame 3 under the base 5a. of the unloading compartment 5. This rail 10 is substantially parallel to the set of blades 6. In this system, which is shown schematically in FIGS. 6 and 7, the driving means comprise two racks 17, which are each fixed to one of the holding plates 8 and 9 through the support 10 or 11 corresponding and a gear 18, whose teeth cooperate with those of the racks 17. The drive means comprise a motor 19 which is intended to drive the wheel toothed 18 in a rotational movement to move each holding plate 8 and 9 between its first B1 and its respective second position B2.

When the holding plates 8 and 9 are both in contact with the bread 2, as shown in FIG. 3, the direction of movement of the holding plates 8 and 9 is reversed, so that they move in the direction of their first position B1. During this inverted movement, a contact is maintained between the bread and the holding plates until it is completely cut out so that it remains gripped laterally by the holding plates 8 and 9. 9 are, therefore, deformed somewhat resiliently or resiliently as the bread advances into the unloading compartment 5 and as the holding plates 8 and 9 move away from each other. the other. Thus, pressure is exerted laterally by the holding plates 8 and 9 on the bread to hold the slices of the bread against each other.

At the moment when the bread 2 is cut completely into slices and the pusher 7 is in its second position A2, the holding plates 8 and 9 are stopped in a third position B3, as shown in FIG. 5. The cut bread can, then be removed from the unloading compartment 5.

To trigger the drive means of the holding plates 8 and 9, when they have been brought into contact with the bread 2 in their second position B2, a second switch is provided. This second switch causes the holding plates 8 and 9 to move to their third position B3.

The second switch makes it possible, for example, to measure the intensity of the electric current consumed by the motor 19, which drives the movable supports 10 and 11 of the holding plates 8 and 9. This intensity increases at the moment when the bread is clamped between the holding plates 8 and 9. When this intensity reaches a predetermined value, this second switch engages the motor 19 to move the holding plates 8 and 9 to their third position B3.

It goes without saying that the skilled person can consider several alternatives for this second switch. Thus, this switch may, for example, comprise a sensor, which detects the presence of a contact between the holding plates and the bread or a sensor, which detects the arrival of the plates at the second position B2.

Alternatively, the loading compartment 4 may comprise any sensor to detect the position and the length of the bread 2. On the basis of the information obtained by this sensor, the second position B2 of the holding plates 8 and 9 is determined to enable these last in this B2 position.

During the displacement of the holding plates 8 and 9 to the position B3 a resilient contact is maintained between the bread 2 and the plates 8 and 9. The arrival at the position B2 can be detected by the presence of a sensor which detects the the intensity of the pressure between the bread and the surface of the holding plates 8 and 9. When this pressure is lower than a predetermined value, it is found that the third position B3 is reached, and the displacement of the holding plates is terminated by stopping the drive means, in particular by stopping the engine 19.

Alternatively, the intensity of the current consumed by the motor 19 is measured and at the moment when this intensity is greater than a predetermined value, the motor is stopped as the position B3 is reached.

In another embodiment of the invention, the holding plates 8 and 9 are moved from their second position B2 to their third position B3 under the action of the bread, which acts against the holding plates following the displacement of the bread 2 caused by the advancement of the pusher 7. Thus, the action of the motor 19 is not required to move the plates of the second position B2 to the third position B3. When the pusher 7 arrives in its second position A2, the advancement of the bread 2 is completed and the displacement of the holding plates 8 and 9 is automatically stopped in the third position B3.

This third position of the holding plates 8 and 9 is shown schematically in FIG.

Notwithstanding that the invention has been described above with reference to a device comprising two holding plates 8 and 9, which are arranged on either side of the bread 2 or the unloading compartment 5, it is also possible that the device comprises only a single holding plate in the unloading compartment 5. In such a case, the bread is clamped, for example, between a stop or side wall of the loading compartment and the holding plate. This has, moreover, been described in document EP 1 57 233. The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but also covers any alternative form within the scope of those skilled in the art. When, for example, the device according to the invention is used to slice breads of similar size, it is possible that the first position B1 and the third position B3 of the holding plates 8 and 9 coincide.

Claims (14)

Claim s 1. Device for automatically cutting a sliced bread (2), comprising a frame (3), a loading compartment (4) of a slicing bread and an unloading compartment (5) of the sliced bread, these compartments (4,5) each having a substantially planar base (4a, 5a), the device comprising a set of bread cutting blades (6) arranged substantially parallel to one another between said loading compartments (4) and unloading device (5) and a pusher (7) movable in the loading compartment (4) between a first position (A1), in which a bread (2) can be introduced into this compartment (4), and a second position (A2) adjacent to the blade assembly, wherein the cut bread can be removed from the unloading compartment (5), so that the bread (2) can move in a cutting direction (13) through the set of blades (6) during cutting, this device comprising also at least one holding plate (8,9) fixed on a movable support (10,11) which is driven by drive means for moving said holding plate (8,9) in the unloading compartment (5) , substantially parallel to its base (5a) and transversely to the direction of movement of the pusher (7), between a first position (B1), in which the holding plate (8, 9) is situated near a lateral edge of said base (5), and a second position (B2), in which the holding plate (8,9) is in contact with the bread (2) during its cutting, this device being characterized in that at least one part of the holding plate (8,9) is oriented obliquely with respect to said cutting direction (13) and is elastically movable relative to its support (10,11). 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the distance between one end (14) of the holding plate (8,9), directed towards the set of blades (6), and a plane of symmetry of the device extending along said cutting direction (13) is greater than the distance between the opposite end (15) of this holding plate (8,9) and this plane of symmetry. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein there are provided means for determining the width of the bread (2) present in the load compartment (4), these means being such as to make it possible to determine the width of the bread (2). ) in the cutting direction (13). 4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a first switch for triggering the drive means when the bread (2) is advanced by a predetermined distance through all the blades (6) in the unloading compartment (5), so as to move the holding plate (8,9) from its first position (B1) to its second position (B2). 5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a second switch is provided to trigger the drive means when the bread (2) has been advanced a predetermined distance through all the blades ( 6) in the unloading compartment (5) and when the holding plate (8,9) is in contact with the bread (2), so as to displace the movable support (10,11) of the holding plate (8). , 9) in the direction of its first position (B1) until the aforesaid pusher (7) is in said second position (A2) adjacent to the set of blades (6). 6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a timer cooperating with the drive means for moving the movable support (10,11) of the holding plate (8,9) in the direction of its first position (B1) for a time corresponding to the time required to move the pusher (7) to its position (A2) adjacent to the set of blades (6) from its position in which the holding plate (8, 9) is brought into contact with the bread (2). 7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said holding plate (8,9) is resilient. 8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a compression spring is mounted between the holding plate (8,9) and its support (10,11). 9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said holding plate (8,9) with the corresponding movable support (10,11) are provided at each side edge of said base (5a), so that the portion of the cut bread can be clamped laterally between these two holding plates (8,9). Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said holding plate (8,9) is bent in the cutting direction (13). 11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the drive means are arranged in such a way to slide freely in a rail (16) fixed to the frame (3) under the base (5a) of the unloading compartment (5), substantially parallel to the assembly of the blades (6), these drive means comprising at least one rack (17) which is fixed to the holding plate (8, 9), a toothed wheel (18) whose teeth cooperate with those of the rack (17), and a motor (19) adapted to drive the toothed wheel (18) in a rotational movement to move each holding plate (8,9) between its first (B1) and its second (B2) position respectively. 12. A method of automatically cutting a sliced bread wherein the bread (2) is introduced into a loading compartment (4) of a device of a bread to be cut and moved in a cutting direction (13) to through a set of blades (6) on a base (4a, 5a) substantially planar to cut the bread (2) into slices, wherein the bread (2) enters an unloading compartment (5) as and when of its cutting, characterized in that, when a portion of the cut bread is present in the unloading compartment (5), at least one holding plate (8,9) mounted on a movable support (10,11) is advanced in the unloading compartment (5) towards the cut portion of the bread (2) in a direction substantially parallel to said base (5a) and substantially perpendicular to the cutting direction (13) until the holding plate (8) , 9) comes into contact with the bread (2) and in that the direction of movement of the holding plate (8,9) is then inverted during the cutting of the bread (2) maintaining a contact between the bread (2) and the holding plate (8,9) until the complete cut of the bread. Method according to Claim 12, in which the width of the bread (2) in the cutting direction (13) is measured when the bread (2) is in the loading compartment (4) and according to which the bread plate (2) is holding (8,9) is brought into contact with the cut portion of the bread (2) when at least a quarter of the width of the bread is cut and, preferably, when approximately half of the bread is cut. 14. A method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the bread (2) is slid against the holding plate (8,9) during its cutting, so that the latter deforms elastically as and when advancing the bread (2) in the unloading compartment (5) while the support (10,11) of the holding plate (8,9) is moved away from the bread (2).