BE1025568A1 - MACHINE AND METHOD FOR CUTTING AND INSERTING A BREAD - Google Patents

Abstract

Method and slicing machine for a bread comprising a loading compartment (1), which is connected to a receiving compartment (4), with a cutting device (9) for cutting slices of the bread (3) when the one it is moved between the loading compartment (1) and the receiving compartment (4), and a supporting surface (2) for the bread (3) extending in the two compartments and defining a direction of movement of the bread (3) parallel to the support surface (2). A pallet (12) is provided in the loading compartment (1). This pallet (12) is movable between a recessed position, in which the pallet (12) extends substantially in the plane of the support surface (2), and an advanced position, in which a free space (16) is present between this support surface (2) and the pallet (12) for the bagging of a cut bread (3).

Description

Machine and method for cutting and bagging bread

The invention relates to a machine for automatically slicing bread or the like. This machine comprises a loading compartment connected to a reception compartment and a cutting device making it possible to cut slices of bread when it is moved between the loading compartment and the reception compartment.

A bread support surface extends into the two compartments and defines a direction of movement of the bread parallel to the support surface. In the support surface a slot is provided between the above-mentioned compartments extending essentially transversely to the direction of movement. The cutting device can move through this slot in a back and forth movement to cut slices of bread.

The loading compartment comprises a wall formed by a guide surface which extends in the direction of movement of the bread and which is substantially transverse to the support surface.

The machine also includes a movable support with a support table to support the cut portion of the bread as it moves between the loading compartment and the receiving compartment. Driving means are provided to allow the movable support to be displaced in the direction of movement of the bread.

Such bread cutting machines, in which the bread is moved in a substantially vertical direction, are known from the prior art.

When a cut bread is obtained, the slices of which are stacked one on top of the other in the vertical direction on the support table, it is difficult for a person to take the bread and put it in a bag. This is all the more the case if the bread has an oblong shape in this vertical direction. When a person takes the bread to put it in a bag, the bread is normally taken between the hands and turned so that the slices extend one next to the next

BE2017 / 5668 a horizontal direction before a bag is slid over the bread. When the cut bread is turned, the succession of the slices is moved from a vertical direction to an approximately horizontal direction, so that, under the effect of gravity, the slices may separate from each other . In particular, the whole bread may fall apart and the slices can no longer be held together.

Document EP 3 127 667 discloses a machine for cutting bread with a bagging machine formed by a pallet inclined at an angle less than 20 ° relative to the vertical direction. The solution proposed in this document still requires that the bread is taken between the hands before it is bagged.

The invention aims to provide a machine and a method which make it possible to bag a sliced bread when they are piled one on the other in the vertical direction and this without it being necessary to take the sliced bread by the hands before it is bagged.

To this end, according to the invention, the machine comprises bagging means having a pallet in the loading compartment. This pallet is movable between a recessed position, in which the pallet extends substantially in the plane of the support surface or adjacent to it, and an advanced position, in which a free space is present between this support surface and at least the upper part of the palette. This free space allows the bagging of a cut loaf when it rests against the pallet.

Advantageously, the bagging means also comprise a side sheet which is movable integrally with said pallet between the recessed position, in which the sheet extends substantially in the plane of the guide surface or adjacent to it, and the advanced position, in which a free space is present between the guide surface and at least the upper part of the sheet. The pallet and the side sheet maintain a fixed position relative to one another when they move from said recessed position to the advanced position.

According to a particular embodiment of the machine according to the invention, the bagging means comprise the aforementioned support table, this table being movable integrally with the pallet between the recessed position and the advanced position. When moving from said recessed position to the advanced position, the pallet and the support table maintain a fixed position relative to each other.

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According to an interesting embodiment of the invention, the pallet and the side sheet form a whole.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the machine comprises drive means making it possible to move the pallet between said recessed position and the advanced position by a translational movement.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, said pallet extends freely above the table in the advanced position to allow a bag to slide up and down over the assembly formed by the bread and the pallet.

The invention also relates to a method for slicing bread and for bagging cut bread, in which the bread is placed against a pallet which is in a recessed position and which extends essentially vertically or inclined in a angle less than 30 ° relative to the vertical direction, and the bread is cut into slices in a substantially horizontal or transverse direction relative to said pallet, so that the slices thus formed are stacked one on the other according to the vertical direction on a support table.

This process is characterized in that the support table is brought opposite the pallet so that the cut bread is supported simultaneously by the pallet and the table, the latter then being moved together while maintaining their relative fixed position. one with respect to the other, from the setback position to an advanced position by driving the cut bread in such a way that the slices remain parallel and are kept placed one on the other. When moving the pallet we create a free space, at least, at the top of the pallet on the opposite side of it from the bread. In a next step, we slide a bag over the bread and the pallet from top to bottom and, then, we remove the bag with the bread from the pallet and the table by an upward movement, supporting the lower end 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 of the process according to the invention, with reference to the attached drawings. .

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a machine according to the invention, with the machine frame being shown in lines.

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Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, when a bread to be cut is placed on the movable support in the loading compartment.

Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figures 1 and 2, of the loading and unloading compartment when cutting a loaf, without the frame of the machine has been shown.

Figure 4 is a view similar to that of Figure 3 illustrating the upward movement of the bread after it has been cut into slices.

Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of part of the loading compartment when the cut bread is positioned opposite the pallet which is in its recessed position.

Figure 6 is a view similar to that of Figure 5 when the cut bread has been moved together with the pallet and the table to the advanced position.

Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6 which shows that a bag is slid up and down over the cut bread.

Figure 8 shows the bread removal with the machine bag.

In the various figures, the same reference numbers relate to similar or identical elements.

The invention relates, in general, to a method in which a bread is cut into slices and then packaged in a bag and a machine suitable for cutting and bagging a bread.

The invention is especially interesting for application in stores where consumers can choose a bread, cut it with an automatic bread slicer and put the cut bread themselves in a bag. The application of the invention is not limited to department stores, but can also be used in all places where breads are cut by an automatic slicer, such as in a bakery.

The machine according to the invention generally constitutes an automatic bread slicer in which a bread to be cut is moved in a direction of movement in the machine. During this movement, the slices are cut one after the other in a direction transverse to said direction of movement.

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To cut the bread into slices, it is placed in a loading compartment 1 of a slicer, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. This compartment 1 has a support surface 2 for the bread 3 which extends substantially vertically or which is inclined at an angle less than 30 °, in particular, less than 20 °, with respect to the vertical.

This support surface 2 extends into a reception compartment 4 and has a slot 5 which delimits this reception compartment 1 with respect to the loading compartment 4.

The loading compartment 1 also has a wall formed by a guide surface 6 which extends into the receiving compartment 4. The guide surface 6 extends substantially transversely relative to the support surface 2 and has a slot 7 between the two compartments 1 and 4.

The machine comprises a movable support 8 for the bread 3 preferably extending transversely relative to the support surface 2. This movable support 8 is driven, for example, by an electric motor to transport the bread 3 from the storage compartment. loading 1 to receiving compartment 4 and vice versa.

To cut the bread 2 into slices, it is placed with the side, which forms the bottom of the bread 3, against the support surface 2 in the loading compartment 1 while it is supported by the mobile support 8. The bread 3 bears with a lateral side against the guide surface 6. The bread 3 then undergoes a downward movement towards the receiving compartment 4 while it is guided by the support surface 2 and by the guide surface 6 according to a corresponding movement of the mobile support 8. Thus, this support surface 2 determines the direction of movement of the bread, in which the bread 3 and the mobile support 8 are moved.

During the movement of the bread 3, it is cut into slices by means of a cutting device comprising a cutting blade 9 which moves through the bread 3 in a horizontal or transverse direction relative to the direction of movement, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3. When cutting a slice of the bread 3, the cutting blade 9 moves through the slots 5 and 7.

The cutting blade 9 is a circular blade which is driven around its central axis, as indicated by arrow 10, while it is moved through

BE2017 / 5668 the bread 3, as indicated by the arrow 11, in the direction of the guide surface 6. After each passage of the cutting blade 9, the bread 3 is lowered by a distance corresponding more or less to the thickness of a slice before cutting the next slice. The cutting blade 9 is therefore moved in a back-and-forth movement. Thus, a cut bread is obtained, the slices of which are stacked on the movable support 8.

After the bread 3 has been cut completely into slices, the stack, formed by the slices of the bread 3, is transported in said direction of movement to the loading compartment 1 by mounting the movable support 8, as shown in FIG. 4 , to be able to recover the bread 3 in the cut state.

Generally, after the bread has been placed against said support surface to cut it into slices, the upper end of the bread 3 is grasped and this end is held against gravity during its downward movement while slices are cut. For this purpose, a mobile pusher is provided in the loading compartment 1. For the clarity of the figures, this pusher is not shown. This pusher has hooking means in the form of movable hooks making it possible to grip the upper end of the bread 3. The pusher is driven in the direction of movement of the bread 3 and makes it possible to move it towards the receiving compartment during its cutting. sliced while maintaining its upper end. The uncut part of the bread 3 is therefore suspended from the pusher by the hooks during its cutting.

The machine according to the invention comprises bagging means making it possible to put a cut bread 3 in a bag 15. These bagging means have a movable pallet 12 which is provided in the loading compartment 1.

In FIGS. 1 to 5, this pallet 12 is in a recessed position in which it extends substantially in the plane of the support surface 2 or adjacent to it.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the figures, the pallet 12 extends in a recess 13 provided in the support surface 2 so that the surface of the pallet 12 and of this support surface 2 extend in the same plane. This allows that, during its movement in the direction of movement of the bread 3, the bread 3 slides without catching on the edge of the pallet 12 or

BE2017 / 5668 the recess 1. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the pallet 12 extends adjacent to the support surface by resting on this support surface 2.

After the bread 3 has been cut into slices it is moved to the loading compartment 1 by the upward movement of the movable support 8, as shown in FIG. 5, until the cut bread 3 rests on substantially all of its length on the pallet 12. At this moment, the movable support is located opposite the pallet 12 or, at least, at the location of the lower edge of the pallet 12.

The mobile support 8 preferably includes a mobile support table 14 by which the bread 3 is supported. The bagging means also include this support table 14 which is in a recessed position in FIGS. 1 to 5. This support table 14 is found, in this recessed position, near the support surface 2 and of the guide surface 6, during the movement of the mobile support 8 in the direction of movement of the bread 3 to cut the latter into slices or to bring it opposite the pallet 12.

When we want to bag the cut bread 3, which is in front of the pallet 12, the table 14 is moved integrally with the pallet 12 from the retracted position to an advanced position, as shown in FIG. 6. In this advanced position, a free space 16 is present between the support surface 2 and at least the upper part of the pallet 12.

Preferably, the machine comprises drive means making it possible to move the pallet between said recessed position and the advanced position by a translational movement. It goes without saying that it is also possible to subject the pallet 12 to pivot relative to the support surface 2 and / or the guide surface 6 to create a free space 16, at least, in the upper part of the pallet 12 on the opposite side of it from bread 3.

When moving from the retracted position to the advanced position, the pallet 12 and the support table 14 maintain a fixed position relative to each other. Because the relative position of the table 14 and the pallet 12 is kept fixed, the cut bread 3 is driven in such a way that the slices remain parallel and are kept placed on top of each other. Indeed, the position of the

BE2017 / 5668 bread 3 in relation to the pallet or in relation to the table 14 does not change during this movement.

In a next step, a bag 15 is slid over the whole of the bread 3 and the pallet 12 from top to bottom, as shown in FIG. 7. Then, the bag 15 is removed with the bread 3 from the pallet 12 and of the table 14 by an upward movement, supporting the lower end of the bread 3, as illustrated in FIG. 8.

In an interesting embodiment of the invention, the bagging means comprise a side sheet 17 which is movable integrally with the pallet 12 between the retracted position and the advanced position. In the recessed position, this sheet 17 extends substantially in the plane of the guide surface 6, or adjacent thereto, in a manner analogous to that of the pallet 12. In particular, in the recessed position sheet 17, it is housed in a recess 18 in the guide surface 6 and extends in the plane of the latter, as shown in Figures 1 to 5. Thus, the bread 3 can slide on the surface guide 6 without being hampered by the presence of the side sheet 17 which is in its recessed position.

In order to bag cut bread 3, the sheet 17 is moved to the advanced position integrally with the pallet 12, as shown in FIG. 6, while maintaining a fixed position relative to one another. In such a way, a free space 16 is created between the guide surface 6 and at least the upper part of the sheet 17. Preferably, the pallet 12 and the side sheet 17 form a whole.

However, as the machine comprises drive means making it possible to move the pallet 12 and the sheet 17 between said recessed position and the advanced position by a translational movement, it is clear that it is also possible to subject the pallet 12, the sheet 17 and the support table 14 integrally pivoted relative to the support surface 2 and / or the guide surface 6 to create said free space 16 to allow a bag 15 to slide over the assembly formed by the shelf 12, sheet 17 and bread 3.

According to a particular embodiment of the machine according to the invention, the mobile support 8 comprises a slide which makes it possible to move the support table 14 away from the guide surface 2. This slide allows, in particular, to move the support table 14 between its retracted position and its advanced position.

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According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the bagging means comprise a drive member which is, for example, fixed to the pallet 12. When the pallet 12 is moved from the recessed position to its position advanced, this drive member acts on the support table 14 and drives it to its advanced position. The table 14 can also cooperate with a spring in order to automatically return it to its recessed position when the pallet 12 is moved to its recessed position.

When the support table 14 has a surface which is very smooth and which allows the bread to slide practically without friction on this surface, it is not necessary for the table 14 to be movable between the retracted position and the advanced position. In such a case, it suffices that the pallet 12 is moved to the advanced position, possibly together with the side sheet, while the cut bread 3 slides on the surface of the table 14. Thus, the bread maintains a fixed position relative to to the pallet 12 and is moved integrally with the pallet 12 before being bagged.

The invention is of course not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the accompanying figures, but many other variants could be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention.

In the embodiments of the machine according to the invention, the support surface 2, and in particular the pallet 12, is inclined at an angle less than 30 °, or less than 15 °, relative to the vertical direction, this angle preferably being less than 10 ° or of the order of 5 °, for example 3 °.

The guide surface 6, and in particular the side sheet 17, is also inclined at an angle less than 30 °, or less than 15 °, relative to the vertical direction, and this angle is preferably less than 10 ° or around 5 °, for example 3 °.

Indeed, the whole of the support surface, of the guide surface, of the pallet 12 and of the side sheet 17, in their recessed position, forms a gutter in which the bread is moved in said direction of movement of the bread 3.

It is clear that the frame of the machine, according to the invention, also has an access opening 19 making it possible to put a bread 3 in the loading compartment 1 and to remove the cut bread from this compartment 1.

Claims (10)

claims 1. Machine for automatically slicing bread (3) or the like, comprising: - a loading compartment (1), which is connected to a receiving compartment (4), a cutting device (9) making it possible to cut slices of the bread (3) when the latter is moved between the loading compartment (1) and the receiving compartment (4), - a support surface (2) for the bread (3) extending in the two compartments and defining a direction of movement of the bread (3) parallel to the support surface (2), the support surface (2) being inclined at an angle of less than 30 ° to the vertical direction, - a guide surface (6) forming a wall of the loading compartment (1) and extending in the direction of movement, substantially transverse to the support surface (2), the guide surface (6) being inclined at an angle of less than 30 ° to the vertical direction, - a mobile support (8) having a support table (14) for supporting the cut part of the bread (3) during its movement between the loading compartment (1) and the receiving compartment (4), means for drive being provided for moving the movable support (8) in the direction of movement of the bread (3). this machine being characterized in that it comprises bagging means having a pallet (12) in the loading compartment (1), this pallet (12) being movable between a recessed position, in which the pallet (12) extends substantially in the plane of the support surface (2) or adjacent to it, and an advanced position, in which a free space (16) is present between this support surface (2) and at least the upper part of the pallet (12) allowing the bagging of a cut bread (3) when the latter rests against the pallet (12). 2. Machine according to claim 1, wherein the bagging means comprise a side sheet (17) which is movable integrally with said pallet (12) between said recessed position, in which the sheet (17) extends BE2017 / 5668 substantially in the plane of the guide surface (6) or adjacent to it, and said advanced position, in which a free space (16) is present between the guide surface (6) and at least the part upper sheet (17), the pallet (12) and the side sheet (17) maintaining a fixed position relative to each other when moving from said recessed position to the advanced position. 3. Machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support table (14) is movable up to the pallet (12) and when the above support table (14) is brought opposite the pallet, this table (14) is movable integrally with the pallet (12) between the retracted position and the advanced position, the pallet (12) and the support table (14) maintaining a fixed position relative to each other during of their displacement from said recessed position to the advanced position. 4. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pallet (12) and the side sheet (17) form a whole. 5 this end of the bread (3) is maintained against gravity during its downward movement while slices are being cut. 14. Machine according to claim 2, wherein the side sheet (17) is inclined at an angle less than 30 °, or less than 15 °, relative to the vertical direction, this angle being preferably less than 10 ° or around 5 °, by 5. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising drive means for moving the pallet (12) between said recessed position and the advanced position by a translational movement. 6. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the movable support (8) comprises a slide making it possible to move the support table (14) away from the support surface (2) and / or by relative to the guide surface (6). 7. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, having a slot (5) in the support surface (2) between the above-mentioned compartments (1,4) and extending essentially transversely to the direction of movement , the cutting device (9) being able to move through this slot (5) in a reciprocating movement in the longitudinal direction of the slot (5) for cutting slices of bread (3). 8. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, having a pusher with hooking means for gripping the upper end of the bread (3), this pusher being movable in the direction of movement of the bread (3) allowing the bread (3) to be moved towards the receiving compartment (4) when it is sliced or in the opposite direction. B E2017 / 5668 9. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8, in which the support surface (2), and in particular the pallet (12), is inclined by an angle less than 30 °, or less than 15 °, relative to the vertical direction, this angle being preferably less than 10 ° or of the order of 5 °, for example 3 °. 10. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the guide surface (6) is inclined at an angle less than 30 °, or less than 15 °, relative to the vertical direction, this angle being , preferably, less than 10 ° or of the order of 5 °, for example 3 °. 11. Machine according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which said pallet (12) extends freely above the table (14) in the advanced position to allow a bag (15) to be slid up and down. low on the assembly formed by the bread (3) and the pallet (12). 12. Method for cutting a bread (3) into slices and for bagging the cut bread (3), in which the bread (3) is placed against a pallet (12) which is in a recessed position and which extends essentially vertically or inclined at an angle of less than 30 ° relative to the vertical direction, and the bread (3) is cut into slices in a substantially horizontal or transverse direction relative to said pallet (12), so that the slices thus formed are stacked one on the other in the vertical direction on a support table (14), the bread (3) being moved towards the receiving compartment (4) according to discrete steps corresponding to the thickness of the slices maintaining the upper end of the bread (3) until it is completely sliced, characterized in that the stack formed by the cut bread (3) is then transported in said direction of movement towards the char compartment gement (1) by mounting the support table (14) up to the pallet (12) so that the cut bread (3) is supported simultaneously by the pallet (12) and the table (14), these then being moved integrally while maintaining their fixed relative position with respect to each other, from the recessed position to an advanced position by driving the cut bread (3) in such a way that the slices remain parallel and are kept posed one on the other, during the displacement of the pallet (12) a free space (16) being created at least at the upper part of the pallet (12) on the opposite side of it relative to the bread (3), and in that, in a next step, a bag (15) is slipped over the whole of the bread (3) and the pallet (12) from top to bottom and B E2017 / 5668 removes the bag (15) with the bread (3) from the pallet (12) and the table (14) by an upward movement, supporting the lower end of the bread (3). 13. The method of claim 12, wherein, after the bread (3) has been placed against said pallet (12), the upper end of the bread (3) is grasped and 10 example 3 °.