BE1029561B1 - BREAD SLICER WITH A MOVABLE SUPPORT SURFACE FOR CUTTING BREAD - Google Patents

Abstract

A slicer comprising a cutting member for cutting slices of a loaf (16) in order to receive these slices on a bagging pallet (15) extending in a receiving position in a receiving compartment (6) which can be closed by a cover (14). The bagging pallet (15) is movable between said receiving position and a bagging position in which the pallet is elevated relative to the receiving position. The lid (14) has a bearing surface (22) for the slices when moving the pallet (15) from the receiving position to the bagging position.

Description

1 BE2021/5526

BREAD SLICER WITH A MOBILE SUPPORT SURFACE FOR CUTTING BREAD

A bread slicer includes a cutter that can be driven along a cutting plane to cut successive slices of bread that is moved across the cutting plane in a direction of travel. Cut slices of the bread are received by a bagging paddle which extends into a receiving position within a receiving compartment of the slicer.

The receiving compartment is adjacent to the cutting deck and has an access opening for removing sliced bread from the receiving compartment. The access opening can be closed with a cover when slicing bread.

The bagging paddle has a first end that is remote from the cutting plane and a second end that extends between said first end and the cutting plane. The end of the sliced bread is advanced in said direction of travel to this first end.

The bagging pallet can be moved between its receiving position and a bagging position. In this bagging position, at least the first end is elevated relative to the pallet receiving position. A trajectory for the front end of the cut bread received by the bagging pallet is defined by the displacement of the latter from its reception position towards the bagging position.

According to the prior art, there are bread slicers with a moveable bagging paddle to facilitate wrapping and removing cut bread from the slicer. However, these existing slicers have the disadvantage that when the pallet is moved, the slices of the bread may fall off the pallet or they will not stay together.

Such slicers are described, for example, in documents

DE 10 2008 025 628, DE 10 2010 047 587 and WO 2013/110689.

The invention wants to remedy this drawback and wants to propose a bread slicer with a mobile bagging pallet which makes it possible to easily take a cut loaf from the slicer and possibly to pack this cut loaf in a bag without the slices coming off each other or without any slices of bread falling off the pallet.

To this end, the cover of the slicer has a support surface to support the slices of bread when moving the bagging pallet from the receiving position to the bagging position when the cover is closed. This support surface is, in particular, provided to support the front end of the bread during the movement of the pallet. Said support surface is movable together with the cover to release the access opening when the cover is opened.

Advantageously, the support surface is arranged so as to extend at least along part of said trajectory described by the front end of the cut loaf present on the bagging pallet during movement of the bagging pallet from the receiving position to bagging position and when the lid is closed.

According to a particular embodiment of the slicer, according to the invention, the level of the first end of the bagging pallet is less than or equal to the level of the second end thereof when the bagging pallet is in the receiving position.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the slicer, according to the invention, the level of the first end of the bagging pallet is greater than or equal to the level of the second end thereof when the bagging pallet is in the bagging position.

In an advantageous embodiment of the slicer, according to the invention, the cover comprises a support element fixed to the side of the cover which faces the receiving compartment. This support element has said bearing surface.

Interestingly, the support element comprises one or more flexible tongues which are elastically deformable and which elastically deform following contact with the bread. The tab(s) maintain contact with the bread as the bagging paddle moves from its receiving position to the bagging position.

Preferably, the bagging pallet is pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation coinciding with the second end of the bagging pallet.

Other details and particularities of the invention will emerge from the description given below, by way of non-limiting example, of some particular embodiments of the slicer according to the invention with reference to the appended drawings.

Figure 1 is a very schematic perspective view of a bread slicer.

Figure 2 shows a very schematic cross-section of the receiving compartment of a bread slicer with a closed lid, according to the invention, after receiving sliced bread on the bagging pallet of the slicer.

Figure 3 shows a section similar to that of Figure 2, when the bagging pallet is moved from its receiving position to the bagging position.

Figure 4 shows a cross-section of the slicer similar to Figures 2 and 3, when the bagging paddle is in its bagging position.

Figure 4 shows this cross-section of the slicer, when the bagging paddle is in its bagging position and the slicer lid is open.

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

The invention relates, in general, to an automatic bread slicer which makes it possible to package sliced bread in a simple manner. An example of such a slicer is shown very schematically in Figure 1.

This slicer 1 has a rectangular base and comprises a frame with a front side 2 opposite a rear side 3 and two lateral sides 4 and 5 extending between the front side 2 and the rear side 3. The sides of the frame extend preferably each approximately following a straight and vertical plane. The front side 2 and the rear side 3 are, for example, perpendicular to the lateral sides 4et5.

Adjacent to the front side 2, the interior of the slicer 1 comprises a receiving compartment 6 which is provided for placing a loaf to be cut and for recovering the loaf after it has been cut into slices. This receiving compartment 6 is connected to a loading compartment 7 which is provided in the slicer 1 near the rear side 3.

In order to be able to introduce a loaf into the slicer and to recover this loaf after it has been cut, an access opening 8 is provided which gives access to the receiving compartment 6. For the clarity of the figures, this access opening is not shown, but only indicated by the reference numeral 8. The access opening is accessible from said front side 2 by a user who is positioned in front of this front side 2 to place a piece of bread to be cut in the loading compartment 2 and to recover the bread after it has been sliced. This access opening 8 is therefore provided in the front side 2 and/or in the upper side of the slicer 1 opposite the receiving compartment 6. The access opening 8 can be closed by a cover during the operation of the slicer 1, but for the clarity of figure 1, this cover is not shown in this figure.

A support surface 9 for the bread extends into the two compartments 6 and 7 mentioned above. Between these compartments 6 and 7 a slot 10 is provided to allow the passage of a cutting device according to a cutting plane. The cutting member is provided for cutting slices of bread and comprises, for example, a circular blade which is driven around its axis. This cutting member with the circular blade, is movable along a cutting plane through said slot 10. The cutting plane extends, preferably, perpendicular to the support surface 9 between said compartments 6 and 7.

After the introduction of a loaf to be cut into the receiving compartment 6, it is moved along a direction of movement of the loaf, as indicated by the double arrow 11, towards the loading compartment 7. This direction of movement 11 is extends between the front side 2 and the rear side 3 of the chassis and parallel to the support surface 9.

Preferably, this direction of movement 11 of the bread is substantially parallel to a vertical plane which extends transversely with respect to said front side 2 and to said rear side 3, or approximately parallel to the lateral sides 4 and 5 of the frame of the slicer 1.

The slicer also comprises a movable pusher 12 which can be moved along said direction of movement 9 of the bread to move the bread 5 between said compartments 6 and 7 through the cutting plane. This pusher 12 is known to those skilled in the art and comprises, for example, retractable claws. A pusher with retractable claws is, for example, described in document DE 202011005113.

This pusher 12 preferably cooperates with a mobile support 13 which is also movable in said direction of movement 11 of the bread. Such a mobile support 13 is known to those skilled in the art and makes it possible to support the bread to be cut or to support the slices which are cut from the bread. To this end, the movable support 13 is driven in the direction of movement of the bread.

The pusher 12 and the mobile support 13 can, for example, be driven by means of a toothed belt extending along the support surface 9 and beside it, as, for example, shown in the document EP 2045053.

In the slicer, according to the invention, the support surface is inclined at an angle α with respect to a horizontal straight line which extends perpendicularly to the front side 2 of the slicer 1, as shown in FIG. is, for example, between 25° and 70°, in particular between 30° and 60°. An angle a which is between 35° and 55° seems to offer the best result in terms of bread cutting quality and ergonomics for the user. In order not to make the slicer too high, the angle a is, for example, preferably of the order of 35° to 45°. In some cases, it is also possible that the angle a is — less than 35° and that it is for example between 10° and 35°.

Optionally, the support surface 9 can also be inclined by an angle B with respect to a straight line which extends transversely with respect to the lateral sides 4 and 5 of the slicer 1, as shown in Figure 1. This angle β is , for example, between 15° and 45°.

When a loaf is placed in the receiving compartment 6 of a slicer, the pusher 12 is approached towards the loaf and the claws of the pusher 12 are activated in order to grip the loaf. The bread is then moved towards the loading compartment 7 by the movement of the pusher 12 while it slides on the support surface 9.

In Figures 2 to 5, a very interesting embodiment of the slicer 1, according to the invention, is represented schematically. These figures represent, in particular, the receiving compartment 6 with a lid 14. The support surface 9 is inclined at an angle a as explained above and extends into the receiving compartment 6. The angle a is in this example between 20° and 25°.

This slicer comprises a bagging pallet 15 which is provided in the receiving compartment 6. The bagging pallet 15 is movable between a receiving position in which the pallet 15 extends substantially along the plane of the support surface 9 , as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and a bagging position in which at least one end of the pallet 15 is raised relative to its receiving position, as shown in Figure 5. The bagging pallet 15 can comprise a pallet separated from the support surface 9 which, in said receiving position, rests on this support surface 9. In another embodiment, this pallet 15 extends into a recess provided in the support surface 9 and , in the receiving position, the pallet 15 therefore extends in the extension of this surface 9. It is also possible that this bagging pallet 15 constitutes the part of the support surface 9 which extends into the storage compartment. receipt on 6.

Thus, the bagging tab 15 has a first end 18 which is remote from the cutting plane 17 and a second end 19 between this first end 18 and the cutting plane 17. As already mentioned, the bagging pallet 15 can undergo a movement between the receiving position and a bagging position in which at least the first end 18 is raised relative to the receiving position of the pallet 15.

Therefore, to cut a bread into slices, the bread is placed in the receiving compartment 6 and transported by the pusher 12 through the cutting plane 17 towards the loading compartment 7. Then the pusher 12 is returned, together with the bread, towards the receiving compartment 6 following discrete steps corresponding to the thickness of the slices to be cut. This movement takes place in said direction of movement 11. After each step, the circular blade is driven along the cutting plane 17 to cut a next slice of bread 16. If a mobile support 13 is provided, it is moved from synchronized manner with the pusher 12 so that the cut slices can rest against the support 13 and do not fall. Thus, successive slices are cut from the loaf 16 during its downward movement in the direction of movement 11 between the compartments 7 and 6. Figure 2 shows the loaf 16 cut into slices after it is received on the bagging pallet. 15 which is in its receiving position.

During its movement towards the reception compartment 6 from the loading compartment 7, the sliced bread 16 is received by said bagging pallet 15 which is in its reception position. The bread is then oriented with its front end 20 towards the front side 2 of the slicer, while the opposite end of the bread is directed towards the cutting plane 17.

In FIG. 2, this front end 20 of the bread 16 bears against an abutment element, in particular an abutment plate 21. This abutment element extends facing the first end 18 of the bagging pallet 15 when this is in the reception position to prevent the slices from going beyond this first end 18 and to prevent the slices from falling from the bagging pallet 15.

When cutting the bread 16, the latter is preferably held between the movable support 13 and the pusher 12 until it is completely on the bagging pallet 15. Then, the claws of the pusher 12 are retracted towards the inside of the pusher 12 and the latter is then, preferably, returned to the loading compartment 7 and the mobile support 13 is automatically removed from the bread 16.

To package and recover the bread 16 cut into slices, the bagging pallet 15 is, after the reception of the bread 16 by the latter, moved from its reception position, as shown in Figure 3, to a bagging position .

In order to avoid that, during this movement of the bagging pallet 15, the slices fall from the pallet, the cover 14 has a support surface 22 to support the slices of bread 16. This support surface allows, in particular, to support the front end 20 of the bread, when moving the pallet 15 from the receiving position to the bagging position when the lid is closed.

The support surface 22 is provided fixed to the side of the cover 14 which 'extends facing the receiving compartment 6 when the cover is closed. The support surface 22 is therefore movable together with the cover 14 so that the access opening 8 is released when cover 14 is opened. Generally this bearing surface 22 extends into the access opening 8 when the cover 14 is closed. A support element 24 which is fixed to the side of the lid 14 facing the reception compartment 6 can have the support surface 22.

The displacement of the pallet 14 defines the trajectory of the front end 20 of the cut bread which is received by this pallet. In FIGS. 2 to 5, this trajectory 23 is represented schematically by a dotted circular arc.

The support surface 22 is arranged so as to extend at least along part of this trajectory 23 described by the front end 20 of the cut loaf which is present on the bagging pallet 15. Thus, when moving the bagging pallet 15 from the receiving position to the bagging position and when the cover 14 is closed, the cut bread, in particular its front end 20, bears against this support surface 22 so that the slices bread do not fall and remain against each other on the bagging pallet 15.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the slicer, according to the invention, the aforesaid support element 24 is mounted in a movable manner relative to the cover 14 in order to be able to adapt to said trajectory 23 from the front end 20 of the bread to the as the bagging pallet 15 moves from its receiving position to the bagging position. In this way, contact is maintained between the support surface 22 and the cut bread 16.

As shown in Figures 2 through 5, support member 24 may include a plate or one or more parallel tabs which are suspended or attached within cover 14. When the bag pallet is in the receiving position and the cover is closed, this support element 24 extends at least partially at a level above the bread 16 which is on the bagging pallet 15. In addition, the support surface 22 extends beyond of the trajectory 23 of the bread or at least up to this trajectory 23. Thus, when the bagging pallet 15 is moved from its reception position to the bagging position, the bread 16, in particular its front end 20, is moved from the stop plate 21 up against the support surface 22. Thus, the bread slides along the support surface 22 by pushing against this surface during the displacement of the pallet towards the bagging position, as shown in the figure.

Thus, the support element 24 may for example comprise one or more elastic tabs, for example made of plastic.

According to alternative embodiments of this support element 24, according to the invention, the latter can approach towards said trajectory of the front end 20 of the bread, when the lid 14 is closed, following the action of the gravity on the support element 24 or following the action of an elastic element provided for this purpose, such as a spring.

In the embodiment of the slicer of Figures 2-5, the first end 18 of the bagging paddle 15 is raised relative to the plane of the support surface 9 as the paddle is moved to the bagging position. The pallet 15 is, in particular, moved together with the bread with respect to said direction of movement 11 towards a bagging position in which at least said end 18 of the pallet 15 is raised with respect to the direction of movement of the bread 11 Figures 4 and 4 show the bagging paddle 15 in the bagging position.

To move the bagging pallet 15 from the reception position to the bagging position, the pallet 15 is driven around a pivot axis 25 as indicated by the arrow 26 in FIG. 3. This pivot axis 25 coincides , preferably with the second end 19 of the bagging pallet 15.

Advantageously, this pivot axis 25 extends substantially parallel to the cutting plane 17.

In Figures 4 and 5, the bagging paddle is in the bagging position. In this position a free space 27 is present below the bagging pallet 15 to allow a bag 28 to slide over all of the cut bread and the bagging pallet from said first end 18, as shown Figure 5. The bag, containing the cut bread 16, can then be removed from the bagging pallet. The free space 27 extends, in particular, between the pallet 15 and the stop plate 21 or the support surface 9.

According to the invention, the bagging pallet has an inclination between 0° and 60°, in particular between 0° and 30°, relative to the horizontal in the direction of movement 11 when it is in the receiving position .

When the pallet 15 is in the bagging position, it typically has an inclination between 0° and 60°, in particular between 0° and 30°, relative to the horizontal in said direction of movement 11. Such an inclination prevents the slices from falling beyond the first end 18 of the bagging pallet after the opening of the cover 14 and therefore after the removal of the support surface 22.

In the above description, an embodiment of the invention has been described in which the bagging pallet 15 is moved from its reception position to the bagging position by rotation about a pivot axis 25 , it is clear that other displacements can be envisaged. It is, for example, possible that a translational movement is imposed between the receiving position and the bagging position, or a combination of a translation and a rotation.

In general, according to the invention, the level of the first end 18 of the bagging pallet 15 is less than or equal to the level of the second end 19 thereof when the bagging pallet 15 is in the receiving position. .

In the bagging position, the level of the first end of the bagging pallet is generally greater than or equal to the level of the second end thereof when the bagging pallet is in the bagging position.

It is understood that the invention is not limited to the different embodiments described above, but that still other variants can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is for example possible for the lid 14 to have shapes other than the curved shape shown in the figures. The support surface 22 can be provided on a support element which is fixed to the cover 14, but it is also possible that this support surface is integrated into the cover 14.

Claims (16)

1. A bread slicer comprising a cutting member drivable along a cutting plane (17) for cutting successive slices of a loaf (16) which is moved across the cutting plane (17) in a direction of displacement (11) in order to receive these slices on a bagging pallet (15) extending in a reception position in a reception compartment (6) of the slicer (1), this reception compartment (6) extending adjacent to the cutting surface (17) and having an access opening (8) for removing sliced bread, which opening (8) can be closed by a lid (14) when slicing the bread, in which the bagging pallet (15) has a first end (18) remote from the cutting plane (17) and a second end (19) between said first end (18) and the cutting plane (17), this bagging pallet (15) being able to undergo a displacement between said reception position and a position of bagging in which at least said first end (18) is elevated with respect to the reception position of the pallet (15), and the movement of the pallet (15) defining a path (23) for the front end ( 20) cut bread received by this pallet (15), this slicer being characterized in that the cover (14) has a support surface (22) to support the slices of bread (16), in particular said front end ( 20) bread, when moving the bagging pallet (15) from the receiving position to the bagging position when the lid (14) is closed, this support surface (22) being movable together with the lid to release the access opening (8) when the lid (14) is opened. 2. Slicer according to claim 1, in which the support surface (22) is arranged so as to extend at least along a part of the said trajectory (23) described by the front end of the cut bread present on the pallet. (15) when moving the bagging pallet (15) from the receiving position to the bagging position and when the lid (14) is closed. 3. Slicer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the level of the first end (18) of the bagging pallet (15) is less than or equal to the level of the second end (19) thereof when the pallet bagging (15) is in the receiving position. 4. Slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the level of the first end (18) of the bagging pallet (15) is greater than or equal to the level of the second end (19) thereof. ci when the bagging pallet (15) is in the bagging position. 5. Slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cover (14) comprises a support element (24) fixed to the side of the cover (14) facing the receiving compartment (6), this support (24) having said bearing surface (22). 6. Slicer according to claim 5, wherein the support element (24) is movably mounted relative to the cover (14) to be able to adapt to said trajectory (23) of the front end (20) of the bread (16) as the bagging pallet (15) moves from its receiving position to the bagging position in order to maintain contact between the support surface (22) and the cut bread. 7. Slicer according to claim 6 wherein the support member (24) is mounted so as to approach towards said path (23) of the front end (20) of the bread, when the cover (14) is closed, following the action of gravity on the support element (24) or following the action of an elastic element provided for this purpose, such as a spring. 8. A slicer according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the support member (24) comprises one or more flexible tabs elastically deformable upon contact with the sliced bread maintaining contact with the bread (16) when moving the bagging pallet (15) from its receiving position to the bagging position. 9. Slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the bagging pallet (15) is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis (25) coinciding with the second end (19) of the bagging pallet. bagging (15). 10. Slicer according to claim 9 wherein said pivot axis (25) extends substantially parallel to the cutting plane (17). 11. Slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 10, having a free space (27) below the bagging pallet (15) to allow a bag (28) to slide over all of the cut bread ( 16) and the bagging pallet (15) from said first end (18). 12. Slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 11, in which the bagging pallet (15) has an inclination between 0° and 60°, in particular between 0° and 30°, relative to the horizontal along said direction of travel when in the receiving position. 13. Slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 11, in which the bagging pallet (15) has an inclination between 0° and 60°, in particular between 0° and 30°, with respect to the horizontal according to said direction of travel when in the bagging position. 14. Slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising a movable pusher (12) movable in said direction of movement (11) of the bread (16) to move the bread through the cutting plane (17) , this pusher (12) forming a support for the end of the bread opposite the front end (20) when moving the pallet (15) with the sliced bread towards said bagging position. 15. Slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein said direction of movement (11) of the bread is substantially perpendicular to the cutting plane (17). 16. Slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 15, comprising a stop element (21) for the front end (20) of the cut bread, this stop element (21) extending opposite the first end (18) of the pallet - bagging (15) when the latter is in the receiving position to prevent the slices from exceeding this first end (18).