DE102012216358B3 - Method for cutting bread into slices by using cutting device, involves pushing forward bread loaf placed in infeed area to cutting device by feed device, where cutting device has swing arm rotatable around rotary axis - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves pushing forward a bread loaf placed in an infeed area (2) to a cutting device by a feed device. The cutting device has a swing arm (9) rotatable around a rotary axis (8) and a circular knife (11) placed at the swing arm rotatable around another rotary axis. The latter rotary axis moves inside a cutting cross-section. The circular knife and the swing arm pass through a cutting gap which is formed between the infeed area and a removal area. A strip is made from food-quality plastic material. An independent claim is included for a cutting device with a flange section.

Description

• a) Ein in einem Einlegebereich befindlicher Brotlaib wird mittels einer Vorschubeinrichtung auf eine Schneideinrichtung zu vorgeschoben, wobei die Schneideinrichtung eine um eine erste Drehachse drehbare Schwinge und ein an der Schwinge um eine zweite Drehachse rotierbar gelagertes Kreismesser aufweist, wobei die zweite Drehachse sich innerhalb eines Schneidquerschnitts bewegt und das Kreismesser und die Schwinge durch einen Schneidspalt hindurch treten, der sich zwischen dem Einlegebereich und einem Entnahmebereich befindet.
• b) Von dem Brotlaib werden während des Vorschiebens an einem vorderen Ende mittels der Schneideinrichtung sukzessive Scheiben abgeschnitten.
• c) Eine im Entstehen begriffene oder bereits vollständig abgeschnittene Scheibe wird an ihrer einem Boden des Entnahmebereichs zugewandten Unterseite mittels eines in einer Stützstellung befindlichen Stützelements, das den Schneidspalt zumindest teilweise verschließt, abgestützt.
• d) Im Zuge einer Bewegung der Schwinge entlang des Schneidspalts wird das Stützelement mittels der Schwinge von der Stützstellung in eine Freigabestellung verdrängt, wobei das Stützelement bei fortgesetzter Bewegung der Schwinge automatisch wieder die Stützstellung einnimmt.
• e) Die abgeschnittenen Scheiben werden in dem Entnahmebereich gesammelt.

The invention relates to a method for slicing bread with the following process steps:

• a) located in a loading area loaf is advanced by means of a feed device to a cutting device, wherein the cutter has a rotatable about a first axis of rotation and a swing arm about a second axis rotatably mounted circular blade, wherein the second axis of rotation within a cutting cross-section moves and the circular blade and the rocker pass through a cutting gap, which is located between the insertion area and a removal area.
• b) successive slices are cut from the loaf during advancement at a front end by means of the cutting device.
• c) An emerging or already completely cut disc is supported on its bottom of the removal region facing bottom by means of a support member located in a support member which closes the cutting gap at least partially.
• d) In the course of a movement of the rocker along the cutting gap, the support member is displaced by means of the rocker from the support position into a release position, wherein the support element automatically assumes the support position with continued movement of the rocker.
• e) The cut slices are collected in the withdrawal area.

• a) einem Einlegebereich, in den ein Brotlaib einlegbar ist,
• b) einer Schneideinrichtung, die eine um eine erste Drehachse drehbare Schwinge und ein an der Schwinge um eine zweite Drehachse rotierbar gelagertes Kreismesser aufweist, wobei die zweite Drehachse sich innerhalb eines Schneidquerschnitts bewegt,
• c) einer Vorschubeinrichtung, mit der ein in dem Einlegebereich befindlicher Brotlaib so auf die Schneideinrichtung zu vorschiebbar ist, dass an einem vorderen Ende des Brotlaibs von der Schneideinrichtung sukzessive Scheiben abschneidbar sind,
• d) einem Entnahmebereich, in dem die abgeschnittenen Scheiben aufnehmbar sind,
• e) einem zwischen dem Einlegebereich und dem Entnahmebereich befindlichen Schneidspalt, durch den das Kreismesser und die Schwinge hindurchtreten,
• f) einem den Schneidspalt zumindest teilweise verschließenden Stützelement, mit dem eine im Entstehen begriffene oder bereits vollständig abgeschnittene Scheibe an ihrer einem Boden des Entnahmebereichs zugewandten Unterseite abstützbar ist, wobei das Stützelement im Zuge der Bewegung der Schwinge von einer Stützstellung in eine Freigabestellung verdrängbar ist und bei fortgesetzter Bewegung der Schwinge wieder die Stützstellung einnimmt.

In addition, the invention relates to a device for sliced bread with

• a) a loading area into which a loaf of bread can be placed,
• b) a cutting device which has a rocker rotatable about a first axis of rotation and a circular blade rotatably mounted on the rocker about a second axis of rotation, wherein the second axis of rotation moves within a cutting cross-section,
• c) a feed device with which a loaf of loaf located in the infeed area can be advanced toward the cutting device in such a way that successive slices can be cut off from the cutting device at a front end of the loaf of bread,
• d) a removal area in which the cut-off discs can be received,
• e) a cutting gap between the loading area and the removal area, through which the circular blade and the rocker pass,
• f) a the cutting gap at least partially closing support member with which a emerging or already completely cut disc is supported on its bottom of the removal region facing underside, wherein the support member in the course of movement of the rocker from a support position is displaced into a release position and with continued movement of the rocker again assumes the support position.

State of the art

The devices described above are mostly used in bakeries when a customer wishes to have their sliced bread sliced when buying a loaf of bread. In machines that are placed on the floor, the rocker usually performs a circumferential rotational movement, in which case usually the circular blade has such a size that it penetrates only less than half of its cross-sectional area in the cross section of the loaf, so that the rocker even the cutting cross section does not go through at all. Such a cutting machine is for example from the DE 103 12 301 A1 known.

If such provided with an orbital knife drive bread slicing machines designed as table machines, the rocker performs only a swinging motion, that is, it does not rotate by 360 degrees but oscillating only by an angular range of usually less than 90 degrees. In this way, the height can be reduced and the suitability of the machine for installation on a table can be achieved. Further, to reduce the size in these cases, the diameter of the circular blade is reduced, which requires that the axis of rotation of the circular blade move within the cutting cross-section, that is, the rocker penetrates into the loaf during the cutting process.

In this case, special measures must be taken, which does not damage the bread during the cutting process by the comparison with the pure circular blade thickness significantly greater thickness of the rocker. In addition, the cutting gap between the insertion area and the removal area has a comparatively large width, which results in a risk that windows that are just emerging or cut off are pulled through the gap into the interior of the machine.

Table machines of the type described above are for example from the DE 37 06 485 A1 and the DE 198 20 492 C1 known.

In the known bread cutting machines of the aforementioned type, the support element for the discs usually consists of a plate-shaped Element made of plastic, which is mounted below the bottom of the removal area in a groove or pocket and horizontally displaceable in the feed direction or counter to the feed direction. In the course of the movement of the rocker along the cutting gap this exerts on the interaction with inclined surfaces from a lateral pressure on the support element, which is displaced in the feed direction in the groove or receiving pocket in this way and thus creates the space required for the entry of the rocker. When displacing the support element arranged in the groove or receiving pocket spring element is stretched, which ensures after a retraction of the rocker that the support element automatically returns to the support position.

The problem with the above-described type of storage and operation of the support element is the fact that collect in the groove or receiving pocket up in the area of the spring element breadcrumbs or flour that are hard to remove from these difficult to access and very small areas , This leads in connection with the ongoing movement of the support element within the groove or receiving pocket to a regular grinding or crushing the breadcrumbs, which increasingly aggravates the cleaning problem. As a result, in the said areas of the cutting machine hygienically harmful residues, which in turn form a source of microbial load on the sliced bread.

task

The present invention has for its object to propose a method and an apparatus for sliced bread in which the hygienic problems caused by the mounting of the support member for the resulting slices are avoided.

solution

Based on the method of the type described above, the underlying object is achieved in that the support element is elastically deformed in a transition from the support position to the release position of the rocker in it.

In contrast to a displacement, as occurs in the known support elements, the invention provided elastic deformation of the support member allows a very "free" storage of the same, without the need grooves, bags, o. Ä. Should be provided. While in the prior art, the support elements are designed to be rigid and in itself of the rocker not elastically deformable, the invention selects the way to specifically exploit the elasticity of the support element by appropriate selection of the material and the geometry in such a way that the support element of although the rocker, that is to say of which this actively moving drive means, is elastically sufficiently deformable to allow movement of the rocker in the cutting gap. Equally well, the elasticity of the support element is sufficiently small, that is, the rigidity in a direction perpendicular to the bottom of the removal region to sufficiently large that a nascent or just completely separated disc does not cause elastic deformation of the support element or at least not to the extent may be that the support function of the support element would be lost. The deformation energy that must be applied to an elastic deformation of the support element according to the invention is thus sufficiently large to reliably fulfill the support task, but small enough to drive the rocker without excessive load under the action of normal and frictional forces between rocker and support element to be applied continuously.

Preferably, the support element is subjected to a transition from the support position to the release position on bending. In the case of a bending load, the concretely required rigidity of the support element can be set comparatively easily in order to combine the two aforementioned properties. In principle, however, it would also be conceivable within the scope of the invention that the support element is compressed during the transition from the support position to the release position and expands again at an opposite transition.

According to one embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the support member is deformed in the transition from the support position to the release position so that it is aligned in the release position at least partially parallel to a plane of the circular blade. The aforementioned alignment of a particular plate-shaped or strip-shaped support element causes an increase in the resistance torque against deformation in the direction of the bottom of the removal shaft, so that the support effect is particularly good at such a type of deformation.

It is further provided according to a development of the invention that a free end portion of the support member forming and consisting of a food-safe plastic material bar is deformed at a transition from the support position to the release position on the respective supported disc. By such a bulge of the bar the support effect is favored again.

The invention further ausgestaltend, it is provided that the Supporting element is slightly elastically deformed during the support of a disc, and preferably in a direction opposite to the present in a deformation of the support position in the release position direction.

Starting from a device of the type explained above, the object is achieved in terms of device technology in that the support element in a transition from the support position into the release position of the rocker is elastically deformable. With such a device, the advantages that have already been explained in detail in procedural terms arise.

An embodiment of the device according to the invention has a support element in the form of a strip made of a food-safe plastic material, wherein the strip has a connecting portion connected to a bottom of the removal region and a protruding into the gap region Kragabschnitt which is elastically deformable at a transition from the support position to the release position , In the region of the connecting portion, there is thus neither a relative movement between the support element and the bottom of the removal region or other components of the device, nor does an elastic deformation take place there. In the manner of a Kragblakens the connecting portion serves as a rigid storage area where, however, takes place only in the Kragabschnitt under load, the deformation.

It has also been found to be particularly advantageous that the Kragabschnitt a perpendicular to a plane of the circular blade extending length between 10 mm and 40 mm, preferably between 20 mm and 30 mm, has. The connecting portion should preferably have at least as long a length and for reasons of ease of manufacture also consist of the same material.

Further, the cantilever portion should have a thickness of between 2 mm and 4 mm, preferably between 2.5 mm and 3.5 mm, extending parallel to a plane of the circular blade.

If the Kragabschnitt of the support member in the support position of the removal region from looking towards the insertion area increases, leads by such a "pre-deformation" even a low load-related lowering of the Kragabschnitts during the exercise of the support function to no geometrically deteriorated effect in preventing the retraction a slice. Rather, the Kragabschnitt then even under load then aligned approximately horizontally and closes the gap area reliably.

Finally, it is also proposed according to the invention that the support element extends on at least one side of the removal region with a bent end section into a gap region between a respective side wall of the removal region and a respective associated side wall of the insertion region. In particular, in the case of the "vertical" gap region facing the pivot axis of rotation, there is the risk at the beginning of cutting off a new pane that the pane will also be drawn into such a substantially vertical gap in the horizontal direction, which is why the expansion of the support element also makes sense in such an area , As well as the rest of the support element and the bent end portion is so elastically deformable in itself, that the rocker provides itself in its oscillating movement, the required space itself.

The support element should be designed so that it leaves a free space for the passage of the cutting blade in the support position, so that regardless of the nature and speed of deformation in the course of the swing motion is always imperative clearance of the circular blade is given, so in particular damage the support element is not to be feared by a Zerspannungswirkung of the circular blade.

embodiment

The method according to the invention will be explained in more detail below on an exemplary device which is shown in the drawing.

It shows:

1 : A perspective view of a device according to the invention with a view of the rocker after disassembly of the removal area,

2 FIG. 2 is a top view of the device showing both the loading area and the removal area. FIG.

3 a vertical section through the device as seen from the back,

4 a vertical section through the device as viewed from the front,

5 FIG. 2: a vertical section through the device as viewed from the removal area, FIG.

6a to 6c : the rocker in a top view, side view and perspective view,

7 : a detail view of the rocker in a corner of the picking area,

8th a vertical section through a bottom of the removal area and by a support element,

9 : as 8th but in a 90 ° rotated view,

10 FIG. 3: a perspective view of the bottom of the removal area and of the support device attached thereto, FIG.

11 to 13 different perspective views of the deformed by the rocker support.

One in the 1 to 5 shown in different views device 1 sliced bread, has an insert area 2 in the form of an approximately cubic shaft into which a loaf of conventional dimensions can be inserted. Within the loading area 2 There is a known from the prior art feed device 3 comprising a gripper device with gripper hooks for fixing a rear end of the loaf, a linear guide for advancing the fixed loaf of loaf along a bottom 4 of the loading area 2 and has a drive device, not shown, both for the feed and for fixing the hook hooks.

Furthermore, the device has 1 a shaft-shaped removal area 5 that is, in the feed direction 6 considered to be linearly adjacent to the loading area and from there by a cutter 7 is disconnected.

The cutting device 7 has a about a first axis of rotation 8th Oscillating swivel mounted rocker 9 on, at the one about a second axis of rotation 10 Rotationally driven circular knife 11 is stored. The drive for the oscillating movement of the rocker 9 as well as for the continuous rotation of the circular knife 11 relative to the swingarm 9 done by means of a common drive device 12 coming from the vertical section in 3 is visible and below the ground 4 of the loading area 2 is arranged. The swingarm 9 has a swing housing 13 , in whose interior is not visible in the figures, a transmission device in the form of a belt drive to drive the circular blade 11 located. Such a drive device 12 both for driving the rocker 9 as well as the circular knife 11 is for example from the DE 37 06 485 A1 known.

In an interior of a swing housing 13 There is a transmission device in the form of a belt drive, which is independent of the state of motion of the rocker 9 even in the cutting operation of the device 1 ensures a uniform rotational movement of the circular blade at high speed.

The swingarm 9 and the swingarm housing 13 are in the 6a to 6c explained in more detail. Out 6b it follows that the swingarm housing in a thickening area 14 a strikingly large, in the direction of the axis of rotation 10 of the circular knife 11 measured thickness 15 which, in the specific case 23 mm. Looking at the contour of the rocker from a tip 15 , on which a longitudinal section plane the peripheral edge of the rocker housing 13 cuts, so this first has a wedge-shaped section 16 followed by a section of constant thickness which connects the thickening area 14 forms. This is followed by a transition 17 in the form of a return a section 18 with reduced thickness, which in the present case is 16.5 mm. The distance 19 of the transition 17 between the section 18 with reduced thickness of the thickening area 14 is about 40% of the radius of the circular knife.

As turn out in particular from 6b gives, is the thickness 15 in the thickening area 14 significantly larger (in the present case 6.5 mm) than to cover the inside of the swingarm housing 13 actually would be required transfer device located. The minimum required thickness 20 lies in the area 18 with reduced thickness and is, as already mentioned above, 16.5 mm. At this distance from the in 6b left side of the swingarm housing 13 is in dashed form an imaginary line 21 entered. Right of this line 21 is located inside the swingarm housing 13 a free space 22 which was created solely in conjunction with the wedge-shaped section 16 the increased thickness 15 of the swing housing 13 to achieve and thus to achieve very good cutting properties. To the oscillating mass of the rocker 9 in which also the swing housing 13 enters to keep small, the clearance should be 22 stay hollow.

With view on 6a and 6c it becomes clear that the swingarm housing 13 in an annular cover area 23 consciously a much larger radius 24 has, as in an adjoining area, where the radius 25 - As is customary in the prior art - is dimensioned so that the transmission device in the interior of the rocker housing 13 is completely covered to form a wedge-shaped portion. By creating the coverage area 23 becomes a free, uncovered area 26 between the cutting edge 27 of the circular knife 11 and the part-circular outer edge 28 of the swing housing 13 in the cover area 23 greatly reduced. This in turn leads to a significantly reduced friction between the rapidly rotating circular blade 11 and the straight resulting bread slice, so that the effects of force on the disc and the risk of damage to the same are minimized.

Expressed differently, a radially measured distance 29 between the edge 28 of the swing housing 13 in the cover area 23 and the cutting edge 27 of the circular knife 11 in the cover area 23 less than a difference between a radius 30 of the circular knife 11 and a minimum half width 31 of the swing housing 13 within an overlapping area of the swingarm housing 13 with the circular knife 11 , Actually, according to the prior art approach, there would be no need for the rocker housing 13 to increase beyond the defined by the swing width dimension addition. However, this has proven to be extremely effective in minimizing friction and improving cutting quality.

Out 6a can be seen that the approximately hammerhead-shaped cover 23 over an angular range 32 extending from about 140 °. A core area of the coverage area 23 in which the radius 24 has its largest dimension and is constant, extends over an angular range 33 of about 90 °. A central axis 34 the coverage area 23 is at an angle to a longitudinal axis 35 the swingarm 9 that the two axes of rotation 8th and 10 connects with each other, from around 130 °. In the present case, the radius difference is 36 between the radius 30 of the circular knife 11 and the radius 24 in the cover area 23 about 14 mm.

From the 11 to 13 , the different perspective pictures of the swingarm 9 show, it can be seen that between the ground 4 of the loading area 2 and a floor 37 the removal area 5 a cutting gap 38 is formed, through which both the swingarm 9 with her swingarm housing 13 as well as the circular knife 11 pass through. While the circular knife 11 at a very small distance from a leading edge 39 of the soil 4 of the loading area 2 located, leaving the leading edge 39 serves as a counter-blade, is the distance to a leading edge 40 of the soil 37 the removal area 5 due to the cutting gap 38 much bigger.

To eliminate the danger of being in the gap area 38 during the cutting of a disc or immediately thereafter a disc due to the rotation of the circular blade 11 whose direction of rotation is indicated by an arrow 41 is drawn in, is the cutting gap 38 starting from the ground 37 the removal area 5 by means of a support element 42 locked. The support element 42 has the shape of a over the entire width of the removal area 5 (And even beyond) extending bar of a food-safe, elastic plastic material and is in a later explained in more detail manner at the bottom of the floor 37 the removal area 5 attached.

From the 11 to 13 it can be seen that the support element 42 such a distance from the front edge 39 of the soil 4 of the loading area 2 has, that it also in the straight stretched state a sufficient space for the circular knife 11 leaves. A collision between circular knives 11 and support element 42 It can therefore come under any circumstances. On the other hand, the thickness 20 of the swing housing 13 in that area 18 with reduced thickness (see 6b and 6c ) larger than the remaining space between the support member 42 and the leading edge 39 of the soil 4 of the loading area 2 , For this reason, deforms the support element 42 through the swingarm housing 13 In this section 18 , which adjoins right and left respectively in a wedge-shaped area 43 . 44 leaking, according to the swinging motion in the cutting gap 38 , In the section 18 in which the thickness is thus greater than at the edges of the rocker housing 13 is, is the elastic deformation of the support element 42 maximum. There it comes to an approximately vertical curvature of the free edge of the support element 42 thus at this point about a right angle with the ground 37 the removal area 5 includes. Due to the oscillating movement of the rocker 9 The deformed portion of the support member as described above moves 32 continuously along the length of the support element 42 from one end to the other end. In the 11 to 13 is a middle position of the swingarm 9 shown in the the circular knife 11 a distance from both a side wall 45 as well as a sidewall 46 each of the loading area 2 has. The bead-shaped bulge of serving as a kind of sealing lip support member 42 thus migrates continuously along the width of the removal area 5 back and forth.

In the undeformed, approximately parallel to the ground 37 the removal region aligned portions of the support member, this is in a support position in which it prevents the just emerging in the form of discs in its below the support member 42 can be located inside the machine. Starting from this support position, the support element 42 through the swingarm 9 , by the frictional contact with the surface of the rocker housing 13 and the resulting normal forces, displaced in a release position, so that the rocker 9 can perform their oscillating motion. In the release position is the support element 42 stressed on bending and resiliently biased, making it in the course of a continued movement of the swingarm 9 automatically returns to the support position as soon as the previous of the swing housing 13 occupied space in the cutting gap 38 was released again at the appropriate location.

7 shows in a detailed view that the swingarm 9 with the overlap area 23 to a small front part in a gap between the side wall 45 of the loading area 2 and an opposite side wall 47 the removal area 5 extends into it. The same naturally applies to the cutting edge 27 of the circular knife 11 which protrudes radially further outward by a small amount. In this way it is ensured that even in a corner area 48 of the loading area 2 an optimal cutting of the discs in the sense of a complete and clean separation of the remaining loaf is ensured. The overlap area 23 of the swing housing 13 also extends with a small part below the ground 4 of the loading area 2 so that even when cutting in the corner area 48 a very competing coverage of the relevant sector of the side surface of the circular knife 11 is given, even taking into account a certain height offset between the ground 4 of the loading area 2 and the floor 37 the removal area 5 (see in particular in 11 ). Out 11 can also be seen that the rocker housing 13 in its oscillating motion through the cutting gap 38 only with his section 18 with (opposite to the thickening area 14 ) reduced thickness with the support element 42 interacts.

The attachment of the support element 42 arises from the 8th to 10 : It can be seen that the ground 37 the removal area 5 in one end section 49 slightly angled upwards. Below the ground 37 there is a connecting section 50 of the support element 42 by means of a terminal strip 51 as well as screws 52 (those with invisible weld nuts on the bottom of the floor 37 interact) is clamped. A cantilever section 53 of the support element 42 protrudes with a section 54 over a leading edge 55 the angled end portion 49 of the soil 37 before and is thus in the cutting gap 38 , Through the bottom of the cutting gap 38 inserted swingarm 9 becomes the collar section 43 deformed, wherein in the overlapping region between the inclined end portion 49 of the soil 37 and the collar section 43 only a slight deformation to the bottom of the soil 37 can be done here. In contrast, the subsection is 54 completely free and can be elastically deformed up to a nearly vertical orientation of its edge. Out 9 is again the height offset between the ground 5 of the loading area 2 and the floor 37 the removal area 5 seen.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

contraption

2

loading area

3

feeder

4

ground

5

removal area

6

feed direction

7

cutter

8th

first axis of rotation

9

wing

10

second axis of rotation

11

circular blade

12

driving means

13

swing housing

14

thickening area

15

thickness

15 '

top

16

wedge-shaped section

17

crossing

18

section

19

distance

20

thickness

21

line

22

free space

23

coverage

24

radius

25

radius

26

Area

27

cutting edge

28

outer edge

29

distance

30

radius

31

width

32

angle range

33

angle range

34

central axis

35

longitudinal axis

36

radius difference

37

ground

38

cutting gap

39

leading edge

40

leading edge

41

arrow

42

support element

43

Area

44

Area

45

Side wall

46

Side wall

47

Side wall

48

corner

49

end

50

connecting portion

51

terminal block

52

screw

53

collar portion

54

part Of

55

Leading edge angle

β

angle

Claims (11)

Sliced bread slicing method comprising the following steps: a) one in a loading area ( 2 ) loaf is by means of a feed device ( 3 ) to a cutting device ( 7 ), wherein the cutting device ( 7 ) one about a first axis of rotation ( 8th ) rotatable rocker ( 9 ) and one on the swingarm ( 9 ) about a second axis of rotation ( 10 ) rotatably mounted circular blade ( 11 ), wherein the second axis of rotation ( 10 ) moves within a cutting cross-section and the circular blade ( 11 ) and the rocker ( 9 ) through a cutting gap ( 38 ) passing between the loading area ( 2 ) and a withdrawal area ( 5 ) is located. b) From the loaf of bread, during advancement at a front end, by means of the cutting device ( 7 ) cut successive slices. c) A nascent or already completely cut disc is placed on its bottom ( 37 ) of the withdrawal area ( 5 ) facing the underside by means of a support element located in a support position ( 42 ), which at least partially closes the cutting gap, supported. d) In the course of a movement of the rocker ( 9 ) along the cutting gap ( 38 ) the support element ( 42 ) by means of the rocker ( 9 ) displaced from the support position into a release position, wherein the support element ( 42 ) with continued movement of the rocker ( 9 ) automatically resumes the support position. e) The cut slices are placed in the withdrawal area ( 5 ) collected. characterized by the following method step: f) the support element ( 42 ) is at a transition from the support position to the release position of the rocker ( 9 ) deformed elastically in itself. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the supporting element ( 42 ) is subjected to bending at a transition from the support position to the release position. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the supporting element ( 42 ) is deformed at the transition from the support position to the release position so that it is in the release position at least partially parallel to a plane of the circular blade ( 11 ) is aligned. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a free end portion of the support element ( 42 ) forming and consisting of a food-safe plastic material bar is deformed at a transition from the support position to the release position on the respective supported disc. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support element ( 42 ) is also slightly elastically deformed during the support of a disc, and preferably in a direction opposite to the direction present at a deformation of the support position in the release position direction. Contraption ( 1 ) for cutting bread into slices with a) a loading area ( 2 ), in which a loaf of bread can be inserted, b) a cutting device ( 7 ), one around a first axis of rotation ( 8th ) rotatable rocker ( 9 ) and one on the rocker about a second axis of rotation ( 10 ) rotatably mounted circular blade ( 11 ), wherein the second axis of rotation ( 10 ) moves within a cutting cross section, c) a feed device ( 3 ), with the one in the loading area ( 2 ) loaf on the cutting device ( 7 ) is vorschiebbar that at a front end of the loaf of bread from the cutting device ( 7 ) successive slices can be cut off, d) a removal area ( 5 ), in which the cut-off discs are receivable, e) one between the insertion area ( 2 ) and the removal area ( 5 ) cutting gap ( 38 ) through which the circular knife ( 11 ) and the rocker ( 9 ), f) one the cutting gap ( 38 ) at least partially closing support element ( 42 ), with which an emerging or already completely cut disc at its one bottom of the removal area ( 5 ) facing the underside is supportable, wherein the support element ( 42 ) in the course of the movement of the rocker ( 9 ) is displaceable from a support position into a release position and with continued movement of the rocker ( 9 ) again assumes the support position, characterized in that g) the support element ( 42 ) at a transition from the support position to the release position of the rocker ( 9 ) is elastically deformable in itself. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the support element ( 42 ) is a bar made of a food grade plastic material, the bar one with a bottom ( 37 ) of the withdrawal area ( 5 ) connection section ( 50 ) and one in the cutting gap ( 38 ) projecting Kragabschnitt ( 53 ), which is elastically deformable at a transition from the support position to the release position. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the Kragabschnitt ( 53 ) one perpendicular to a plane of the circular blade ( 11 ) extending length between 10 mm and 40 mm, preferably between 20 mm and 30 mm. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the Kragabschnitt ( 53 ) one parallel to a plane of the circular knife ( 11 ) between 2.0 mm and 4.0 mm, preferably between 2.5 mm and 3.5 mm. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the Kragabschnitt ( 53 ) of the support element ( 42 ) in its support position of the removal area ( 5 ) viewed in the direction of the insertion area ( 2 ) increases. Device according to one of claims 6 to 10, characterized in that the support element ( 42 ) on at least one side of the withdrawal area ( 5 ) with an unbent end portion into a gap area between a respective side wall ( 46 ) of the withdrawal area ( 5 ) and a respective associated side wall ( 45 / 47 ) of the loading area ( 2 ) extends into it.

Images