DE102022106685A1 - stacking device - Google Patents

Abstract

A stacking device for creating food portions comprises at least one product support that can be moved between a feed position and a depositing position, wherein in the infeed position of the product support a partial portion of the food portion to be created can be conveyed along a conveying direction onto a support surface of the product support and wherein the stacking device is designed to to deposit the product support conveyed partial portion by moving the product support into the deposit position below the product support, in particular to stack it on a previously stored partial portion. In addition, at least one pneumatic channel, which can be connected to a device for generating a pressure difference and has at least one opening into the support surface, is formed in the product support.

Description

The invention relates to a stacking device for creating food portions, which comprises at least one product support that can be moved between a supply position and a depositing position, wherein in the supply position of the product support a partial portion of the food portion to be created can be conveyed along a conveying direction onto a support surface of the product support. The stacking device is designed to deposit the partial portion conveyed onto the product support by moving the product support into the depositing position below the product support and in particular to stack it on a previously deposited partial portion.

When processing food products, in particular meat or cheese products, provision can be made to create individual food portions from the food products and to pack the food portions in order to be able to offer the food products portioned in this way for sale. For example, food portions can be created by separating slices from a food product using a slicing device, in particular a so-called high-performance slicer, with each portion being able to comprise one or more slices. The portions created can then be transferred to a packaging machine, for example, so that the portions can be individually packaged and sold.

While it can be provided, in particular when the food products or food portions are sold to end consumers, that the portions created by the slicing device are individually packaged and offered, it can also be provided that a food product is divided into several partial portions, but the partial portions are divided into one to put together a common food portion and pack it together in order to be able to supply customers with a large need for food products, for example from the catering trade. In particular, several partial portions can be stacked on top of one another and then packaged, for example underlays can be inserted under the individual partial portions by means of a so-called underleaver, so that the partial portions stacked on top of one another in the pack are separated from one another by paper or film and thereby removed in portions from the pack can be removable.

In order to enable several partial portions to be put together to form a common food portion, in particular to be packaged together, stacking devices of the type mentioned above can be provided, which can be used, for example, in a processing line between a slicing device and a packaging machine. The partial portions created by a high-performance slicer can be successively conveyed to the product support of the stacking device in such a processing line and placed under the product support, for example on a conveyor belt, by moving the product support into the deposit position, so that a stack of several partial portions is formed and after completion of a Food portion can be transferred to a packaging machine. It is also conceivable that the stack formed from several partial portions is combined with further partial portions and/or stacks of partial portions in further process steps in a food processing line in order to form a complete portion together with these.

The product supports of such stacking devices can be provided, for example, as flaps made of plastic, onto which the partial portions are pushed to a certain extent by means of a conveyor belt. During such a pushing, however, deflections of the partial portions can occur due to the friction between the partial portion and the support surface of the product support, so that the partial portions may not be able to be positioned exactly on the stacking device. Likewise, such deflections can occur during the depositing of a partial portion. However, such deflections can result in the partial portions not being deposited and stacked one on top of the other exactly or in the intended manner, which is why costly manual checks and corrections of food portions formed by means of such a stacking device are often required.

It is therefore an object of the invention to create a stacking device which enables exact positioning of the partial portions on the support surface of the product support and precise depositing of the partial portions.

This object is achieved by a stacking device having the features of claim 1 and in particular in that at least one pneumatic channel which can be connected to a device for generating a pressure difference is formed in the product support and has at least one opening into the support surface.

Since such a pneumatic channel is formed in the product support, such a pressure difference can be created by connecting the pneumatic channel to a device for generating a pressure difference Pressure difference can also be generated at the mouth in the bearing surface. For example, an air cushion can thereby be formed on the support surface by conducting compressed air through the pneumatic channel, which flows out of the mouth accordingly. Such an air cushion can be used in particular to support the conveying of a partial portion onto the support surface and to prevent uncontrolled braking and the resulting deflection of the partial portion. Furthermore, by connecting the pneumatic duct to a device for generating a pressure difference, for example, an air flow directed into the mouth of the pneumatic duct can also be generated on the support surface, in that a vacuum is generated by means of the device for generating a pressure difference and/or air is sucked in through the pneumatic duct becomes. This makes it possible, for example, to decelerate the partial portion in a targeted manner when it reaches a desired position on the product support and/or to suck it onto the product support in order to prevent the partial portion from moving beyond this position.

In order to be able to support the conveying onto the product support, by connecting the pneumatic channel to the device for generating a pressure difference, it is possible in particular to generate an air flow directed out of the mouth with a component along the conveying direction. On the other hand, for decelerating and/or targeted positioning of a partial portion, an air flow can be generated into the mouth, for example, which can have a component opposite to the conveying direction or can be directed perpendicularly into the product support surface. As an alternative to this, braking can also be generated by an air flow directed out of the mouth, in that this air flow can have a component counter to the conveying direction, for example. Such guidance of the air flow can be achieved in particular by a corresponding alignment of the at least one orifice, which can be inclined in or against the conveying direction or aligned perpendicular to the conveying direction. In addition, the pneumatic channel can have a number of openings into the support surface, for example in order to be able to support the conveying of a partial portion onto the product support over the entire product support.

In order to be able to form the air cushion mentioned on the support surface for conveying and/or braking a partial portion, the device for generating a pressure difference can be designed, for example, as a compressed air device and in particular can comprise a blower. Alternatively or additionally, however, the device for generating a pressure difference can also be designed as a vacuum device in order to generate an air flow into the support surface and to be able to decelerate the partial portion, for example. Furthermore, it can be provided that the device for generating a pressure difference can be switched over in order to generate both a compressed air flow along the support surface and an air flow directed into the support surface and, for example, initially support the conveying of a partial portion onto the product support and then, by switching the Device for generating a pressure difference to be able to brake in a targeted manner. The device for generating a pressure difference can thus include, for example, a compressed air device, in particular a blower, and a vacuum device. Alternatively, respective separate devices for generating a compressed air flow and a vacuum can also be connected to the at least one pneumatic channel, with the respective actuation of these devices supporting the conveying of the partial portion onto the product support or braking the partial portion. For this purpose, in particular, a plurality of pneumatic channels can also be formed in the product support, in which case, for example, a pneumatic channel can be provided for connecting to a compressed air device and a pneumatic channel for connecting to a vacuum device.

Furthermore, the device for generating a compressed air flow can in principle be designed separately from the stacking device and can optionally be connected to the stacking device, whereby it can alternatively be provided that the stacking device comprises the device for generating a pressure difference and/or a compressed air device and a vacuum device.

In particular, the support surface can be aligned parallel to the conveying direction in the infeed position of the product support. Such an alignment of the support surface can make it possible to push the partial portions onto the product support in a straight line along the conveying direction and then to deposit them in a targeted manner by moving the product support into the deposit position. For this purpose, the product support can be pivoted, for example, so that the partial portion can be deposited by sliding off the support surface. This placement can also be made more precise by designing the product support with a pneumatic channel, for example by generating a compressed air flow directed out of the mouth, reducing the friction between the partial portion and the support surface and thereby preventing an undesired deflection movement of the partial portion during deposition. Furthermore, it can, for example, enable a targeted generation of a vacuum at the mouth, the partial portion during depositing in the area of the mouth, so to speak, and thereby control and/or slow down the sliding down of the partial portion in order to achieve controlled depositing.

In particular, the opening of the pneumatic channel into the support surface can be formed by a straight section of the pneumatic channel, which leads through the product support to the support surface. In this respect, the mouth can branch off, for example, from a section of the pneumatic channel running inside the product support, in order to establish a connection between the support surface and the pneumatic channel.

Further embodiments can be found in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

In some embodiments, the pneumatic channel can have a connection for the device for generating a pressure difference on the product support and, starting from the connection inside the product support, can extend between the support surface and an underside of the product support opposite the support surface to the at least one orifice.

In particular, the at least one pneumatic channel can run completely inside the product support and only have openings out of the product support in the form of the at least one opening and the connection. In particular, the pneumatic channel cannot be formed by lines running on an outside of the product support, but cannot be seen from the outside—apart from the at least one opening and the connection—on the product support. The product support can also be cuboid, in particular, and the support surface can be formed by one of the two largest rectangular surfaces or a broad side of the cuboid, while the connection can be formed on one of the narrow sides of the cuboid. In addition, a pneumatic channel running inside the product support cannot be formed by a material that differs from the other components of the product support, but instead be formed directly by an open structure running inside the product support in the manner of a bore, but which may be shaped and/or branched . In order to be able to form such a pneumatic channel inside the product support, the product support can be produced by a 3D printing process, for example. In contrast, the device for generating a pressure difference can be connected to the connection of the pneumatic channel via a line, for example.

In some embodiments, the mouth of the pneumatic channel can be oriented at an angle to the bearing surface. In such embodiments, an air flow running through the mouth can thus exit or enter at an angle to the support surface in order to be able to convey the partial portion onto the support surface, for example by an air flow directed out of the mouth and flowing with a component along the conveying direction. Alternatively, a braking effect can also be achieved by an air flow directed out of the mouth, for example, by aligning the mouth inclined to the support surface in such a way that the air flow emerging from the mouth has a component opposite to the conveying direction. Even when a vacuum is generated by means of the device for generating a pressure difference, a correspondingly inclined orientation of the mouth can, for example, ensure that the partial portion conveyed onto the bearing surface is both sucked onto the bearing surface and braked against movement along the conveying direction.

In some embodiments, the mouth of the pneumatic channel can be oriented at an acute angle to the bearing surface. In particular, the mouth can be aligned at an angle of between 5 degrees and 30 degrees, preferably at an angle of between 10 degrees and 20 degrees, and/or at an angle of 15 degrees to the bearing surface. In particular, such an alignment at an acute angle can achieve, for example, a sufficient component of an air flow directed out of the mouth along the conveying direction in order to be able to support the conveying of a partial portion onto the product support.

In some embodiments, a rectilinear extension of the mouth of the pneumatic channel out of the support surface can assume an acute angle to the conveying direction in the infeed position of the product support. In particular, the rectilinear extension of the mouth from the support surface can assume an angle of between 5 degrees and 30 degrees, preferably an angle of between 10 degrees and 20 degrees and/or an angle of 15 degrees to the conveying direction. In such embodiments, a compressed air flow generated by the device for generating a pressure difference on the support surface can thus have a component along the conveying direction in particular, so that the conveying of a partial portion onto the product support can be supported by applying compressed air to the pneumatic channel. On the other hand, an air flow entering such an aligned orifice due to the suction of air can have a counteracting component have the conveying direction, for example to be able to achieve a braking effect. As an alternative to this, in other embodiments it can also be provided that a straight line extension of the mouth of the pneumatic channel out of the support surface in the infeed position of the product support forms an obtuse angle, in particular an angle in a range of 180 degrees minus one of the above-mentioned acute angles and /or an angle of 165 degrees to the conveying direction and is thus aligned opposite to the conveying direction. This can make it possible to generate an air flow counter to the conveying direction by applying compressed air to the pneumatic channel on the support surface, in order to be able to decelerate a partial portion conveyed onto the product support in a targeted manner.

In some embodiments, the mouth of the pneumatic channel may be oriented toward a central portion of the support surface. In particular, the opening of the pneumatic channel can be aligned in the direction of a central section of the support surface with respect to a transverse direction oriented perpendicularly to the conveying direction. By aligning the mouth in this way, for example, a stream of compressed air directed out of the mouth in the direction of the central section of the support surface can be generated in order to center the partial portion on the product support and to be able to laterally stabilize the partial portion while it is being conveyed onto the product support.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, the mouth may be oriented perpendicular to the bearing surface. In particular, such an orifice aligned perpendicularly to the support surface can be provided if the device for generating a pressure difference is designed for sucking air through the orifice or the pneumatic channel can be connected to a vacuum device. With such an orientation, an air flow directed perpendicularly into the support surface can be generated in order to suck in a partial portion conveyed onto the product support and thereby, for example, decelerate it and position it on the product support in a targeted manner. Likewise, with such an air flow directed into the product support, for example while a partial portion is being deposited, any slipping of the partial portion in order to deposit it and stack it on a previously deposited partial portion can be controlled and slowed down, or the friction between the partial portion and the supporting surface can be reduced by a compressed air stream flowing out of such an orifice can be reduced in a targeted manner before and/or during depositing.

In some embodiments, the mouth may be formed as a shallow countersink, a shallow funnel, a trough, and/or merge into a shallow groove formed on the support surface. In particular, such a design of the mouth can support and/or guide an air flow generated by applying compressed air to the pneumatic channel on the support surface in order to enable a targeted conveyance of a partial portion onto the product support and/or a targeted depositing of the partial portion.

In some embodiments, the pneumatic channel can have a plurality of openings into the support surface. As already explained, this can in particular support the conveying of a partial portion onto the product support at a number of points on the product support and/or a targeted deceleration of a partial portion at a number of points on the product support.

In some embodiments, the pneumatic channel can have a connection section for connecting the pneumatic channel to the device for generating a pressure difference, a supply section and a plurality of working sections branching off from the supply section. Furthermore, in such embodiments, the supply section can form the connection section or merge into the connection section, and each of the working sections can lead at least to a respective opening into the support surface. In some embodiments, it can also be provided that the connection section functions as a working section, in that the connection section of the pneumatic channel can communicate with at least one opening in the support surface.

In particular, the connection section of the pneumatic channel can form the already mentioned connection for the device for generating a pressure difference, wherein the connection can in particular represent an opening of the connection section on an outside of the product support. The supply section can extend, for example, along the conveying direction, with orifices arranged offset to one another along the conveying direction being able to be connected to the device for generating a pressure difference through the plurality of branching working sections. In particular, each of the several working sections can lead to several orifices assigned to the respective working section, in order, for example, to be able to connect several orifices arranged offset to one another along a direction of extension of the working section, in particular a transverse direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, to the device for generating a pressure difference.

In some embodiments, the supply section can be oriented parallel to the conveying direction. Furthermore, the working sections can be aligned parallel to one another and/or perpendicular to the conveying direction. In particular, the working sections can branch off perpendicularly to the conveying direction from a supply section extending parallel to the conveying direction, in order to be able to connect orifices offset from one another along the conveying direction to the device for generating a pressure difference. The supply section running parallel to the conveying direction can in particular run in an edge area of the product support, so that the working sections can extend from the edge area to the center and/or to the opposite edge area of the product support. Alternatively, however, the supply section can also run, for example, in a central area of the product support, in which case the working sections can branch off from the working section on both sides, for example, perpendicular to the conveying direction, in order to be able to connect orifices arranged in edge areas of the product support with the device for generating a pressure difference.

In some embodiments, the connector portion may branch off from the supply portion. In particular, the connection section can also be aligned perpendicular to the conveying direction and/or lead to at least one opening into the support surface.

For example, aligning the connection section perpendicular to the conveying direction can make it possible to form the already mentioned connection for the device for generating a pressure difference in relation to the conveying direction on the side of the product support and to connect the device for generating a pressure difference correspondingly laterally. To connect the pneumatic channel, a corresponding line can run in particular in a lateral attachment for the product support, so that the lines do not have to be arranged in an area in which the partial portions are moved during conveying and/or depositing.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, a plurality of pneumatic channels can be formed in the product support, which in particular can perform the same or different functions. Each of the pneumatic ducts can in particular have a respective connection section, so that the individual pneumatic ducts can be connected to respective devices for generating a pressure difference and/or optionally can be connected to the device for generating a pressure difference. Various pneumatic channels can be controlled, for example, by a pneumatic circuit with valves or valve lenses, such a circuit being able to be arranged in particular in a shaft to which the product support is attached. Such an arrangement in the shaft can, in particular, enable the circuit to be installed in a space-saving manner.

For example, it can be provided that the product support has a pneumatic channel for generating a compressed air flow and a pneumatic channel for generating a vacuum and/or for sucking in air on the product support surface. However, it can also be provided that the product support has a plurality of pneumatic ducts for generating a compressed air flow and/or a plurality of pneumatic ducts for generating a vacuum and/or for sucking in air. This can make it possible, for example, to control a generated compressed air flow by connecting a respective pneumatic channel to the device for generating a pressure difference, for example by means of a valve circuit. For example, it can be provided that the compressed air flow is adjusted as a function of previously recorded parameters of a processing line and/or a partial portion, which can be done by appropriately selecting the pneumatic channel used. In particular, a line speed, a partial portion weight, a position of the partial portion or any twisting of the partial portion can be taken into account.

In some embodiments, the orifices can be offset from one another along the conveying direction and/or transversely to the conveying direction. As already explained, the desired conveying and/or braking effect can be achieved over the entire contact surface.

The orifices can also be arranged at a constant distance from one another along the conveying direction and/or transversely to the conveying direction, or the distance between the orifices can vary along the conveying direction and/or transversely to the conveying direction. For example, it can be provided that a larger number of openings are formed on a receiving side of the product support and thus on the side of the product support on which the partial portions reach the product support than in a central area of the product support. In this way, in particular, the conveying of the partial portions can be supported in an area in which the stacking device takes over the partial portions from an upstream conveyor belt. Likewise, more openings can be arranged on a side of the product support opposite the receiving side net in order to be able to brake the sub-positions reliably. Furthermore, for example, more openings can be provided on edge sections of the support surface than in the middle of the support surface in order to be able to center the partial portions on the product support by means of a correspondingly directed air flow. In principle, the density of the openings on the support surface can vary, although a constant density of openings can also be provided.

In some embodiments, the orifices can be arranged in a number of rows, in particular in two, three, four, five or six rows, aligned transversely to the conveying direction. In particular, these rows can be assigned to a respective one of the aforementioned working sections and the mouths of a respective row can be connected to the assigned working section. Furthermore, the rows can extend perpendicularly to the conveying direction and/or parallel to one another. In addition, each of the rows can be assigned several orifices, in particular two, three, four, five or six orifices.

In some embodiments, the orifices may have the same or different cross-sectional area in a plane parallel to the bearing surface. Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments, the mouths can have the same or a different cross-sectional shape in a plane parallel to the bearing surface.

For example, the orifices may have a circular, elliptical, or rectangular cross-sectional shape, all of the multiple orifices may have the same cross-sectional shape, or different orifices may have different cross-sectional shapes. In addition, different mouths can have different cross-sectional areas due to a different cross-sectional shape or the same cross-sectional shape, or the multiple mouths can always have the same cross-sectional area, also with the same or different cross-sectional shape. By adjusting the cross-sectional area and/or the cross-sectional shape, the air flow exiting and/or entering the respective mouth can also be influenced in order to enable partial portions to be conveyed or decelerated as precisely and/or as sectionally as possible.

In some embodiments, the orifices may be arranged closer together in an edge portion of the bearing surface than in a central portion of the bearing surface. In particular, such a higher density of openings can be provided in an edge section of the support surface when the openings are aligned in the direction of the central section of the support surface, for example to be able to center a partial portion on the product support during conveying.

In some embodiments, the product support can be connected on an outside to a rotatable shaft, it being possible for the product support to be pivotable from the supply position into the deposit position by rotating the shaft. In particular, the product support can be pivoted from the feed position into the deposit position by rotating the shaft through 90 degrees.

The product support can be connected to the shaft, for example, by one or more manually operated quick-release clamps, so that the product support can be assembled quickly and easily without tools and, for example, removed for cleaning or replacement purposes.

In such embodiments, the product support can thus be designed as a flap, so to speak, on which a partial portion can first be conveyed in order to deposit the partial portion by pivoting the flap. In order to enable successive partial portions to be deposited, the shaft can, for example, be rotatable in opposite directions of rotation, so that after the partial portion has been deposited, the product support can be transferred again from the depositing position to the feeding position by rotating the shaft in the opposite direction to the depositing, in particular by 90 degrees can. However, it can also be provided that the shaft can be rotated along a single direction of rotation in order to move the product support between the depositing position and the feeding position. In such embodiments, it can be provided, for example, that several product supports are offset by a certain angle on the shaft, so that by rotating the shaft by the certain angle, a partial portion can be deposited and at the same time a following product support can be brought into the feed position in order to to be able to promote the following partial portion to the following product edition. As an alternative to this, however, it is also possible for the shaft to be rotated by 360 degrees in the course of depositing a partial portion, so that the product support can be automatically returned to the feed position via the depositing position in order to receive the subsequent partial portion.

In some embodiments, at least one pneumatic line can be formed in the rotatable shaft, via which the at least one pneumatic channel can be connected to the device for generating a pressure difference. In particular, the at least one pneumatic channel can do this have a connection section, which is aligned transversely to the conveying direction, for connection to the pneumatic line and which can form a connection for the pneumatic line on one side of the product support. The pneumatic line can be routed inside the shaft so that the device for generating a pressure difference can be connected to the product support without lines having to run outside the other components of the stacking device.

In some embodiments, the shaft may be connected to a motor for driving the shaft via a friction clutch. In particular, the shaft to which the product support is attached can be connected to a motor shaft of the motor by a friction clutch, so that the torque that can be transmitted from the motor to the shaft can be limited and fixed. Accordingly, the friction clutch can be designed in such a way that the product support attached to the shaft can only be moved with a certain maximum force.

Such a connection between the shaft and the motor makes it possible, in particular, to dispense with complex safety precautions and still meet specified safety requirements. In particular, with stacking devices of the type described in the present application, it may be necessary in principle to attach an anti-tamper device in order to prevent a user from reaching into the area of the product supports during operation and to prevent injuries caused thereby. Since the force that can be transmitted by the product supports can be limited by the friction clutch, which can also be referred to as a slip clutch, the relevant safety standards can already be met with a smaller housing as protection against interference or even without protection against interference. This allows improved access to the product supports, for example for maintenance or cleaning purposes, without having to accept any relevant safety losses.

In some embodiments, at least one first pneumatic channel can be formed in the product support, which can be connected to a compressed air device for generating compressed air and which has at least one compressed air outlet into the support surface, and at least one second pneumatic channel can be formed in the product support, which can be connected to a vacuum device can be connected to generate a vacuum and which has at least one vacuum opening into the support surface.

Accordingly, in particular two pneumatic lines can also be formed in a shaft with which the product support is connected for moving the product support between the supply position and the deposit position in order to be able to connect the two pneumatic channels with the corresponding compressed air device or vacuum device.

With such a design of the product support, both a compressed air flow along the support surface and an air flow directed into the support surface can be generated in order to optionally support the conveying of a partial portion onto the product support or to brake the partial portion and position it in a targeted manner on the product support. In particular, the two pneumatic channels can have the aforementioned features and, for example, have a respective connection section, a respective supply section and a plurality of respective working sections, which branch off from the supply section. Likewise, the compressed air outlets and the vacuum outlets can have the features mentioned above in connection with the at least one outlet and, for example, be inclined or aligned perpendicular to the conveying direction.

In some embodiments, the at least one compressed air port may be oriented inclined to the support surface and the at least one vacuum port may be oriented perpendicular to the support surface. Provision can also be made for the compressed air outlet and the vacuum outlet to have a different cross section, in particular a different cross-sectional shape and/or a different cross-sectional area, or the same cross-section, in particular the same cross-sectional shape and/or the same cross-sectional area. Furthermore, the at least one compressed air outlet can in particular be aligned inclined to the support surface in such a way that a compressed air flow emerging from the compressed air outlet has a component in the direction of the conveying direction in order to be able to support the conveying of a partial portion onto the product support. The at least one compressed air outlet can also be aligned in the direction of a middle section of the product support in order to be able to center a partial portion on the product support.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, the product support can have a plurality of first pneumatic channels that can be selectively connected to the compressed air device and have at least one respective compressed air outlet and/or a plurality of second pneumatic channels that can be selectively connected to the vacuum device and have at least one respective vacuum outlet, with an arrangement and/or a cross section of the compressed air outlets being different first Ter pneumatic channels and / or the vacuum openings of different second pneumatic channels can or can differ from each other. In particular, the respective air flows that can be generated by connecting different first pneumatic ducts or second pneumatic ducts can also differ from one another, so that, for example, by changing the respective first pneumatic duct or second pneumatic duct connected to a device for generating a pressure difference, the air flow that can be generated can be adapted to a specific one Product or properties of a portion to be processed can be achieved. In particular, the air flows can be adjustable, for example depending on a weight and/or a size of the partial portions to be processed with such a design of the product support.

The stacking device may, in some embodiments, comprise a control device for controlling the device for creating a pressure difference.

In some embodiments, the control device can be designed to activate the device for generating a pressure difference during the conveying of the partial portions onto the product support, first to pressurize the at least one pneumatic channel with compressed air and then to suck in air through the at least one pneumatic channel. By activating the device for generating a pressure difference in this way, an air cushion can first be generated on the support surface in order to convey a partial portion onto the product support, for example, whereupon the partial portion is removed shortly before or when the desired position is reached by sucking air through the at least a pneumatic channel is braked against movement along the conveying direction and can thus be positioned on the product support.

In order to enable such activation of the device for generating a pressure difference, the control device can be designed, for example, to specifically switch over a device for generating a pressure difference designed both to generate a compressed air flow and to generate a vacuum, or to activate respective separate devices. In this respect, in embodiments of the stacking device with a product support, which has a first pneumatic channel for connecting a compressed air device and a second pneumatic channel for connecting a vacuum device, the control device can be designed to control the compressed air device to generate a compressed air flow in the first pneumatic channel in order to form air cushions along the bearing surface, and then control the vacuum device to suck air through the second pneumatic channel. In particular, the device for generating a pressure difference or the compressed air device and the vacuum device can also be part of the stacking device and/or connected to the stacking device.

In some embodiments, the stacking device can have a measuring device for detecting the partial portion conveyed onto the product support, wherein the control device can be designed to activate the device for generating an air flow as a function of a signal from the measuring device.

For example, such a measuring device can be arranged at the front, in the middle or at the rear of the stacking device in relation to the conveying direction and/or can comprise one or more light barriers arranged above the product support. This can make it possible to determine the position of a partial portion conveyed onto the product support, for example in order to start a compressed air flow to support the conveying of the partial portion onto the product support when or shortly before a partial portion reaches the product support, and/or to brake the partial portion, as soon as a front section of the partial portion reaches the center of the support surface, exceeds the center or reaches a specified end position.

In addition, in some embodiments, the product support can be releasably attached to the stacking device, in particular releasably without tools. For example, the product support can be plugged onto one or more shafts, the rotation of which can move the product support between the feed position and the deposit position, in order to be able to be removed quickly and without tools for cleaning and reconnected to the shaft after cleaning.

In some embodiments, the contact surface can also have a groove, bump, wave or cross structure. Such a structure of the support surface can also support the conveying effect and/or reduce friction when depositing a partial portion. For example, undesired deflections of the partial portion during depositing can be reduced by a grooved structure of the support surface running perpendicularly to the conveying direction.

Furthermore, the support surface can have holes passing through the product support. Such holes can also cause the friction between a partial portion and the support surface to affect the product while the partial portion is being conveyed location and/or reduced while the partial portion is being deposited.

In some embodiments, the stacking device can comprise at least a first product support and a second product support, which are aligned parallel to one another in the feed position and together form the support surface. Furthermore, the first product support and the second product support can be connected to a respective shaft on opposite outer sides, it being possible for the first product support and the second product support to be pivotable from the supply position into the deposit position by rotating the shafts in opposite directions. In particular, the partial portions can thereby slide along opposite outer sides or sides facing the corrugations while being deposited on the product supports in order to be deposited specifically and initially with a middle section between two opening flaps.

In some embodiments, a common motor may be provided to drive the shafts. For this purpose, the shafts can be connected to a motor shaft of the common motor, in particular via a belt or belt, in order to be able to rotate the shafts in opposite directions by means of a corresponding deflection.

In particular, in such embodiments with two product supports, a toothed belt or a belt can be provided for jointly driving the associated shafts and transmission of the drive to one of the shafts via the friction clutch already mentioned. As a result, synchronous stopping of the shafts and constant synchronization of the shafts can be ensured when the friction clutch is released.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, a plurality of product supports can be arranged at a constant distance from one another on each of the shafts. In particular, two or four product supports can be arranged on each of the shafts. The constant distance can relate in particular to an angular position in which the product supports are arranged. This can make it possible, for example, to move the following product support into the feeding position by moving a first product support from the feed position into the deposit position, so that a subsequent partial portion can be conveyed directly onto the following product support.

In some embodiments it can be provided that the device for generating a pressure difference comprises at least one device for generating compressed air remote from the product support and at least one vacuum generator located in the area or directly on the product support, preferably attached to the product support, which connected to the device for generating compressed air, connected to the pneumatic channel formed in the product support and designed to generate a negative pressure by means of supplied compressed air, in particular the vacuum generator comprising at least one Venturi nozzle.

Such vacuum generators are known per se and are available on the market as ready-to-use units and are also referred to as ejectors or vacuum ejectors, which can have one or more Venturi nozzles, for example, in order to use the compressed air supplied via a connection at a other connection to generate a negative pressure. Such vacuum generators can be relatively compact and only have to be connected to a compressed air source and their vacuum connection to the respective device to be subjected to negative pressure - here to the product support, i.e. to the pneumatic channel formed therein. The former can, for example, simply be done using a conventional compressed air hose. The latter can be done, for example, by connecting the vacuum generator indirectly via its vacuum connection - e.g. via a hose - or directly - if necessary with an interposed seal, for example in the form of an O-ring - with a product support, e.g. on its support surface or on one of the other outer sides of the product support, is connected to a connection which leads to the pneumatic channel or which forms the start of the pneumatic channel.

Such vacuum generators can be used in a decentralized manner and make a central vacuum source located at a distance from the product support superfluous, which would have to overcome comparatively long suction paths and, in particular, relatively high line resistances. In practice, compressed air is in any case often available at the respective machine, is required in any case in some exemplary embodiments of the invention and can thus also be used to generate a vacuum. Double lines for positive pressure on the one hand and negative pressure on the other hand and/or the need to switch between "blowing" on the one hand and "suction" on the other hand are avoided. Since the vacuum generators can be relatively compact, they can be installed “on site”, i.e. directly on or at least in the vicinity of the product support, in a manner adapted to the respective structural conditions and the respective requirements for vacuum generation and number.

Exactly one vacuum generator or several vacuum generators can be assigned to a respective product support.

If the product support is attached to a rotatable shaft, this can be connected to the device for generating compressed air on the input side and to the vacuum generator on the output side - e.g. via a compressed air line. As a result, the length of compressed air lines that can be laid freely can be reduced to a minimum by utilizing the on-site installability of the vacuum generator or generators.

According to some exemplary embodiments, it can be provided that, in the event of a vacuum being generated, a ventilation option is provided at least at one fundamentally arbitrary point between the vacuum source or the vacuum opening, e.g. on the pneumatic channel having the vacuum opening, e.g the particular - can be adjustable in terms of their size - like an aperture or an adjustable throttle. As a result, after each partial portion has been deposited, automatic ventilation can take place, which ensures that the same initial conditions are given for the next partial portion within a short time, i.e. there is no residual vacuum, which leads to an undefined and in this respect undesirable braking of the next partial portion would lead. This would be particularly disadvantageous if several partial portions are to be deposited at the same time or if several pneumatic channels or vacuum openings are effective for one partial portion, which could unintentionally lead to different braking effects at different levels of a respective residual vacuum, which in turn could result in different alignments of several partial portions with one another or an undesired twisting of one partial portion would entail. Ensuring rapid ventilation eliminates these potential disadvantages.

Furthermore, in some exemplary embodiments it can be provided that, viewed in the conveying direction, a braking pad for the partial portions to be conveyed onto the product support is arranged in the entry area of the product support. In this way, a pre-braking of the partial portions can be achieved. The brake pad can be designed to be removable. A set of different interchangeable brake pads can be provided in order to be able to provide different pre-braking effects specific to the application. The brake pad can be, for example, a strip made of metal or plastic that can be attached to the product support, the support side of which serving as a braking surface has been provided with properties that produce the desired braking effect, e.g. by applying a material, for example in the form of a coating or a pad, or by e.g. mechanical processing such as roughening.

The invention also relates to a product support for a stacking device for creating a food portion, in particular for a stacking device of the type disclosed herein, with at least one pneumatic channel formed in the product support, which can be connected to a device for generating a pressure difference and which has at least one opening in has a contact surface of the product support.

In particular, this product support, the at least one pneumatic channel and/or the at least one opening can have the features explained above in connection with the stacking device. In principle, such a product support can also be used in conventional stacking devices and replace the product supports of such stacking devices, whereby only a connection of the product support or its pneumatic channel to a device for generating a pressure difference is required in order to ensure the above-explained precise conveying of partial portions onto the product support and /or to enable their precise placement. A new design of the stacking device is therefore not absolutely necessary, but the product support can also be used to retrofit existing stacking devices.

In some embodiments, the product pad may be made by a 3D printing process. In particular, such a method makes it possible to easily form the at least one pneumatic channel and in particular several pneumatic channels, for example a first pneumatic channel for connecting to a compressed air device and a second pneumatic channel for connecting to a vacuum device, inside the product support.

The invention also relates to a method for creating a food portion using a stacking device, in particular using a stacking device of the type disclosed herein. In this method, a partial portion is transported along a conveying direction to the stacking device and conveyed onto a product support of the stacking device, with the partial portion being conveyed through a pneumatic channel formed in the product support generates an air flow directed along a support surface of the product support and/or air is sucked in through the pneumatic channel. In addition, the partial portion conveyed onto the product support deposited below the product support by moving the product support away.

In particular, with this method a stack of partial portions can be formed below the product support by successive depositing of partial portions, so that the food portion created when the method is carried out can be formed by such a stack of partial portions. As already explained, by generating such air currents, the partial portion can be conveyed precisely onto the product support and/or the partial portion can be deposited precisely below the product support, for example in order to be able to stack the respective partial portions on top of each other exactly and to be able to create the food portion. Precise conveying can also mean that the partial portions are not only conveyed along the conveying direction, but are deliberately influenced, for example to change the position laterally or to rotate the partial portion.

In some embodiments, in order to convey the partial portion, a compressed air flow can first be generated along the bearing surface and then air can be sucked in at the bearing surface. A partial portion guided to the stacking device by means of a conveyor belt, for example, can first be moved further along the support surface with the support of a compressed air stream, in order then to be able to be braked when a desired position is reached by sucking in air and positioned exactly on the support surface.

In some embodiments it can be provided that the intensity of the compressed air flow and/or the sucking in is constant during the conveying of the partial portion or is varied in time and/or space. In particular, by varying the air flow, the conveying and/or depositing of a partial portion can be controlled and controlled precisely in terms of time and/or space.

In some embodiments, the intensity of the compressed air flow and/or the suction can be set and/or varied temporally and/or spatially depending on a property of the partial portion, in particular a weight of the partial portion. Such a setting or variation can in particular be used to adapt to certain products, for example by increasing the strength of the compressed air stream in order to be able to convey a relatively heavy partial portion along the product support. Appropriate settings can be specified by a user, for example, or the stacking device can have a memory in which appropriate settings are stored as a function of specific properties of the partial portions to be processed. The properties of the partial portion, in particular a weight, can be transmitted, for example from a scale upstream of the stacking device, to a control device of the stacking device, so that it can automatically read the corresponding setting from the memory and correspondingly control the device for generating a pressure difference. It is also conceivable for the slicer or its controller to transmit an expected weight. Furthermore, settings of the stacking device can be adjusted, in particular as a function of parameters of a preceding cutting process, in order to be able to adapt the settings of the stacking device to changing parameters and correspondingly changed partial portions. For this purpose such parameters, for example a slice thickness or a number of slices of a partial portion, can be transmitted from a controller of a high-performance slicer to the stacking device and/or its controller.

Furthermore, in some embodiments it can be provided that the suction does not take place if a defective, in particular underweight, partial portion is transported to the stacking device. As an alternative or in addition, provision can also be made for a ejection means to be positioned under the product support before the faulty partial portion is deposited.

Since the suction for a defective partial portion can be omitted, such a defective partial portion can be conveyed beyond the product support and fed to a discharge section, in particular a conveyor belt, in order to be able to be checked and/or completed manually. Only complete and desired partial portions can thus be deposited, so that, for example, a food portion composed of several partial portions by means of the stacking device has the desired properties and does not have to be checked or completed manually. As an alternative to this, such a discharge of defective partial portions can also be achieved by positioning a discharge means under the product support so that the partial portion can be placed on the discharge means. For this purpose, the ejection means can be swiveled under the product support, for example, if a faulty partial portion is detected. Such a faulty partial portion can also be fed to a discharge section by moving the discharge means away, in order to be checked and/or completed manually. Such an ejection of faulty partial portions of the stacking device can in particular indicate an ejection of previous processing steps, for example wise by a rocker downstream of a slicing device, can be dispensed with, so that the overall length of a processing line, which can include a slicing device, the stacking device and a packaging machine, can be reduced.

The invention is explained below purely by way of example using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings.

• 1A und 1 B eine perspektivische Vorderansicht sowie eine Vorderansicht einer Stapelvorrichtung zum Erstellen von Lebensmittelportionen mit einer ersten und einer zweiten Produktauflage in einer Zuführstellung, in welcher eine Teilportion auf eine von der ersten Produktauflage und der zweiten Produktauflage gebildete Auflagefläche förderbar ist,
• 2A und 2B eine perspektivische Vorderansicht und eine Vorderansicht der Stapelvorrichtung, wobei die Produktauflagen in eine Ablegestellung bewegt sind, in welcher eine auf die Produktauflagen geförderte Teilportion unterhalb der Produktauflage ablegbar ist,
• 3 eine Rückansicht der Stapelvorrichtung,
• 4A bis 4D eine Draufsicht auf die erste Produktauflage, eine Draufsicht auf die erste Produktauflage mit transparenter Oberseite, eine Querschnittsdarstellung der ersten Produktauflage und eine Unteransicht der ersten Produktauflage,
• 5 eine Längsschnittdarstellung der ersten Produktauflage, und
• 6 eine Ansicht entsprechend 1A (Ausschnitt) einer weiteren Ausführungsform.

Show it:

• 1A and 1 B a perspective front view and a front view of a stacking device for creating food portions with a first and a second product support in a feed position, in which a partial portion can be conveyed onto a support surface formed by the first product support and the second product support,
• 2A and 2 B a perspective front view and a front view of the stacking device, with the product supports being moved into a deposit position in which a partial portion conveyed onto the product supports can be deposited below the product support,
• 3 a rear view of the stacking device,
• 4A until 4D a top view of the first product tray, a top view of the first product tray with a transparent top, a cross-sectional view of the first product tray, and a bottom view of the first product tray,
• 5 a longitudinal section view of the first product edition, and
• 6 a view accordingly 1A (Detail) of another embodiment.

The 1A until 2 B show a stacking device 11 for creating a food portion 67, which comprises a first product support 51 and a second product support 53, which is between a in the 1A and 1 B shown feed position Z and in the 2A and 2 B shown storage position A are movable. In the infeed position Z, the product supports 51 and 53 are aligned parallel to a conveying direction F, so that when the product supports 51 and 53 are in the infeed position Z, a partial portion 63 can be conveyed along the conveying direction F onto a support surface 15 formed by the product supports 51 and 53 (cf. in particular 1B) . This can be done, for example, by means of a conveyor belt (not shown) upstream of the stacking device 11 counter to the conveying direction F. By moving the product supports 51 and 53 into the deposit position A, the partial portion 63 conveyed onto the product supports 51 and 53 can, however, as 2 B shows, are deposited below the product supports 51 and 53, the partial portion 63 falling down after the product supports 51 and 53 have been moved along an arrow P.

The stacking device 11 also has a frame 71 by means of which the product supports 51 and 53 are held and positioned over a conveyor belt 69 . As a result, the partial portions 63 can be placed on the conveyor belt 69 and stacked on it in order to create a complete food portion 67 . The complete food portion 67, in particular a stack of several partial portions 63, can then be fed to further processing steps and, for example, to a packaging machine by means of the conveyor belt 69.

In order to enable the movement of the product supports 51 and 53 between the infeed position Z and the depositing position A, the product supports 51 and 53 are connected on their outer sides 55 and 57 to a respective shaft 41, so that the product supports 51 and 53 can be rotated by rotating the Shafts 41 can be transferred by 90 degrees from the feed position Z into the deposit position A (cf. 1A until 2 B) . In order to move the product supports 51 and 53 back into the feed position Z, the direction of rotation of the shafts 41 can be changed, for example, and the product supports 51 and 53 can in turn be moved into the feed position Z by rotating the shafts 41 by 90 degrees. However, it can also be provided that the direction of rotation of the shafts 41 cannot be changed and/or is changed, so that the product supports 51 and 53 can be transferred from the depositing position A back to the feeding position Z by rotating the shafts 41 further by 270 degrees. to accommodate a subsequent partial portion 63. Furthermore, in principle, several and for example four product supports offset by 90 degrees from each other can also be fastened to the shafts 41, so that by moving a product support from the infeed position Z into the deposit position A, a product support following in the opposite direction of rotation can automatically reach the infeed position Z.

To drive the shafts 41 is how 3 12, a common motor 59 connected to the shafts 41 via a belt 61 is provided at a rear of the stacker 11. As shown in FIG. The belt 61 runs over two deflection rollers 73 and is thus guided around the shafts 41 in such a way that they can be rotated in opposite directions to one another by means of the common motor 59 .

In particular, the motor 59 can also be connected to the shaft 41 via a friction clutch (not shown). be connected to limit the torque that can be transmitted to the shaft 41 . It can thereby be achieved that the shafts 41 are stopped when a user reaches into the stacking device 11 during operation and blocks the product support 51 or 53, so that injury to the user can be prevented. By connecting the shafts 41 via the belt 61, the transmission of torque to the shafts 41 can also be interrupted synchronously if one of the product supports 51 and 53 is blocked, so that the shafts 41 or the product supports 51 and 53 can be released after the interruption has ended can be moved further in mutually synchronous rotational position.

Such a stacking device 11 can be provided in particular as part of a processing line in order to assemble a food portion 67 from several previously created partial portions 63, which can then be transferred, for example, to a packaging machine for packaging the food portion together. For example, such a procedure can be provided for partial portions 63 that have been created by a slicing machine for food products and include several slices of a meat or cheese product, with food portions 67 being packaged together with several such partial portions 63 as an offer for bulk customers from the catering trade. In order to be able to separate the individual partial portions 63 from one another again and remove them from the pack, a so-called underleaver—a paper or film—can also be arranged under each partial portion 63 by means of a slicing machine.

A problem with such stacking devices 11 is often that the partial portions 63 must be positioned as precisely as possible on the support surface 15 and deposited as precisely as possible in order to be able to create a desired food portion 67 . In conventional stacking devices 11, however, the partial portions 63 are usually only transferred to the stacking device 11 by means of an upstream conveyor belt (not shown in the figures) and are pushed onto the product supports 51 and 53, so to speak, with unwanted deflections due to the friction between the product supports 51 and 53 of the partial portion 63 and incorrect positioning can occur, so that the partial portions 63 cannot be stacked exactly one on top of the other, for example.

In order to counteract this problem, a respective first pneumatic channel 17 and a respective second pneumatic channel 19 are formed in the product supports 51 and 53 of the stacking device 11 shown here, with the pneumatic channels 17 and 19 being able to be connected to a device 65 for generating a pressure difference (cf. in particular 4B , 4C and 5 ). The respective first pneumatic channel 17 has a plurality of compressed air openings 21 into the bearing surface 15 and the respective second pneumatic channel 19 has a plurality of vacuum openings 23 into the bearing surface 15 (cf. 4A , 4B , 4C and 5 ). The formation of the product requirements 51 and 53 is exemplified below using the 4A until 5 explained in more detail for the first product edition 51.

How 4A 1, the compressed air outlets 21 leading into the support surface 15 are arranged in a plurality of rows 37 offset parallel to one another along the conveying direction F, with the rows 37 extending along a transverse direction Q perpendicular to the conveying direction F. In each of the rows 37 , for example, four compressed air outlets 21 are arranged, so that in each of the rows 37 four compressed air outlets 21 , which are offset relative to one another along the transverse direction Q, lead into the support surface 15 .

Furthermore, the multiple vacuum ports 23 in the support surface 15 are also arranged in multiple rows 37 aligned parallel to one another and extending along the transverse direction Q, with each of the rows 37 of vacuum ports 23 having two vacuum ports 23 . In this respect, the product support 51 shown here comprises twice as many compressed air ports 21 as vacuum ports 23. The compressed air ports 21 and the vacuum ports 23 are circular, with the vacuum ports 23 having a larger cross-sectional area than the compressed air ports 21. As an alternative to this, however, the compressed air ports 21 and/or the vacuum ports 23 can also have a different cross-sectional shape, for example elliptical, rectangular or square. In addition, the compressed air ports 21 and the vacuum ports 23 can in principle also have the same cross-sectional area and/or a cross-sectional shape that differs from one another.

The 4B and 4C show the first pneumatic channel 17 formed in the interior of the product support 51 and the second pneumatic channel 19 formed in the interior of the product support 51. Both the first pneumatic channel 17 and the second pneumatic channel 19 have a respective connection 32 in order to communicate with the device 65 for generating a pressure difference to be able to be connected. The connections 32 are arranged on an outer side 55 of the product support 51 facing the shaft 41 so that the pneumatic channels 17 and 19 run through respective ones inside the shafts 41 (not shown in the figures). Pneumatic lines can be connected to the device 65 for generating a pressure difference.

Furthermore, the connections 32 form one end of a respective connection section 31 of the pneumatic channel 17 or 19, which extends along the transverse direction Q and is connected to a supply section 33 aligned parallel to the conveying direction F. Respective working sections 35 which are aligned parallel to one another and perpendicular to the conveying direction F branch off from the supply sections 33 . Each of the working sections 35 leads to a respective row 37 of compressed air ports 21 and vacuum ports 23, so that the compressed air ports 21 and the vacuum ports 23 can be connected to the device 65 for generating a pressure difference via the respective pneumatic channel 17 and 19, respectively. Furthermore, the connecting section 31 of the first pneumatic channel 17 is also connected to a row 37 of compressed air ports 21 and the connecting section 31 of the second pneumatic channel 19 is connected to a row 37 of vacuum ports 23, so that the connecting sections 31 also function as working sections 35 in the embodiment shown.

How out 4B further shows that the vacuum ports 23 are perpendicular to the support surface 15 in alignment with the respective associated working section 35 of the second pneumatic channel 19, so that the vacuum ports 23 are also aligned perpendicular to the support surface 15. On the other hand, outlets of the compressed air openings 21 along the conveying direction F are offset from the respective assigned working sections 35 , so that the compressed air openings 21 are aligned inclined to the conveying direction F. With such an orientation of the compressed air openings 21 cuts how 5 shows a rectilinear extension V of the compressed air ports 21 to the conveying direction F at an acute angle, so that an air flow emerging from the compressed air ports 21 has a component in the direction of the conveying direction F. As will be explained in more detail below, such an air flow can in particular support the conveying of the partial portion 63 onto the product support 51 .

As can be seen in particular from the presentation of 4D results, which shows an underside 27 of the product support 51, the pneumatic channels 17 and 19 extend completely inside the product support 51 - between the support surface 15 and the underside 27 - from the connection 32 to the compressed air ports 21 and the vacuum ports 23. To a In order to achieve such a design of the product support 51 with pneumatic channels 17 and 19 running inside, the product support 51 can be produced in particular by a 3D printing process. Using such a 3D printing method, any number of pneumatic channels can be formed in a simple manner inside a product support 51, and their course can also be changed as desired by appropriately adapting the model on which the method is based. For example, provision can be made for the respective supply sections 33 to be guided in the middle of the product support 51, with the working sections 35 being able to branch off from the supply sections 33 on both sides, for example, in such a configuration. In addition, product supports can be designed with more than two pneumatic channels running inside.

In addition, the product supports 51 and 53 are designed with through-holes 49, as a result of which the friction between the product supports 51 and 53 and the partial portions 63 during depositing can be reduced. In addition, respective openings 75 are formed on the outer sides 55 and 57 of the product supports 51 and 53, through which the product supports 51 and 53 can be connected to the respective shaft 41 and in particular can be pushed onto the shafts 41 (cf. 4A until 4D ). This can enable a tool-free connection of the product supports 51 and 53 to the shafts 41 and a tool-free removal of the product supports 51 and 53 in order to be able to remove them quickly and easily for a cleaning process, for example, and to be able to mount them again on the shafts 41 after cleaning.

The pneumatic channels 17 and 19 running inside the product supports 51 and 53 and opening into the support surface 15 with a plurality of compressed air ports 21 or vacuum ports 23 make it possible in particular to convey the partial portions 63 precisely onto the support surface 15 and/or in a desired position on the Bearing surface 15 to stop. Furthermore, the depositing of the partial portions 63 can be supported by appropriately controlling the device 65 for generating a pressure difference.

For example, while a partial portion 63 is being conveyed onto the product supports 51 and 53, a compressed air flow can first be generated in the first pneumatic channel 17 by means of the device 65 for generating a pressure difference, so that compressed air emerges from the compressed air openings 21 of the support surface 15 and enters Forms air cushions for the partial portion 63 conveyed onto the product supports 51 and 53 in order to support the conveying of the partial portion 63 . In order to achieve the most exact possible positioning of a partial portion 63 on the support surface 15, it is also possible by generating a vacuum in the second pneuma tikkanal 19 and a suction of air through the vacuum openings 23, a braking effect can be developed in order to brake and position a partial portion 63 conveyed onto the support surface 15. Friction between the partial portion 63 and the product supports 51 and 53 can also be reduced while a partial portion 63 is being deposited, for example by generating a compressed air flow in the first pneumatic channel 17, in order to prevent the partial portion 63 from slipping while being deposited.

During the conveying of the partial portions 63 onto the product supports 51 and 53, the first pneumatic channel 17 can be pressurized with compressed air, whereupon air can be sucked in through the second pneumatic channel 19 and the partial portion 63 can be braked. In order to enable such a control, the stacking device 11 has a control device 43 which is designed to control the device 65 for generating a pressure difference. The control device 43 can also be designed to vary the air flow generated in the first pneumatic channel 17 and/or the second pneumatic channel 19 and in particular its strength over time. In addition, the control device 43 can be designed to adjust the strength of the respective air flow as a function of a property of the partial portion 63, in particular its weight.

Furthermore, stacking device 11 has a measuring device 45, which is designed here as a light barrier and emits a light beam L. The measuring device 45 is arranged above the support surface 15 and in its center, so that the measuring device 45 can be used to detect when a partial portion 63 has been conveyed to the center of the support surface 15 . The control device 43 can be designed, for example, to suck in air from the contact surface 15 through the second pneumatic channel 19 instead of a compressed air flow in the first pneumatic channel 17 as a result of a signal from the measuring device 45, which indicates that the center of the contact surface 15 has been reached by a partial portion 63. so that instead of the conveying effect to be achieved by applying compressed air to the first pneumatic channel 17 , the partial portion 63 can be decelerated and positioned. In addition, the stacking device 11 can in principle also have a plurality of measuring devices 45 in order to be able to precisely determine the position of a partial portion 63 on the support surface 15 and to be able to control the device 65 for generating a pressure difference precisely as a function of this position.

Provision can also be made for the control device 43 to be designed to activate the device 65 for generating a pressure difference for applying compressed air to the first pneumatic duct 17, but to suspend the subsequent intake of air through the second pneumatic duct 19 if a faulty and, for example, underweight Partial portion 63 is conveyed to the stacking device 11 . In particular, the product supports 51 and 53 and/or the shafts 41 can be positioned opposite to that in FIGS 1A until 3 shown position offset downwards on the stacking device 11, so that such a faulty partial portion 63 is moved beyond the support surface 15 in the conveying direction F and, for example, can be fed to a conveyor belt arranged behind it, not shown in the figures, which transports the partial portion 63 to a discharge section leads. There, the partial portion 63 can be checked and/or completed manually, for example. As an alternative to this, an ejecting means can also be moved under the product supports 51 and 53 and, for example, pivoted in, in order to be able to catch a defective partial portion 63 and to be able to feed it to an ejecting section.

In the embodiment illustrated with reference to the figures, the device 65 for generating a pressure difference is shown as part of the stacking device 11 by way of example. However, it can also be provided that the stacking device 11 and/or the product supports 51 and 53 can be selectively connected to such a device 65 for generating a pressure difference. Furthermore, it can be provided that the device 65 for generating a pressure difference is designed both to apply a compressed air flow to the first pneumatic channel 17 and to suck in air through the vacuum openings 23 through the second pneumatic channel 19 . As an alternative to this, however, a separate compressed air device and a separate vacuum device can also be provided in order to be able to generate the corresponding air flows on the support surface 15 .

Furthermore, in the embodiment shown, the compressed air ports 21 and the vacuum ports 23 are distributed uniformly on the support surface 15 . However, it can also be provided that, for example, more compressed air outlets 21 are arranged in a respective edge section facing the outer side 55 or 57 of the product supports 51 or 53, with the compressed air outlets 21 in this case in particular also in the direction of the respective opposite inner side of the product supports 51 and 53 can be aligned. Such an alignment and arrangement of the compressed air outlets 21 can in particular make it possible to center the partial portions 63 on the support surface 15 . Provision can also be made for arranging a higher density of compressed air outlets 21 in one area which the partial portions 63 are taken over by an upstream device or a conveyor belt in order to specifically support the conveying of the partial portions 63 along the product supports 51 and 53 in this area.

The embodiment of 6 shows, among other things, that the stacking device 11 can also be designed with two tracks, with the product supports 51, 53 of the left track being in the feed position and the product supports 51, 53 of the right track being in the storage position in the state shown here.

In this exemplary embodiment, only one deceleration of the partial portions takes place in each case by applying negative pressure to a plurality of vacuum openings 23, here four in each case arranged in a central row, via a pneumatic channel 17, indicated here by dashed lines, which is connected to a respective vacuum generator 81, which in turn is generated via a Compressed air hose 83 is connected to the respective shaft 41, which is connected to a compressed air source (e.g. the device 65 according to the embodiment described above; not shown here).

The vacuum generator 81 can, for example, be a vacuum ejector, as has been described elsewhere in this disclosure and which has one or more Venturi nozzles, by means of which a negative pressure is generated in the pneumatic channel 17 from the compressed air supplied and so air is sucked in through the vacuum ports 23 .

The vacuum generators 81 are each designed so compactly that they can be attached to the respective product support 51, 53 and connected with their downward-pointing vacuum connection directly to a suction opening leading to the pneumatic channel 17 or forming the beginning of the pneumatic channel 17.

Such decentralized on-site vacuum generation directly at the respective product support 51, 53 requires little installation space and makes long vacuum lines and powerful central vacuum sources, e.g. in the form of expensive vacuum pumps, superfluous, and energy is also saved, since power losses due to long suction paths are avoided. In addition, adaptation to the respective structural conditions can be carried out in a simple manner, since the vacuum generators 81 can also be attached to a different location on a respective product support 51, 53 if the suction opening assigned to the respective pneumatic channel 17 is positioned accordingly. The connection of a vacuum generator 81 to the suction opening of the pneumatic channel 17 does not have to be direct, but can alternatively be made via a vacuum line such as a flexible hose.

A vacuum generator 81 does not have to be attached directly to a respective product support 51, 53, but can also be positioned at another point of the stacking device 11, preferably in the vicinity of the respective product support 51, 53, so that only a relatively short vacuum line is required . For this purpose, the decentralized vacuum generation by means of the individual vacuum generators 81 creates a high degree of flexibility.

In order to be able to mount the product supports 51, 53 on the respective shaft 41 without tools, two quick-release clamps 85 are provided in each case.

Reference List

11

stacking device

15

bearing surface

17

first pneumatic channel

19

second pneumatic channel

21

compressed air outlet

23

vacuum mouth

27

bottom

31

connector section

32

Connection

33

utility section

35

work section

37

Row

41

Wave

43

control device

45

measuring device

49

Hole

51

first product edition

53

second product edition

55

outside

57

outside

59

engine

61

belt

63

partial portion

65

Device for generating a pressure difference

67

food portion

69

conveyor belt

71

frame

73

pulley

75

opening

81

vacuum generator

83

compressed air hose

85

quick release

A

laying down position

f

conveying direction

L

beam of light

P

Arrow

Q

transverse direction

V

renewal

Z

feeding position

Claims (33)

Stacking device (11) for creating food portions (67), comprising at least one product support (51, 53) that can be moved between a supply position (Z) and a deposit position (A), wherein in the infeed position (Z) of the product support (51, 53) a partial portion (63) of the food portion (67) to be created can be conveyed along a conveying direction (F) onto a support surface (15) of the product support (51, 53) and wherein the Stacking device (11) is designed to deposit the partial portion (63) conveyed onto the product support (51, 53) by moving the product support (51, 53) into the depositing position (A) below the product support (51, 53), in particular on a to stack previously deposited portion (63), and at least one pneumatic channel (17, 19) which can be connected to a device (65) for generating a pressure difference and has at least one opening (21, 23) into the support surface (15) is formed in the product support (51, 53). Stacking device (11) after claim 1 , wherein the pneumatic channel (17, 19) has a connection (32) for the device (65) for generating a pressure difference on the product support (51, 53) and, starting from the connection (32), inside the product support (51, 53 ), between the support surface (15) and an underside (27) of the product support (51, 53) opposite the support surface (15), to the at least one mouth (21, 23). Stacking device (11) after claim 1 or 2 , wherein the mouth (21, 23) of the pneumatic channel (17, 19) is aligned inclined to the bearing surface (15). Stacking device (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the mouth (21, 23) of the pneumatic channel (17, 19) is aligned at an acute angle to the support surface (15), in particular at an angle between 5 degrees and 30 degrees, preferably at an angle between 10 degrees and 20 degrees and/or at an angle of 15 degrees. Stacking device (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a straight extension (V) of the mouth (21, 23) of the pneumatic channel (17, 19) out of the support surface (15) in the feed position (Z) of the product support (51, 53 ) occupies an acute angle to the conveying direction (F), in particular an angle between 5 degrees and 30 degrees, preferably an angle between 10 degrees and 20 degrees and/or an angle of 15 degrees. Stacking device (11) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the mouth (21, 23) of the pneumatic channel (17, 19) is oriented towards a central portion of the support surface (15). Stacking device (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the mouth (21, 23) is designed as a flat countersink, as a flat funnel or as a trough and/or merges into a flat groove formed on the support surface (15). Stacking device (11) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the pneumatic channel (17, 19) has a plurality of openings (21, 23) into the support surface (15). Stacking device (11) after claim 8 , wherein the pneumatic channel (17, 19) has a connection section (31) for connecting the pneumatic channel (17, 19) to the device (65) for generating a pressure difference, a supply section (33) and a plurality of working sections (33) branching off from the supply section (33). 35), the supply section (33) forming the connection section (31) or merging into the connection section (31), and each of the working sections (35) leading to at least one respective opening (21, 23) into the support surface (15). . Stacking device (11) after claim 9 , wherein the supply section (33) is aligned parallel to the conveying direction (F) and wherein the working sections (35) are aligned parallel to one another and/or perpendicular to the conveying direction (F). Stacking device (11) after claim 9 or 10 , wherein the connection section (31) branches off from the supply section (33) and is in particular aligned perpendicularly to the conveying direction (F). Stacking device (11) according to one of Claims 8 until 11 , wherein the mouths (21, 23) along the conveying direction (F) and / or transversely to the conveying direction (F) are arranged offset to one another. Stacking device (11) according to one of Claims 8 until 12 , wherein the mouths (21, 23) are arranged in a plurality, in particular in two, three, four, five or six, rows (37) aligned transversely to the conveying direction (F). Stacking device (11) according to one of Claims 8 until 13 , wherein the mouths (21, 23) have the same or a different cross-sectional area in a plane parallel to the supporting surface (15) and/or wherein the mouths (21, 23) have an identical or different cross-sectional area in a plane parallel to the supporting surface (15). have a different cross-sectional shape. Stacking device (11) according to one of Claims 8 until 14 wherein the orifices (21, 23) are arranged closer to each other in an edge portion of the bearing surface (15) than in a central portion of the bearing surface (15). Stacking device (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the product support (51, 53) is connected to a rotatable shaft (41) on an outside (55, 57), the product support (51, 53) being rotated by rotating the shaft (41 ), In particular by 90 degrees, from the feed position (Z) to the deposit position (A) can be pivoted. Stacking device (11) after Claim 16 At least one pneumatic line is formed in the rotatable shaft (41), via which the at least one pneumatic channel (17, 19) can be connected to the device (65) for generating a pressure difference. Stacking device (11) after Claim 16 or 17 , wherein the shaft (41) is connected via a friction clutch to a motor (59) for driving the shaft (41). Stacking device (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one first pneumatic channel (17) is formed in the product support (51, 53), which can be connected to a compressed air device (65) for generating compressed air and which has at least one compressed air outlet (21) in the support surface (15), and wherein at least one second pneumatic channel (19) is formed in the product support (51, 53), which can be connected to a vacuum device (65) for generating a vacuum and which has at least one vacuum opening (23) into the support surface (15). Stacking device (11) after claim 19 , wherein the at least one compressed air port (21) is aligned inclined to the support surface (15) and wherein the at least one vacuum port (23) is aligned perpendicular to the support surface (15). Stacking device (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stacking device (11) comprises control means (43) for controlling the means (65) for generating a pressure difference. Stacking device (11) after Claim 21 , wherein the control device (43) is designed to use the device (65) for generating a pressure difference during the conveying of the partial portion (63) onto the product support (51, 53), initially for pressurizing the at least one pneumatic channel (17, 19) with compressed air and subsequently to be actuated to suck in air through the at least one pneumatic channel (17, 19). Stacking device (11) after Claim 21 or 22 , wherein the stacking device (11) has a measuring device (45) for detecting the partial portion (63) conveyed on the product support (51, 53), wherein the control device (43) is designed to control the device (65) for generating an air flow in Depending on a signal from the measuring device (45) to control. Stacking device (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stacking device (11) comprises at least a first product support (51) and a second product support (53), which are aligned parallel to one another in the feed position (Z) and together form the support surface (15) form, wherein the first product support (51) and the second product support (51) are connected to a respective shaft (41) on opposite outer sides (55, 57), and wherein the first product support (51) and the second product support (53) by rotating the shafts (41) in opposite directions from the feed position (Z) into the deposit position (A). Stacking device (11) after Claim 24 , wherein a plurality of product supports (51, 53) are arranged at a constant distance from one another on each of the shafts (41). Stacking device (11) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device (65) for generating a pressure difference comprises at least one device for generating compressed air remote from the product support (51, 53) and at least one device in the area of or directly on the product support (51, 53) located, preferably attached to the product support (51, 53), vacuum generator (81), which is connected to the device for generating compressed air, connected to the pneumatic channel (17) formed in the product support (51, 53) and is designed to generate a negative pressure by means of supplied compressed air, in particular wherein the vacuum generator (81) comprises at least one Venturi nozzle. Product support (51) for a stacking device (11) for creating a food portion (67), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, with at least one pneumatic channel (17, 19) formed in the product support (51) which is equipped with a device (65) for Can be connected to generate a pressure difference and which has at least one orifice (21, 23) in a support surface (15) of the product support (51). Product edition (51) after Claim 27 , wherein the product support (51) is produced by a 3D printing process. Method for creating a food portion (67) by means of a stacking device (11), in particular a stacking device (11) according to one of Claims 1 until 25 , in which a partial portion (63) is transported along a conveying direction (F) to the stacking device (11) and conveyed onto a product support (51, 53) of the stacking device (11), wherein when the partial portion (63) is conveyed by a Product support (51, 53) formed pneumatic channel (17, 19) generates an air flow directed along a support surface (15) of the product support (51, 53) and/or air is sucked in through the pneumatic channel (17, 19), and wherein the on the Product support (51, 53) funded partial portion (63) by moving away the product support (51, 53) below the product support (51, 53) is deposited. procedure after claim 29 In order to convey the partial portion (63), a compressed air stream is first generated along the bearing surface (15) and then air is sucked in at the bearing surface (15). procedure after claim 29 or 30 , wherein a strength of the compressed air flow and/or the suction during the conveying of the partial portion (63) is constant or is varied in time and/or space. Procedure according to one of claims 29 until 31 , wherein the strength of the compressed air flow and/or the suction is adjusted and/or varied temporally and/or spatially as a function of a property of the partial portion (63), in particular a weight of the partial portion (63). Procedure according to one of claims 29 until 32 , wherein the suction does not take place if a faulty, in particular underweight, partial portion (63) is transported to the stacking device (11) and/or with a ejection means being positioned under the product support (51, 53) before the faulty partial portion (63) is deposited .

Images