EP1086789A1 - Semi-automatic bread-slicer equipped with a security hood - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine has a cap with members (4) for moving this cap (2), these members adapted to cooperate with the bread pushing device (1), such that the cap moves to the open position when the bread pushing device reaches the rear return position. The cap moving member is for conferring to the cap, a position of stable opening and a closed stable position. The cap is equally mounted with a device by which the cutting cycle starts first when the cap is in the closed position. The cap is equipped with a locking device (17,18) for locking the cap in the closed position during the cutting cycle.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to machines for slicing bread and relates in particular to a semi-automatic machine, i.e. a machine in which the bread to be cut is pushed towards the cutting device by a mechanical pusher and which stops after each cutting cycle.

State of the art

The bread cutting machines concerned by the present invention are made up of a frame supporting in particular a cutting device with multiple parallel knives reciprocating, a manual loading device or area, and a device guide pushing and holding the bread during cutting. This type of machine is used in retail bakeries and in supermarkets, in self-service, by the consumer himself.

In this type of machine, the bread is driven by a mechanical pusher. A button start controls the movement of the knives and the pusher until the bread is completely cut. The pusher then returns to its starting position and the machine stops, the cycle being completed. The next loaf is placed by the user in front of the pusher. In general, the user must open the machine cover, place the bread, close the cover then start the machine. In some cases, the position of the cover is not stable in the open position, and the user must hold the open cover with one hand while with the other hand, he places the bread in the machine. We can easily see that this type of machine poses problems in terms of user safety.

These dangers are taken into account by the European standard Wl 153 028, which in its Chapter 5, entitled "Safety and hygiene requirements and / or measures", requires that in the loading area of a bread cutting machine, access to knives is avoided so that the user performing normal movements cannot come into contact with the cutting part of the cutting device. This must be provided with a frame protector with a minimum length of 120 mm. In the case of semi-automatic machines, a cover is prescribed, the closing of which can activate the starting of the machine as well as an additional button, accessible to the user, which can stop the machine in operation. In the unloading area, the cutting tool can only present the non-sharp part of the knives. The openings between the knives and between the outer knives and the frame must be less than 25 mm.

The invention is part of the semi-automatic bread cutting machines meets the European standard for security aimed at removing the user the mechanical dangers inherent in this type of machine. It particularly targets semi-automatic machines with the loading area protected by a cover, the closing allows the start of a cutting cycle.

In this spirit, the invention more particularly proposes a machine for cutting bread semi-automatic which not only meets the safety standard relating to the area of loading, but also ensures the complete course of a cutting cycle without none of the user's intervention. To this end, the invention provides a machine for cutting the bread as defined in the claims.

Summary of the invention

A semi-automatic bread cutting machine according to the invention is provided with a cover whose opening allows access to the loading area in order to place a bread to be cut, a bread pusher having a forward movement towards a cutting device and a backward movement towards a starting position. It is also endowed with means of movement of the hood, which means are arranged to cooperate with the bread-pusher device so as to bring the cover to an open position under the action of the bread-pusher device moving towards its recoil position. The hood is fitted with a contactor designed to start a cutting cycle as soon as the cover is closed. In this way, the bread maker cannot move until the cover is completely closed.

In an advantageous and preferred version of the machine, the means for setting movement of the cover are arranged so as to give the cover a first position stable closing position and a second stable opening position.

The aforementioned hood guide means can be produced and arranged in various ways manners which fall within the normal competence of a person skilled in the art: they can by example be arranged around a cylinder or other fluidic device or a device exerting elastic or other force.

According to another aspect of the invention, the bread cutting machine also includes a locking device arranged to lock the cover when it is brought in in its closed position. This locking device can be produced in various executions falling within the normal competence of those skilled in the art. The device locking is arranged to make it impossible to open the cover during progress of a cutting cycle and to be released under the action of the device toaster returning to its recoil position.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, given by way of of illustration and accompanied by the attached drawings.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a first embodiment preferred of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a view along line II-II of Figure 1;

Figures 3A to 3D are enlarged views of the device of the invention during the movement of the bread maker of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figures 4 and 5 show schematic views of a second embodiment of the device of the invention;

Figures 6A to 6D show the device of Figure 4 during the movement of the bread maker;

Figures 7 and 8 show schematic views of a third embodiment of the device of the invention;

Figures 9A to 9C show the device of Figure 7 during the movement of the bread maker.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

In FIGS. 1 and 2 which represent a first embodiment of the invention, we distinguishes: a motorized push cart 1, mounted on the table 10 of a cutting machine bread, a cover 2 with its hinges 3 secured to the chassis 100 of the machine and, according to the invention, a device for moving the hood, constituted for example a gas piston 4. This is fixed to a hinge point 5 secured to the chassis of the machine and at an articulation point secured to a fixing part 6 itself fixed to the cover 2.

The push cart 1 is mounted on guides so that it can slide below table 10 between two stops: one fixing an advanced position located near the device cutting (not shown) and the other stop fixing a recoil position at the front end of the table.

In the closed position (Fig. 3A), the cover 2 is held in place by the action of the piston 4. This position is stable due to the fact that the point of articulation of the jack 4 on the fixing lug 6 is located beyond the equilibrium position with respect to the point of articulation 5.

When the bread maker 1 retreats, the rim 11 of the carriage presses on a roller 8 also fixed to the cover 2 by means of the support 7. The caster 8 is free to rotate around its axis, perpendicular to the cylinder axis. Support 7 is mounted for be able to pivot in one direction around the pivot 9, and as soon as the push of the bread maker 1 stops, it returns to its starting position thanks to a restoring force exerted for example by a spring, not shown in the figure.

The force exerted by the pusher 1 on the roller 8 causes the opening of the cover 2, which is starts to pivot around the hinge 3 (Fig. 3B). This pivoting is sufficient for the articulation point of the piston on the mounting bracket 6 exceeds the balance point of the piston 4. The rotation of the cover 2 then continues, under the action of the thrust of the piston 4 regardless of the movement of the pusher 1. The cover then opens completely stable position. The push cart 1 stops by the action of a limit switch when it reaches its maximum recoil position.

When the user places the bread in the machine and closes the cover 2, it remains stable in closed position. (Fig. 3C), thanks to the retaining action of the piston 4. The roller 8 comes to rest on push-button 1. Closing the cover activates the contact electric 12 which starts the machine and controls the movement advancement of the pusher 1 towards the cutting device. When the carriage has passed, the caster 8 and its support 7 return to their starting position (Fig. 3D). Carriage pusher 1 advances to the knives. Its movement is then reversed and a new one cycle starts.

In the embodiment described above, the cover is not provided with a lock. intrinsically closed when the machine is in operation. Such locking can be obtained by combining the hood movement mechanism described above with a locking device as provided, for example, in the embodiments described below using Figures 4 to 9 in which the same reference signs that in FIG. 1 denote identical elements or functionally equivalent.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 includes a locking device consisting of an example of a lock 18 with a return spring 14. In this version of the invention, the cover 2 is locked in the closed position by the latch 18 hung behind the lug 17 secured to the cover. This lock can pivot around its axis 19 and has an actuating heel 16.

In the closed position, the cover 2 is held in place by the bolt 18 fully pulled behind the latching lug 17 thanks to the thrust of the spring 14. When the plunger 1 recedes (Fig. 6A), the stud 13 of the pusher 1 presses on the actuating heel 16 of the latch 18, to which it tends to impart a rotational movement around its axis 19. By this rotation, the latch 18 comes out of the latching lug 17 and releases the cover. 2. Released from the lock 18 and under the action of the jack 4, the cover 2 then starts to pivot around the hinge 3 in the direction of the arrow to its stable open position (Fig. 6B). As in the previous embodiment, the cover then opens completely in position stable. During this time, the pusher 1 continues its recoil movement towards its position extreme recoil. Before reaching it, when the carriage has moved back so that the pivot 12 turns the actuating lug 16 of the latch and the latch by a sufficient angle 18 itself, the stud 13 passes beyond the actuating tab 16 of the lock.

The user then places the bread in the machine and closes the cover 2 (Fig. 6C). When the cover is in the closed position, the head of the latch 18 is inserted into the latching lug 17, thereby preventing the manual opening of the cover. Simultaneously, the contact electric 11 switches on, starts the machine and controls the progress from pusher 1 to the cutting device.

During its forward movement, the stud 13 of the carriage 1 comes back into contact with the actuating heel 16 of the lock (Fig. 6D). The tab, pivots around the axis 19, without drive the lock 18. When the push carriage 1 is sufficiently advanced, the stud 13 releases the heel 16 of the lock and the latter returns to its starting position. The carriage advances up to the knives, its movement is reversed and a new cycle begins. In this embodiment, the cover 2 is therefore locked during the cutting cycle.

Figures 7 and 8 show another embodiment of the invention, in which the hood locking device consists for example of an electromagnet 28. The latter is mounted to cooperate with a ferromagnetic plate 27.

In the closed position, the cover 2, although pushed by the jack 4, is held in place by the electromagnet 28. This electromagnet is activated (energized) by the limit switch rear 29 of pusher 1. When the heel 15 of the latter reaches the rear limit switch 29 (Fig.9A), it stops and simultaneously cuts off the power to the electromagnet 28. Immediately and as before, under the action of the jack 4, the cover 2 opens under the action of the jack 4.

When the user places the bread in the machine and closes the cover 2 (Fig. 9B), the electrical contact 12 engages, which puts the machine into operation and controls advancement of the pusher 1 towards the cutting device. As soon as the movement has started (Fig. 9C), the rear limit switch 29 is released and the electromagnet 28 is located powered. At this time, the user can release the cover 2 which remains in the closed position stable, maintained as it is by the electromagnet until the end of the cutting cycle. With this device, and provided that an adequate electromagnet is used, the lock is obtained cover during the cutting cycle.

It is understood that the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described above are examples of execution given without any spirit of limitation.

Claims (7)

Semi-automatic bread cutting machine comprising a frame, a device for cutter, a bread pusher (1) for pushing and holding the bread during a cutting, the aforementioned bread-pusher device being arranged to be able to move in a forward movement towards the cutting device and following a backward movement towards a rear position, a loading area protected by a cover (2) hinged on the chassis to be able to pivot between a closed position and an open position, characterized in that it comprises means (4) for setting the hood in motion, which means are arranged to cooperate with the bread-pusher device (1) of so as to bring the cover (2) to its open position under the action of the device toaster reaching backward position. Bread cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the means of movement of the cover are arranged to give said cover a first stable open position and a second stable closed position. Bread cutting machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the means for setting in motion the cover comprise an element (4) articulated around a pivot (5) arranged so that when the hood is moved to any of its first and second aforementioned ositions, said element (4) passes through a position equilibrium beyond which the cover (2) automatically continues its movement of closing or opening, respectively. Bread cutting machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for moving the cover are arranged around of a fluidic device. Bread cutting machine according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the means for moving the cover are arranged around of an elastic device. Bread cutting machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises means (12) for starting a cycle of cut when the cover (2) is brought into its closed position. Bread cutting machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a locking device (17, 18; 27, 28) arranged to lock the cover (2) in its closed position during a cycle of chopped off.

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