EP1234767A1 - Method and device for the overlapped positioning of cut pieces - Google Patents

Abstract

The method for laying slices (2 -4) of foodstuff on a backing sheet (1) comprises measuring a dimension of one or more slices and using the information to position the slices. The size of the first slice may be measured and the information used to position later slices, or each slice may be measured in turn. E- An Independent claim is included for a device for carrying out the method.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for shingle-like laying of sliced goods, in particular from food slices separated from food bars on a shelf.

The shingle-like arrangement of sliced goods is especially in the field of food processing respectively presentation popular. Sausage and cheese cold cuts are preferably presented in a shingled arrangement, thus the food product to the customer in sales-promoting Way can be presented. As a rule, the food bars, which are of considerable weight and length can (for example, between 100 kg and 150 kg and a length between 1.0 m and 2.0 m), from a high-performance machine sliced by the food bar between 600 and 1,000 disks per minute. The severed slices are then placed on a shelf, for example the storage area between each cut product slice certain amount, the overlap, is offset, which the finished, shingle-like arrangement of the goods results. There are also known arrangements in which the shelf is not only moved along one dimension, but also in a surface which, for example, creates a circular or flat Shingled arrangement results.

Often the sales units, for example packaging trays or packaging trays with a constant number filled with slices. This packaging unit gives the relevant length within which the sliced good is to be placed like a shingle. The aim is that the specified parameters (relevant inner length of the packaging unit, Number of slices per package, as well as good or Product height) the packaging unit is filled optimally, without the goods overlying or not optically beautiful Residual margin results.

As far as constant conditions prevail, the corresponding one is Positioning can be determined in a simple manner. results but it is the case that, for example, products with changeable Dimension, such as natural ham or circular cheese loafs and so on are cut, so risks that the packaging unit does not fill optimally becomes.

The invention therefore has set itself the task of a method or a device for shingle-like Placing sliced goods as described at the beginning, to improve in that even with changeable product or Optimally filled sales or Packaging units are created.

To achieve this object, the invention is based on one Method as described in the introduction, and suggests that at least a dimension of the good is measured and due this information, the sliced good on the shelf first positioned and then filed. The invention Proposal provides that the good in its dimensions is measured, but at least the product height or Good height is determined and depending on this Information the good disc is positioned and stored. The invention provides that the gut disc in general is placed on a shelf. According to the invention it is synonymous whether the good disc on a than Conveyor belt trained storage surface arranged shingled and then the shingled arrangement into a sales unit is transferred or whether the goods directly into a storage area serving sales unit is placed.

The invention is not limited to only the determination one dimension, namely the good height of the good to get out of it ultimately the corresponding position of the goods in the sales unit to investigate. It is also possible, for example the cross-sectional area or the thickness of the product slice too to get information for the storage position to win the good disc.

According to the invention it is provided that the good or the good height or the good cross-sectional area before or after Detaching the good slice from the supply (for example the good bar) is measured. In case the good height is of interest, it is convenient that, for example, before the separation is determined. For example, this can be done accordingly mechanical buttons arranged on the cutting knife and so on can be achieved, then this information about the control the corresponding disc is assigned so that an individual Positioning of the disc due to the disc typical Information is possible. Alternatively, it is possible, the dimensional information after cutting off the good disc to gain from the good. In particular, it is then easy possible to determine the slice thickness. But also after separation, it is possible to measure the height or cross-sectional area to investigate.

It is beneficial to start with a shingle-like arrangement measure the first detached or detachable product slice and the information obtained here also for the Positioning of subsequent good slices serves. Such Procedure is particularly useful when using a high constant of the relevant good dimension, for example the good height or the good cross-sectional area along the good to calculate. It should be noted that the above procedure, or the inventive device to be described, especially in high-performance cutting machines for Use and the dimension information once obtained then for the positioning of subsequent, quick cut open slices used in the same way can be without a relatively expensive measurement and Recalculate for each individual slice. By this variant of the invention becomes the processing speed not impaired, or can the invention can be easily used in high-speed slicers. It is favorable that a measurement is always at the beginning of one new shingle-like arrangement is carried out to the new, possibly changing dimensions in the arrangement of the good to be considered. This goes hand in hand with the fact that possibly due to the change of the sales unit anyway empty cuts have to be made and these remaining Time can be used at the same time, the new one To gain product information and the new positioning of the based on the following shingle-like arrangement.

Alternatively, it is also possible that each separated one or individually measure the product slice to be separated and based on this information, the good disc on the Storage space is positioned. Especially with goods such as Example natural ham and so on, the lengthways their slicing direction a highly variable product dimension , it is advantageous to have each disc to be measured individually and from there always the corresponding one again Good position in the shingle-like arrangement determine. With this variant, for example, the Arrangement of several different types Slicing is easier because each slice is optimally positioned here becomes. This can also be a further optimization step be provided. Each disc to be discarded is first measured and temporarily stored in a buffer station. are measure all disks for a sales unit, calculated the control from the available data the respective storage positions, the individual good slices are then from the Buffer station according to this information on the shelf stored. In addition to the use of the invention in individual Disks, the use of the invention is in the same way too possible with stack piles consisting of several good slices, these stacks are then shingled.

Of course it is possible between the two above To train variants of mixed forms, for example that of a Shingle-like arrangement of, for example, twenty good slices every fourth slice is measured again and then a corresponding one Repositioning is provided.

In particular if it is provided that a flat, for example a circular, shingle-like arrangement can be achieved , it is advantageous if the cross-sectional area of the gut disc by measuring two orthogonally oriented ones Direction information is determined. In addition to the first variant, where only the product height is of interest, the ultimately determines the shingle length, it can with this Variant be advantageous, two orthogonal or right-angled directional information from the good disc oriented to one another to win and from this the corresponding position coordinates of these disks on the counter and thus available afterwards in the packaging unit.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, that for essentially along a direction in a shingled sales unit serving as a storage space Gut slices the good height is measured and depending on the Number of slices and the relevant length of the sales unit respective slice position is determined. By such Embodiment of the invention ensures that the as Sales unit serving storage space, for example the packaging tray or the packaging tray always evenly is filled, even if the good heights of the good discs change are. The relevant length of the sales unit is here for example on the inside dimensions (with or without edge distance) of the Put down the packaging tray or the packaging tray. The relevant length results from the selected sales unit.

In a further improvement of the invention, that depending on the measured dimension of the separated or detachable product slice, the relevant length of an as Storage area serving packaging unit, a limit for the overlap of the shingles and the Number of slices in the packaging unit the position of the goods is determined in the packaging unit. Through this invention Variant ensures that according to the Limit for the overlap of the shingle-like product disc in any case achieved a shingle-like arrangement of goods becomes. In the event that too small panes are cut off, it is even possible with this variant that the control recognizes this accordingly and a different packaging concept proposes or selects independently.

The invention relates not only to the method as described above, but also refers to one in the same way Device for the shingle-like laying of sliced Goods, with the goods to be cut on a support surface rests and is transported against a cutting knife, which separates the good slices and the separated ones Good slices are placed on a shelf. In the same the object of the invention is achieved in such a way that the device is provided with a measuring device that at least measures a dimension of the good and this information passes on a control and a positioning unit, which the storage position of the good disc on the storage surface depending on the values specified by the control regulates.

The measuring device determines length information, for example the height of the crop or another length dimension of the good to be cut. The control, for example as Program part of the machine control can be designed has a corresponding processing instruction for this Dimension information and then gives the positioning unit a corresponding control value, where those with the according to the dimensional information cut off the disc the shelf is to be put down. This is done by the corresponding Design of the regulation in the controller for Available sales unit, namely the packaging tray or optimally used the packaging tray. For the purpose of the invention is not the use of the measuring devices only on determining the cross-sectional area, respectively limited information about product height and so on, but can also be used to measure the Product slice thickness and other good dimensions used become. With such a configuration, the variability a corresponding device increased since it is possible relatively complex packaging forms optimally and automatically cost-effective in a respectable, sales-promoting manner to fill.

It is envisaged that the measuring device the height of the Good cross-sectional area or another dimension of the goods mechanically scanned or optically determined. Next to the The use of mechanical buttons is also a laser measurement the relevant information areas or dimensions possible. It is also possible to use an optical measuring device the cross-sectional area, for example with a line scan camera read out and through the information obtained here derive the crop height or other dimension information.

It is advantageous if a storage conveyor belt is used as the storage area or a packaging unit or sales unit, for example a packaging tray or a packaging tray is provided. The use of the invention is not limited to where the separated good slices initially be filed. In the same way it is possible the invention to be used in devices where the goods are on a storage conveyor is temporarily stored or buffered and only then in a corresponding sales unit is handed over, or at which the good slices directly into a corresponding sales unit be inserted.

The controller specifies coordinates to the positioning unit which the positioning unit on the arrangement of the disc the storage area regulates. It is provided that the positioning unit the position of the storage surface or the storage location regulates on the shelf. Ultimately, it comes up a relative positioning. The storage area is favorable self-adjustable, for example if this is used as a conveyor belt is formed by a simple advance of the Conveyor belt the storage location on the storage surface in such a way be changed that the desired shingle-like arrangement is achieved. In addition, it is also possible to use the storage area as a table that runs along two dimensions, So it is movably mounted in a surface and thus also a shingle-like arrangement allowed. Here is the Positioning unit on a one- or two-dimensional arrangement not limited. It is also possible that the positioning unit in height, i.e. in a third dimension Controls the position of the product slice to be placed on the storage surface. According to the invention it is provided that the positioning unit acts preferably on the storage surface, this being the invention not limited to this. It is also possible that the positioning unit to the place of cutting off the slice of acts on the good and makes the appropriate regulation there. In in the same way it is also possible that the positioning unit on the cutting knife or an intermediate intermediate belt acts. Ultimately, it depends on the relative location of the Storage area on the one hand and a separate product slice on the other for the corresponding positioning of the product disc the shingle-like arrangement.

Fig. 1 bis Fig. 3

in einer Draufsicht schematische Anordnungen des aufgeschnittenen Gutes gemäß der Erfindung.

The invention is shown schematically in the drawing. Show it

1 to 3

in a plan view schematic arrangements of the cut goods according to the invention.

In Figures 1 to 3 are in various examples Disks 2, 3, 4 arranged in a sales unit 1.

In the first embodiment according to FIG. 1, the relevant length 1 of the sales unit 1 is optimally filled with the three disks 2, 3, 4. Based on the length k of the sales unit 1 and the height d determined by the measuring device (not shown here) and the number of slices n (here three slices), the following equation A gives the overlap s: (A) s = n * d - k n - 1

The positioning x _{i of} the respective disk i results in the arrangement shingled here in one dimension, for example according to the following formula D: (D) x i = (i - 1) * (d - s) with i from 1 ... n

The values x _i are the values which are determined by the control according to the aforementioned equations A and D and are transmitted to the positioning unit so that the disks 2, 3, 4 optimally fill the inside dimension k of the sales unit 1.

In comparison to this, it is shown in FIG. 2 that the disks 2, 3, 4 are placed in the same sales unit 1 and are to use the relevant length k in the same way. Since the product height d 'is smaller than the product height d in FIG. 1, there is also less overlap s'. Nevertheless, the overlap is calculated in the same way by the above-described relationship according to equation A and the respective positioning x _{i is} calculated.

In Fig. 3 are still smaller disks 2,3,4 in the packaging tray 1 to insert, it turns out that with the given Number of slices and the available crop height d '', as indicated, no more overlap s is possible.

In the control of the device according to the invention it is then provided that an alternative form of packaging may be offered. The criterion is, for example, that the overlap s is below a limit value, which is derived, for example, from the relevant inner length k of the packaging or sales unit 1: (B) s <k * j where j = proportion of the overlap of two adjacent slices, usually a value between 0 and 1.

In cooperation with equation A, this results in a limit value for the product height d _min according to equation C. (C) d min < k n * [y (n - 1) + 1]

With such a configuration, it is thus possible to define a good height d _min even with predetermined number of panes n, below which, for example, an increase in the number of panes n is then proposed, or another sales unit 1 is selected and filled from a supply.

As can also be seen from FIG. 3, it may also be favorable that not a row, but for example two rows of cut open Slices of food next to each other in the packaging unit is arranged to optimize the packaging area to use.

The claims now filed with the application and later are attempts to formulate without prejudice to achieve further protection.

The backward relationships mentioned in the dependent claims point to the further training of the subject of the main claim by the features of the respective subclaim out. However, these are not considered a waiver of achievement an independent, objective protection for the characteristics to understand the related subclaims.

Features previously only disclosed in the description can in the course of the process as of essential to the invention Significance, for example to differentiate it from the prior art be claimed.

Claims (11)

Method for shingling sliced goods, in particular slices of food separated from food bars, on a storage surface, characterized in that first a dimension of the goods is measured and, based on this information, the sliced goods are first positioned on the storage surface and then deposited. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the material, in particular the material cross-sectional area or the material height, is measured before or after the separation. Method according to one or both of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the beginning of a shingle-like arrangement, the first cut-off or cut-off good slice is measured and the information obtained in this way also serves for the positioning of subsequent good slices. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each cut-off or cut-off product slice is individually measured and positioned on the storage surface on the basis of this information. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cross-sectional area of the product slice is determined by measuring two orthogonally oriented directional information. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the good height is measured for a good slice shingled along one direction in a sales unit serving as a storage area and the respective slice position is determined as a function of the number of slices and the relevant length of the sales unit. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that , depending on the measured dimension of the separated or to be separated good slice, the relevant length of a sales unit serving as a storage area, a limit for the overlap of the shingled slices and the number of slices in the packaging unit, the position of the goods is determined in the packaging unit. Device for the shingle-like placement of sliced goods, in particular for carrying out a method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the goods to be sliced rests on a support surface and is transported against a cutting knife which separates sliced goods, and the separated sliced goods onto one Storage area can be stored, characterized in that a measuring device is provided which measures at least one dimension (d) of the good (2, 3, 4) and passes this information on to a control system, as well as a positioning unit which determines the storage position of the good disc (2, 3, 4) on the storage surface depending on the values specified by the control. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the measuring device mechanically scans or optically determines the height (d), the cross-sectional area of the good or a dimension of the good (2, 3, 4). Device according to one or both of the preceding claims 8 or 9, characterized in that a storage conveyor belt or a sales unit (1), for example a packaging tray or a packaging tray , is provided as the storage surface. Device according to one or more of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the positioning unit regulates the position of the storage area or the storage area on the storage area.

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