EP1258325A2 - Method and apparatus for slicing sausage, cheese or similar edible products - Google Patents

Abstract

Process for slicing sausages, cheese or similar foodstuffs into slices comprises applying axial pressure onto a cylindrical food product fed in a longitudinal direction to a slicing device (2) having a rotating knife (3). The food product is guided by a calibrating nozzle (7) before the inlet into the cutting plane of the knife. The food product is pulled back itself or together with the calibrating nozzle depending on the friction force between the casing surface of the product and the casing surface of the nozzle. An Independent claim is also included for a device for carrying out the above process. Preferred Features: The front surface of the nozzle is in direct contact with the cutting plane.

Description

The invention relates to a method for cutting sausage, cheese or similar foods in slices, with an axial pressure on the cylindrical piece of material to be cut is exercised, whereby this is advanced in the longitudinal direction on a cutting device with which disks are rotated successively by means of a rotating knife Gutsstück be cut off, furthermore the Gutsstück before entering the Cutting plane of the knife is passed through a caliber nozzle, the inner surface of which is in Depending on the longitudinal direction of the good piece, the size may fluctuate the cross-sectional area of differently large radial forces on an outer surface of the Exercises good piece, the good piece counteracts if necessary to produce an empty cut the feed direction is completely withdrawn from the cutting plane.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for cutting sausage, cheese or Similar sliced food, with a cutting device that drives a rotating and has a cutting plane defining knife, a feed device with the the cylindrical good piece in the longitudinal direction of the cutting device and is conveyable through the cutting plane and at least one caliber nozzle, which is in the feed direction arranged in front of the cutting device and through which the good piece can be advanced, the inner lateral surface of the caliber nozzle having radial forces on the outer Extends the surface of the good piece and the calibration nozzle parallel to the feed direction is movably mounted relative to the cutting device.

In this context, cylindrical is to be understood as such a shape, which in their longitudinal direction has a more or less constant cross-sectional area, the Cross-sectional shape both round and oval but e.g. also square or rectangular or can be any other way.

A cutting method and a cutting device suitable for carrying it out is e.g. B. known from DE 39 26 588 C1. According to such prior art, for example Sausages by the pressure of the feed device through the clamp-shaped Pressed caliber nozzles, which expand to a certain extent, but the oppose a certain frictional resistance. The Sausages are compressed, causing them to move from the inner surface of the caliber nozzles to the Sausages exerted radial pressure increased. The driving force of the feed device is dimensioned that the feed is continued and the sausages with an optimal, radial to them Internal prestress continuously penetrate the cutting plane while doing so by means of the spiral cutting blades in close behind the caliber nozzles geometrically very precise slices can be cut.

A problem with the known device is that the requirements, as in a weight-accurate cutting in so-called slicing lines, namely for the Sales in self-service retail packaging units with a high grade provide weight-accurate package contents, can not be met. In the Filling of such packaging, which usually consists of plastic trays and / or plastic films exist, it is necessary to carry out so-called empty cuts, i.e. that the otherwise regular z. B. continuous or intermittent feed movement of the good is interrupted in order to form a new one as the knife continues to rotate Avoid the disc during one or more knife revolutions. To avoid the So - called "snippet effect", in which geometrically incomplete fragments of Slices are cut off, in particular in edge regions of the end face of the good piece, it is necessary not only to stop the feed movement of the good item but also actively withdraw the property in the opposite direction to prevent any intrusion in the cutting plane safely.

Due to the comparatively high radial pressure from the caliber nozzle to the manor such a withdrawal is particularly in the case of soft foods practically impossible because of the counteracting frictional forces can be great that a real tear, but at least damage to the product can occur by reversing the feed force. The by means of caliber nozzles cutting foods are characterized by a much higher resilience in terms of compressive forces compared with a resilience in terms of tensile forces.

From DE 298 22 282 U1 a generic device is known, with which also can carry out the procedure described above. The caliber nozzle is here with one Carriage designed as a material guide firmly connected. Is on this sled the good piece is movably mounted in the feed direction. During the normal slicing process is the good piece with the help of a slidably mounted on the first carriage second carriage, which serves as a feed device, in the direction of the cutting device advanced. The lower carriage in the form of the material to be cut stands during this process quiet. If an empty cut is to be provided, the lower slide is put together withdrawn with the caliber nozzle, the piece of material to be cut out and the feed slide, to prevent the formation of bulky cuttings.

A disadvantage of the previously known procedure and the associated device is therein to see that the construction work is comparatively large due to the two sledges. Moreover occurs the great inertia of the lower slide, caliber nozzle, Gutsstück and upper Slide-formed unit that must be withdrawn during an idle stroke, at highly dynamic Processes with high accelerations disadvantageously appear.

The invention has for its object a method and one for its implementation to propose a suitable device that also the use of blank cutting technology Slicing of food pressed through caliber nozzles allowed, the apparatus and control engineering effort should also be minimized.

Starting from a method of the type described in the introduction, this object is achieved according to the invention solved in that, depending on the instantaneous frictional force between the outer surface of the good piece and the outer surface of the caliber nozzle the good piece alone or withdrawn together with the caliber nozzle.

In the method according to the invention, the tensile force exerted by the good when it is pulled back is exposed from the cutting plane, a specific one, for the respective food not exceed the individually ascertainable value, because if a certain value is exceeded Frictional force pulls the good piece together with the caliber nozzle. So far the Movement of the good piece and the caliber nozzle synchronously and at the same speed takes place, there is no relative movement between the caliber nozzle and the good piece, so that the existing in the overlap friction force only in the form of static friction and does not occur from sliding friction, i.e. the frictional force does not contribute to the increase on the estate acting pulling force when pulling back the good piece. This traction continues in the case of a lack of relative movement between the good piece and the caliber nozzle solely from the mass force as a result of the backward acceleration of the good as well as a possible Proportion of weight - together with non-horizontal feed direction. The For this reason, tensile forces can be compared with the frictional forces, as with a Relative movement between the Gutsstück and the caliber nozzle occur significantly reduced be, so that damage to the food even when performing blank cuts cannot occur.

In contrast to the method known from DE 298 22 282 U1, the caliber nozzle not moved with the help of its own drive, but in order to minimize the construction work in a device for performing the method according to the invention Passive nozzle, i.e. by the effect of those occurring between it and the property Frictional force withdrawn and again solely due to the retraction movement of the good advanced. For this reason, it is necessary for smooth storage at the same time Enabling the caliber nozzle to move in its axial direction to care. Should the frictional force between the caliber nozzle and the good piece - for example due to a coefficient of friction reduced by grease or oil or due to a local reduced diameter of the good piece - very small, so can the good piece alone, i.e. with the caliber nozzle at a standstill, the then occurring Relative movement between the good piece and the caliber nozzle due to the low friction force, i.e. even the low tensile forces is not critical. Through a conscious choice of the coefficient of friction with the movement of the caliber nozzle can also be achieved that the retraction movement the caliber nozzle only when a certain frictional force between the Gutsstück and the caliber nozzle enters.

Starting from a device of the type discussed above, the underlying task solved in that a movement of the caliber nozzle by frictional forces between the outer Shell surface of the Gutsstücks and the inner shell surface of the caliber nozzle as a result Relative movement of the good piece to the caliber nozzle is possible.

By completely avoiding or at least considerably reducing the relative movement between the Gutsstück and the caliber nozzle is the proportion of the frictional force increases the tensile force during the retraction movement of the good piece, drastically reduced, or reduced to zero. This results in product damage even with highly dynamic ones Cutting operations, i.e. high speeds of the cutting knife and extremely short Times between two successive cutting operations, very short. The inertial forces that have to be overcome when accelerating the caliber nozzle due to their low mass, they are very low and have a high dynamic of the cutting process, i.e. a high cutting performance, not contrary. At the same time is the apparative Compared to devices according to the prior art, in particular according to DE 298 22 282 U1, reduced because of a separate slide on which the caliber nozzle and the entire piece of property are arranged, as well as the necessary Carriage drive.

According to one embodiment of the device according to the invention it is proposed that the in the feed direction, the front face of the caliber nozzle is directly adjacent to the cutting plane, to act as a shear bar in this way. This can reduce the cutting quality improved and in particular the geometric accuracy of the disks produced can be increased.

To between the feed movement of the good piece despite the not inconsiderable frictional forces the caliber nozzle and the Gutsstück a continuous, uniform feed movement The feed device can ensure during the entire slicing process comprise a conveyor belt lying against the outer jacket of the good piece, which in Area of a deflecting roller facing the cutting device into the cross section of the caliber nozzle penetrates. As a result, a certain constriction of the good piece in the area of End of the conveyor belt is achieved, which leads to an increase in the feed force acting there.

The invention is further developed so that the caliber nozzle moves in the feed direction first inlet area with a conical or pyramid-shaped taper Cross-section, and an adjoining calibration area with a constant cross-section has, the cross-sectional profile in the transition area between the inlet area and the calibration range is constant. This will make the process of entering the Gutsstücks in the caliber nozzle, i.e. the frictional resistance during the feed movement is reduced. Nevertheless, due to the constant calibration area with regard to its cross-sectional area the production of disks with high geometric accuracy can be guaranteed.

If there is a recess for the deflection roller of the conveyor belt only in the infeed area the caliber nozzle, the cross-sectional shape of the good piece is in the calibration area not adversely affected by the conveyor belt.

In order to generate the greatest possible feed force on the good piece with the conveyor belt can, it is proposed that the distance of the conveyor belt from the central axis of the caliber nozzle smaller than the minimum distance between the inner shell of the caliber nozzle and its central axis is in the calibration range.

A further development of the device according to the invention is that the caliber nozzle at edge areas on both sides of one extending continuously in the axial direction Slot is provided with a bearing arm, which are approximately parallel to each other and approximately run in the radial direction and engage with end regions in a first storage pocket, and that the caliber nozzle on the side facing away from the slot with a radially outward projecting bearing flange is provided, which is supported in a half-pocket, which by means of a Closure plate can be completed to form a groove-shaped storage pocket.

The process of inserting the caliber nozzle, for example when changing the caliber must be replaced, can be made very simple, since the caliber nozzle first inserted into the first storage pocket with the bearing arms and then afterwards correct alignment by inserting the locking plate in the thereby completed second storage pocket is set. Both storage pockets are with stops for the bearing arms or the bearing flange both in the feed direction and in the opposite direction Direction.

To fix the caliber nozzle also in directions perpendicular to the feed direction can reach the locking plate with a positioning pin in a corresponding hole engage in the bearing flange of the caliber nozzle. The position pin is sliding in the Bore stored.

To carry out the process of changing the caliber nozzle outside the cutting device to be able to provide that both storage pockets on a mounting frame are arranged, which is detachably connected to the device.

In addition, it is particularly advantageous if two or more caliber nozzles side by side are arranged and the material strands emerging therefrom can be cut off by means of the same knife are, the bearing arms of several caliber nozzles in the same first storage pocket engage and / or the bearing flanges of several caliber nozzles using the same sealing plate are fixable, and that all caliber nozzles are arranged on the same mounting frame are. With such a configuration, the cutting performance can be increased and the specific Cost of such a device can be reduced. Because of the same achievable Finally, advantages are suggested that a conveyor belt has several caliber nozzles assigned.

Fig. 1

eine Ansicht von oben auf eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung;

Fig. 2

einen Axialschnitt durch eine Kaliberdüse und ein sich anschließendes Spiralmesser und

Fig. 3

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt aus Figur 2.

The method according to the invention is explained in more detail below with the aid of a device which is suitable for carrying out this method and is shown in the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1

a top view of a device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

an axial section through a caliber nozzle and a subsequent spiral knife and

Fig. 3

an enlarged section of Figure 2.

A device 1 partially shown in FIG. 1 for cutting sausage into slices has a cutting device 2 in the form of a rotary drivable knife 3 with a spiral extending cutting edge 4. That defining a cutting plane 5 (see FIG. 2) Knife 3 is aligned horizontally and by means of a feed device, not shown advancing movement of two cylindrical at the same time Sausages are made in a vertical direction from top to bottom, thus supporting gravity acts on the feed movement. Figure 1 shows a view of the device 1 from above with a view of two in the feed direction immediately in front of the cutting plane and with their longitudinal axes 6 parallel caliber nozzles 7. These caliber nozzles 7 have the shape of cylindrical clamps and are each with a continuous Longitudinal slot 8 provided that the caliber nozzles in the radial direction a certain elasticity gives. Edge regions that adjoin the slots 8 are parallel to one another and approximately in the radial direction extending bearing arms 9, which with it engage tapered end regions 10 in a first bearing pocket 11. At the slot 8 opposite side, the caliber nozzles 7 each have a radially outward direction extending bearing flange 12 which engages in a second bearing pocket 13, the one hand by a lower leg 14 of a fastening frame detachably connected to the device 1 15 and on the other hand is formed by a closure plate 16, which with the help of Screws 17 is also fixable on the mounting frame 15. The mounting frame 15 encloses the entire rectangular maximum conveyor cross section 18. At its the leg 14 opposite leg 19, the first storage pocket 11 is formed. With the removal of the mounting frame 15 from the machine thus simultaneously the caliber nozzles 7 with removed. An expansion of the caliber nozzles 7 from the mounting frame 15 can therefore be carried out outside the machine under preferred working conditions become.

From Figure 2 it follows that the cutting plane 5 of the knife 3 essentially with that in the feed direction (Arrow 20) rear end face 21 of the caliber nozzles 7 coincides, so that in particular the lower edge of the caliber nozzle 7 facing away from the axis of rotation of the knife 3 as Counter cutting edge works and also during the final phase of the cutting process a high one Geometric accuracy of the cut slices guaranteed. In particular from FIG. 3 it is clear how the bearing arms 9 with their end regions 10 in the first storage pocket 11 with the help of an L-shaped angled plate 22 on the leg 19 of the mounting frame 15 is designed to intervene. Grips on the opposite side of the caliber nozzle this with an end portion of the radially outwardly extending bearing flange 12 in the a second storage pocket 13, which together from the leg 14 of the mounting frame 15th and the closure plate 16 attached to it is formed. The closure plate 16 is with Fixed using the screws 17 on the mounting frame 15. With a positioning pin 23 larger movements perpendicular to the feed direction (arrow 20) are prevented since this Positioning pin 23 engages in a bore 24 in the bearing flange 12 of the caliber nozzle 7.

The engagement of the positioning bolt 23 in the bore 24 takes place with a comparatively large Play to a displacement of the caliber nozzle 7 relative to the mounting frame 15 or to enable the knife 3 without greater frictional forces or jamming. The maximum axial displacement of the caliber nozzle 7 is determined by the difference between the width the bearing arms 9 in their end region 10 and the width of the first bearing pocket 11 and the Difference between the width of the bearing flange 12 in its end region and the width of the second storage pocket 13 determined. In both cases the difference width 25 is about 2 mm, which, however, is not fully utilized in the usual retraction strokes to produce an empty cut becomes.

In the area of the bearing flange 12 there is a recess 26 which has the cross-sectional shape of a pitch circle. In the recess, the deflection roller is not one in the figures conveyor belt shown can be used to support the feed movement. The deflection roller penetrates into the area of a conical inlet area 27 of the caliber nozzle 7 Cross section 28, whereby due to a deformation, i.e. increased contact pressure, a increased friction, i.e. Feed force can be generated. Following the conical Inlet area 27, the caliber nozzle 7 has a cylindrical calibration area 29, which is up to the end face 21, i.e. extends almost to the cutting plane 5.

The formation of a geometrically accurate cross-section of the sausage in the calibration area 29 not to be disturbed, the recess 26 extends only over the conical inlet area 27 of the caliber nozzle 7. The course of an edge 30 at the beginning of the inlet area 27 marking face 32 can also be seen in Figure 1. The edge marks the beginning the recess 26 for the deflecting roller of the conveyor belt, which is adjacent to each other arranged caliber nozzles 7 extends.

The method which can be carried out with the device 1 shown in the figures runs as follows From: The sausages to be cut are fed with a feed device, not shown conveyed through the caliber nozzles 7 and then through the cutting plane 5 and thereby successively cut into slices by the rotating knife 3. The emerging Disks are placed on a storage device, not shown. The filing can For example, take place directly in a plastic tray, which later becomes the lower part of a weight packed self-service packaging forms. The storage device can also be a Have scales to determine the current weight of the stack of discs placed in a tray determine.

It should be in one of the packaging units for the sake of adjusting the weight of the sausage whereas it may be necessary to avoid creating a subsequent slice in the other packaging unit, which is assigned to the adjacent caliber nozzle 7, One or more other disc (s) need to be cut off is with a caliber nozzle 7 the insertion of a so-called blank cut is required.

For this purpose, the hook-shaped gripping elements in the cutting device 2 opposite end of the sausage engaging feed device that of the relevant caliber nozzle 7 is assigned to withdraw a certain amount to a full To ensure removal of the sausage from the cutting plane 5. Depending on the between the inner surface 33 of the caliber nozzle 7 and the outer surface of the sausage prevailing frictional force, it is not necessary to have a relative movement between the sausages and to produce the caliber nozzle 7, since it is in the feed direction or opposite thereto is movably mounted. With a correspondingly large amount of friction - which is the normal case - therefore the caliber nozzle 7 is withdrawn together with the sausage in the same way.

When the feed movement resumes following the blank cut the sausage is then advanced again together with the caliber nozzle 7, whereby the common feed movement, which runs very smoothly and therefore also for highly dynamic processes are suitable at the moment where the caliber nozzle 7 ends 10 of the bearing arms 9 on a contact surface 34 on the leg 19 of the mounting frame 15 and with the opposite end region of the bearing flange 12 on a contact surface 35 strikes on the leg 14 of the mounting frame 15. In this stop position there is only a minimal distance between the end face 21 of the caliber nozzle 7 Caliber nozzle 7 and the cutting plane 5. The retraction movement of the Caliber nozzle 7 by a stop of the end regions 10 of the bearing arms 9 on the sheet 22 and the end region of the bearing flange 12 is limited to the closure plate 16.

Claims (12)

Process for cutting sausage, cheese or similar foods into slices, whereby an axial pressure is exerted on a cylindrical piece of material to be cut, whereby this is pushed in the longitudinal direction onto a cutting device (2) with which slices are successively removed by means of a rotating knife (3) the good piece are cut off, the good piece also being passed through a caliber nozzle (7) before entering the cutting plane of the knife (3), the inner circumferential surface (33) of which, depending on the size of the cross-sectional area which may fluctuate in the longitudinal direction of the good piece of the good piece exerts differently large radial forces on an outer circumferential surface of the good piece, the good piece being pulled completely out of the cutting plane against the feed direction (20) if necessary to produce an empty cut, characterized in that depending on the instantaneous frictional force between the outer surface (33) of the good piece and the outer surface of the caliber nozzle the good piece is withdrawn alone or together with the caliber nozzle (7). Device (1) for cutting sausage, cheese or similar foods into slices, with a cutting device (2) which has a rotatably drivable and a cutting plane (5) defining knife (3), a feed device with which the cylindrical piece of goods in it Can be conveyed in the longitudinal direction towards the cutting device (2) and through the cutting plane (5), and at least one caliber nozzle (7), which is arranged in the feed direction (11) in front of the cutting device (2) and through which the piece of material can be pushed. wherein the inner circumferential surface (33) of the caliber nozzle (7) exerts radial forces on the outer circumferential surface of the good piece and the caliber nozzle (7) is movably mounted parallel to the feed direction (20) relative to the cutting device (2), characterized in that a movement the caliber nozzle (7) by frictional forces between the outer lateral surface of the good piece and the inner lateral surface (33) of the caliber earth lense (7) is possible due to a relative movement of the good piece to the caliber nozzle. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the end face (21) of the caliber nozzle (7) which is at the rear in the feed direction (11) directly adjoins the cutting plane (5). Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the feed device comprises a conveyor belt which bears against the outer casing of the good piece and which penetrates into the cross section (28) of the caliber nozzle (7) in the region of a deflecting roller facing the cutting device (2). Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the caliber nozzle (7) has a first inlet area (27) in the feed direction (11) with a conically or pyramid-shaped cross section and an adjoining calibration area (29) with a constant cross section, the cross-sectional profile is continuous in the transition area between the inlet area (27) and the calibration area (29). Apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that a recess (26) for the deflecting roller of the conveyor belt is located exclusively in the inlet area (27) of the caliber nozzle (7). Device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the distance of the conveyor belt from the central axis of the caliber nozzle (7) is smaller than the minimum distance of the inner jacket of the caliber nozzle (7) from its central axis in the calibration area (29). Device according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the edge nozzle (7) is provided at edge regions on both sides of a slot (8) extending continuously in the axial direction, each with a bearing arm (9) which is approximately parallel to one another and approximately in radial direction Direction and end areas (10) engage in a first bearing pocket (11), and that the caliber nozzle (7) on the side facing away from the slot (8) is provided with a radially outwardly projecting bearing flange (12) which is in a Half pocket supports, which can be completed by means of a closure plate (16) to a second storage pocket (13), both storage pockets (11, 13) both in the feed direction (11) and in the opposite direction with contact surfaces for the bearing arms (9) or Bearing flange (12) are provided. Device according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the sealing plate (16) engages with a positioning pin (23) in a corresponding bore (24) in the bearing flange (12) of the caliber nozzle (7). Device according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that both bearing pockets (11, 13) are arranged on a fastening frame (15) which is detachably connected to the device (1). Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that two or more caliber nozzles (7) are arranged next to one another and the pieces of good emerging therefrom can be cut open by means of the same knife (3), the bearing arms (9) of a plurality of caliber nozzles (7) being placed in the same first storage pocket (11 ) engage and / or the bearing flanges (12) a plurality of caliber nozzles (7) can be fixed by means of the same closure plate (16), and that all caliber nozzles (7) are arranged on the same fastening frame (15). Device according to claim 11, characterized in that a conveyor belt is assigned to several caliber nozzles (7).

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