EP1371462A1 - Apparatus for cutting foodstuffs into slices, strips or dice - Google Patents

Abstract

The food slicer has an elongated cutting chamber (3) which can be filled from a hopper (4) above. The width (B) of the hopper continually decreases in an inlet area (9) until directly up to the inlet cross-section (E) of the cutting chamber. At least one longitudinal wall section (12) of the hopper adjoining the cutting chamber runs in the vertical direction. One longitudinal wall section (17) inclined to the vertical runs above the vertical wall section.

Description

• einer langgestreckten Schneidkammer, die aus einem darüber angeordneten Trichter mit Schneidgut befüllbar ist,
• einem eine obere Begrenzung der Schneidkammer zu dem Trichter hin bildenden, dachförmigen Trennmesser, das in Längsrichtung der Schneidkammer bewegbar und mit dem das aus dem Trichter in die Schneidkammer zugeführte Schneidgut nach Beendigung des Befüllvorgangs abschneidbar ist,
• mindestens einem an einer Stirnseite der Schneidkammer angeordneten Schneidorgan in Form eines Messergatters und/ oder eines rotierenden Abschneidemessers und
• einem Auspreßstempel, mit dem das in der Schneidkammer befindliche Schneidgut auf das Schneidorgan zu vorschiebbar ist.

The invention relates to a device for cutting food into slices, strips or cubes

• an elongated cutting chamber which can be filled with material to be cut from a funnel arranged above it,
• a roof-shaped separating knife forming an upper boundary of the cutting chamber towards the funnel, which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the cutting chamber and with which the material to be cut which is fed from the funnel into the cutting chamber can be cut off after the filling process has ended,
• at least one cutting element arranged on an end face of the cutting chamber in the form of a knife gate and / or a rotating cutting knife and
• an extrusion die with which the material to be cut in the cutting chamber can be advanced to the cutting member.

Such, generally known cutting devices are usually called Fully automatic machines operated by the operator after setting the cutting parameters once only has to ensure sufficient filling of the funnel from which the material to be cut automatically slips into the cutting chamber under the influence of gravity. After the contents of the cutting chamber have been completely cut open, there is an automatic retraction of the extrusion die and the cutting knife to the Refill the cutting chamber with material to be cut. The funnels usually have a capacity of several 100 liters and are often filled using transport trolleys, which are lifted with a special lifting device and emptied into the funnel.

Fully automatic machines of this type usually have an opening width of the inlet cross section the cutting chamber from approx. 250 to 300 mm. The length of the cutting chamber is typically approx. 600 to 1,000 mm. Based on this standard size, given the constantly increasing need for space-saving and inexpensive cutting devices also devices with opening widths of the cutting chamber inlet cross section from approx. 150 to 200 mm. The is also with a reduced chamber cross section Use of smaller gate knives, smaller extrusion dies and smaller drives, in particular smaller hydraulic units possible, which significantly reduces costs can be. However, this is inevitably problematic with smaller cutting chambers reduced inlet cross-section from the funnel into the cutting chamber, the stagnation at can cause automatic filling. While with opening widths of the inlet cross-section in the range of approx. 250 to 300 mm, even large ones can slide smoothly Cuttings with a length of up to approx. 500 mm and a width or height of 100 to 150 mm are ensured If the inlet cross-sections are reduced, extremely undesirable blockages can occur or jams. Since the lumpiness of the material to be cut is economical Way is not to be reduced, is in a known generic A cutting device from Treif Maschinenbau GmbH Lebensmitteltechnik Device for safely filling the cutting chamber provided. The one under the label The machine sold by CUBEMAT has two above the inlet cross-section so-called stuffing cylinders arranged in the cutting chamber, with their piston rods and a pressure plate connected to it in the neck area of the funnel back and forth are displaceable to press the items to be cut into the cutting chamber. The square The cross section of the cutting chamber is twisted in relation to the machine frame so that its edges enclose an angle of 45 ° with the horizontal or vertical. The cutting knife is therefore roof-shaped and in the longitudinal direction of the cutting chamber displaceable parallel to the extrusion stamp. Compared to a classic arrangement The cutting chamber with vertical and horizontal side walls enables that on the machine CUBEMAT realized diagonal arrangement of the cutting chamber an enlargement of the inlet cross-section by a good 40%, with a constant chamber cross-section.

In addition to the increased construction costs due to the stuffing cylinder, the known machine also has the disadvantage that sometimes the material to be cut between the pressure plate and the funnel walls is pinched or crushed and therefore both damage to the material to be cut as well as a malfunction of the automatic process.

From DE 197 06 231 C1 there is also a cutting device with a smaller one Entrance cross-section known. In this case, the chamber is not vertical, but with its own Side walls aligned parallel to the horizontal or vertical. A side wall of the Chamber is designed to be displaceable and horizontally movable with the aid of a cross-press cylinder. During the filling process, the cross-press cylinder is retracted and it lies down an entry cross-section into the cutting chamber of approx. 280 mm, which is unproblematic Larger items to be cut can also slide. Then the chamber width by appropriate movement of the cross press ram to a dimension of approx. 120 mm reduced, which also corresponds to the height of the cutting chamber. To the side pre-compression process to support and a sideways sliding of cutting material next to the Preventing cross-pressing is the horizontally displaceable, vertically aligned side wall provided with an inclined ramp that connects to the assigned vertical one Side wall of the funnel neck connects. Furthermore, this previously known device has a flat cutting knife that can be moved in the transverse direction of the cutting chamber and that covers the upper one Sidewall of the cutting chamber forms.

While this previously known machine works reliably even with very small ones Chamber dimensions is possible, there is also a disadvantage in that by the cross-press cylinder increased construction effort. Hydraulic components in particular increase the costs of such Devices to a considerable and therefore very undesirable extent.

The invention has for its object a cutting device for food so on to develop that even with cutting chambers with an inlet cross-section with smaller Opening width always a safe filling of the even with problematic cutting goods Cutting chamber from a hopper is ensured by the action of gravity, without the congestion occurring in the neck area of the funnel. In addition, the construction effort of such a machine should be as small as possible, d. H. in particular hydraulic cylinders to actuate tamping devices or to move a side wall the cutting chamber can be avoided.

Starting from a device of the type described in the introduction, this object is achieved according to the invention solved in that the width of the funnel in an inlet area to immediately decreases continuously to an inlet cross-section of the cutting chamber.

The inlet areas of the previously known machines were always designed so that above of the inlet cross-section was a section in which the width of the funnel cross-section was constant was. Such a funnel neck with a constant width of less than about 240 to However, 280 mm quickly leads to stalls when the material to be sliced down. The In contrast, the invention makes use of the knowledge that the inlet cross-section have a width of less than 250 mm to 280 mm in the cutting chamber can, however, - viewed against the direction of movement of the material being cut - an extension must take place immediately after this narrowest cross section. The The device according to the invention therefore dispenses with a classic funnel neck with constant Cross-section that is identical to the smallest cross-section and immediately above of the inlet cross section is arranged. Such a funnel neck has always been indispensable been held in order to obtain sufficient pressure when sliding down. With the invention However, teaching has been recognized that adequate pressure build-up too is possible if there is an extension immediately above the inlet cross-section takes place - preferably to a width of about 250 to 280 mm - and if then, for example, a neck area of the funnel is located in the vertical Wall sections exist or the width of the funnel cross section over a certain height in Remains essentially constant before the actual extension to the actual upper Filling cross section of the funnel takes place.

In the device according to the invention, a chamber width and height of each can be achieve about 150 mm, which is due to the diagonal arrangement of the chamber diagonal width of the opening cross-section (diagonal of the square chamber cross-section) of approx. 210 mm. Because of the starting at a width of 210 mm is the continuous expansion of the funnel cross section in the inlet area device according to the invention a slipping of the material to be cut caused solely by gravity possible from a funnel without the need for stuffing cylinders. A sliding side wall can also be dispensed with in the construction according to the invention become. The construction effort and the costs are therefore correspondingly low.

According to one embodiment of the invention, an adjoining the cutting chamber runs Longitudinal wall section of the funnel in the vertical direction, so that only the opposite Longitudinal wall section runs inclined. In this embodiment, the forming steps particularly easy in sheet metal processing. It is advantageously above the vertical Longitudinal wall section a longitudinal wall section inclined to the vertical arranged, which in turn preferably up to the upper filling cross section of the funnel can extend.

The invention further provides that the transition between the vertical Longitudinal wall portion and the inclined longitudinal wall portion is arcuate because of this Avoid edges where the material to be cut could get caught become.

For the sake of the simplest possible sheet metal working, it is also preferable that at least one longitudinal wall section of the funnel adjoining the cutting chamber is flat is and is inclined to the vertical. Above this longitudinal wall section preferably a longitudinal wall section extending in the vertical direction is connected. This can be one together with the opposite vertical longitudinal wall section Form the neck area in which the funnel width does not change and already such a width dimension of approx. 250 to 280 mm, that blockages are no longer feared have to.

A further development of the invention is that above the latter vertical Longitudinal wall section also a longitudinal wall section inclined to the vertical is arranged, which is as on the opposite side of the funnel up to the top Filling cross section of the funnel can extend. To avoid jamming the transition between this vertical longitudinal wall section and the adjacent inclined longitudinal wall portion be arcuate.

To further improve the "flow properties" of the funnel geometry it is proposed that the transition between the inclined longitudinal wall section and the vertical longitudinal wall section of the one longitudinal wall in relation to the inlet cross-section is at a lower level than the transition between the vertical Longitudinal wall section and the inclined longitudinal wall section each of the opposite Longitudinal wall. As a result, the constriction of the funnel cross section becomes too narrow low height difference avoided and over a certain height difference a funnel neck achieved with a constant cross-section, which has a positive effect on the pressure build-up and Slipping behavior causes.

It is further provided according to the invention that the transition between the vertical Longitudinal wall section and the inclined longitudinal wall section each of the one longitudinal wall in In relation to the entrance cross-section is at a lower level than the transition between the vertical longitudinal wall section and the inclined longitudinal wall section, respectively the opposite longitudinal wall. This also makes it possible to obstruct the flow of material to be cut Avoid excessive cross-sectional tapering.

It also has a positive effect on the flow behavior of the material to be cut when the transition between the inclined and adjacent to the cutting chamber longitudinal wall and the vertical longitudinal wall is at a higher level in relation to the inlet cross section than the top edge of the cutting knife.

The filling process can also be carried out very reliably, even with large items to be cut achieve if the distance measured in the horizontal direction between the opposite vertical longitudinal wall sections is approximately 250 to 280 mm. With such a The width of the actual funnel neck can be about the width of the inlet cross-section 200 to 210 mm.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Trichters und eines Trennmessers einer Schneidvorrichtung;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 1;

Fig. 3

eine Vorderansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 1;

Fig. 4

eine Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 und

Fig. 5

einen Schnitt entlang der Linie V-V durch die Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 2.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment of a cutting device, which is shown in the drawing. It shows:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a funnel and a cutting knife of a cutting device;

Fig. 2

a side view of the device of Figure 1;

Fig. 3

a front view of the device of Figure 1;

Fig. 4

a plan view of the device of FIG. 1 and

Fig. 5

3 shows a section along the line VV through the device according to FIG. 2.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show views of a device 1 which is only shown in sections for cutting food such as meat products, cheese or vegetables in Slices, strips or cubes. Of the device 1 are only a funnel 2, the Cut material can be filled in lumpy form, and a cutting chamber arranged vertically below 3 and a separating knife 4 are shown which form an upper end of the cutting chamber 3 forms.

Inside the cutting chamber 3 is a not shown, movable in the longitudinal direction, hydraulically operated ram, with which the material to be cut after filling and closure of the cutting chamber 3 on a cutting device, not shown can be advanced in a known manner at the front end 5 of the cutting chamber. The The cutting device typically consists of two knife blades at 90 ° to one another offset knife blades and one in the feed direction (arrow 6) of the material to be cut behind it the cutting knife with the knife from the second knife gate emerging strips of material to be cut can be cut into cubes.

The entire device 1 is located on a machine frame and not shown is completely enclosed with wall parts made of stainless steel sheet to avoid injuries. The hopper is filled through the upper filling cross-section 7 with the help of a trolley as well as picking up the cut trimmings (e.g. in the form of cubes) below the cutting knife. An illustrative representation a complete cutting device is, for example, the brochure mentioned above to take the CUBEMAT machine from Treif.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, the cutting chamber is diagonally related arranged on the vertical or horizontal, that is, the side walls of the cutting chamber 3 form an angle of 45 ° with the vertical or horizontal. The separating knife 4 guided in grooves of approaches of the lower side walls does not have one drive shown for its horizontal displacement, but is also with a handle 8 provided to make this shift manually if necessary.

From Figure 5 in particular it can be seen that the funnel 2 from bottom to top an inlet area 9, a neck area 10 and a storage area 11.

According to the invention, the width B of the funnel 2 in the inlet area 9 takes up to immediately to an inlet cross section E of the cutting chamber 3. One runs in FIGS. 3 and 5 left longitudinal wall section 12 of the left longitudinal wall 13 of the funnel 2 vertical, whereas the opposite longitudinal wall section 14 of the right longitudinal wall 15 runs inclined to the vertical.

At the transition 16 between the inlet area 9 and the neck area 10, the right one Longitudinal wall 15 has a rounded bend and then runs in a longitudinal wall section 17 vertically upwards. This is followed by an arcuate transition 18 a longitudinal wall section 19 which is inclined with respect to the vertical in the storage area on.

On the opposite side, the vertical longitudinal wall section 12 is adjoined, after an arcuate transition 20, by a longitudinal wall section 21 which is inclined to the vertical and extends as far as the filling cross section 7 of the funnel 2. The transition 16 on the right longitudinal wall 15 has a smaller vertical distance from the entry cross section E than the arcuate transition 20 on the opposite left longitudinal wall 13. The height difference H ₁ existing between these two transitions 16 and 20 is approximately 50 mm.

There is also a height difference H ₂ between the transition 20 on the left longitudinal wall 13 and the transition 18 on the right longitudinal wall 15. This height difference H ₂ is approximately 150 mm. The height difference H _{1 has the} effect that the transitions 20 and 16 which possibly inhibit the flow are not arranged at the same height, that is to say that their effect cannot be increased. The same applies to the height difference H ₂ in relation to the two transitions 20 and 18.

The funnel 2 according to the invention, with its neck area 10, which corresponds to the sum of the two height differences H ₁ and H ₂ , has an area in which the cross section changes comparatively little, in particular in comparison with the storage area 11, which consists of two inclined longitudinal wall sections 19 and 21 and also by a likewise inclined transverse wall section 22 in order to leave space for the cutting device and its drives. The front transverse wall 24 runs continuously in the vertical direction. The neck area 10 causes a sufficient build-up of pressure, which favors a trouble-free flow of the material to be cut through the inlet area 9 and further through the inlet cross section E into the cutting chamber 3. In the device 1 shown, the cutting chamber 3 is filled with material to be cut from the funnel 2 solely under the action of gravity, which is made possible by the particularly favorable flow-related design of the cross-sectional profile of the funnel 2 in the neck region 10 and in the inlet region 9. The use of stuffing cylinders, which are intended to force the material to be transported further in the neck area and the entry area, can be dispensed with, as can the use of a side wall of the cutting chamber 3 which can be displaced in the horizontal direction vertical or horizontal side walls known as cross-press stamp.

Despite the filling process, which takes place automatically by gravity alone, the The device 1 shown has a very small cross section of the cutting chamber 3, the side walls of which each have a width of only 150 mm. Due to the diagonal arrangement the cutting chamber 3, the width of the inlet cross section E is approximately 210 mm.

Claims (13)

Device (1) for cutting food into slices, strips or cubes with an elongated cutting chamber (3) which can be filled with material to be cut from a funnel (4) arranged above it, a roof-shaped separating knife (4) forming an upper boundary of the cutting chamber (3) towards the funnel (2), which can be moved in the longitudinal direction of the cutting chamber (3) and with which the material to be cut is fed from the funnel (2) into the cutting chamber (3) can be cut off after the filling process has ended, at least one cutting element arranged on an end face (5) of the cutting chamber (3) in the form of at least one knife gate and / or a rotating cutting knife and an extrusion die with which the material to be cut located in the cutting chamber (3) can be advanced to the cutting member, characterized in that the width (B) of the funnel (2) decreases continuously in an inlet area (9) up to an inlet cross-section (E) of the cutting chamber (3). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one longitudinal wall section (12) of the funnel (2) adjoining the cutting chamber (3) extends in the vertical direction. Device according to Claim 2, characterized in that a longitudinal wall section (17) which is inclined with respect to the vertical is arranged above the vertical longitudinal wall section (14). Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the transition (18) between the vertical longitudinal wall section (17) and the inclined longitudinal wall section (14) is arcuate. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one longitudinal wall section (12) of the funnel (2) adjoining the cutting chamber (3) is flat and is inclined with respect to the vertical. Device according to Claim 5, characterized in that a longitudinal wall section (17) extending in the vertical direction is arranged above the inclined longitudinal wall section (14). Device according to claim 6, characterized in that a longitudinal wall section (19) inclined with respect to the vertical is arranged above the vertical longitudinal wall section (17). Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the transition (18) between the vertical longitudinal wall section (17) and the inclined longitudinal wall section (19) is arcuate. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transition (16) between the inclined longitudinal wall section (14) and the vertical longitudinal wall section (17) in each case one longitudinal wall (15) with respect to the inlet cross section (E) at a lower level lies as the transition (20) between the vertical longitudinal wall section (12) and the inclined longitudinal wall section (21) of the opposite longitudinal wall (13). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transition (20) between the vertical longitudinal wall section (12) and the inclined longitudinal wall section (21) of the one longitudinal wall (13) is at a lower level with respect to the inlet cross section (E) than the remaining section (17) and the inclined longitudinal wall section. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transition (16) between the inclined and adjacent to the cutting chamber (3) longitudinal wall section (14) from the vertical longitudinal wall section (17) with respect to the inlet cross-section (E) at a higher The level is the top edge (O) of the cutting knife. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance measured in the horizontal direction between the opposite vertical longitudinal wall sections (17) and (12) is approximately 250 to 280 mm. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the width of the inlet cross-section (E) is approximately 200 mm to 210 mm.

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