EP1651396A1

EP1651396A1 - Axially-displaceable cutter and cutting gap adjustment

Info

Publication number: EP1651396A1
Application number: EP04763442A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ralf Peter MÜLLER; Jörg SCHMEISER
Original assignee: CFS Kempten GmbH
Current assignee: GEA CFS Buehl GmbH
Priority date: 2003-07-23
Filing date: 2004-07-23
Publication date: 2006-05-03
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-23
Also published as: DE502004011215D1; PL1651396T3; US20070028742A1; EP2072197A1; EP1651396B1; ATE468949T1; NO20060343L; WO2005009696A1

Abstract

A food e.g. cheese or sausage slicing machine has a rotating cutting blade (2) that slides between slices along a plane parallel to its axis of rotation (3). The movement between slices is effected by a regulated drive system (6, 8, 9). The assembly includes a mass balance (4) that moves in the opposite direction to the blade under the guidance of the regulated drive system. The lateral movement of the blade and mass balance is independent of the blade speed of rotation.

Description

Axially movable knife and cutting gap adjustment

The present invention relates to a slicing device for slicing food, in particular sausage, meat or cheese bars with a rotating cutting blade, which is slidably mounted parallel to its axis of rotation. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for axially displacing cutting blade and the use of axially displaceable counterweights for stabilizing the running of a cutting blade of a cutting machine, the use of the axial displacement of the cutting blade of a cutting machine for adjusting the zero point and the use of the axial displacement of the cutting blade for adjusting the cutting gap between the cutting blade and a cutting bar.

With slicing machines, slices of a food bar, for example a sausage, ham or cheese bar, are separated today with relatively high cycle numbers. The foodstuffs rest on a product support and are transported step by step or continuously against the cutting knife. For very high cutting performance, there is a need for blank steps, i. H. Movements of the cutting blade, where no food slice is separated from the food bar, provide. In order to produce idle cuts, it is possible, on the one hand, to realize the food by means of a return stroke directed away from the cutting plane. Furthermore, it is possible to produce a blank cut by a preferably axial displacement of the knife.

Such an axial displacement of the cutting blade is taught, for example, in Patent Specification No. 1549 52, wherein the axial return stroke of the knife of the slicing machine described therein is realized by a cam coupled to the drive, so that an axial displacement of the blade regardless of the rotational speed of the blade not possible. Another slicing machine with an axially displaceable knife is taught in DE-US 4214264 A1, wherein in the present case the axial movement takes place by means of an actuating cylinder, so that only a movement between two end points and not matched to the respective product is possible. The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a slicing machine which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a slicing machine according to claim 1 and 3. Preferred embodiments of slicing machines according to the invention are described in the subclaims 2 and 4 to 9.

According to the invention, the slicing machine has a rotating cutting blade, which is displaceably mounted parallel to its axis of rotation. The displacement of the cutting blade is carried out according to the invention by a controlled drive. It was extremely surprising for the person skilled in the art and it was not to be expected that with such a drive a very exact and very rapid axial displacement of the cutting blade would be possible. The position of the cutting blade relative to its zero point is known at all times. Due to the controlled drive, the axial displacement, in particular with respect to travel and acceleration, can be optimally adapted to the respective application. The optimum is u.a. a function of the cutting performance of the product, in particular the product geometry and the temperature of the product, the knife geometry, the position of the knife to the product and / or the thickness of the disc. Furthermore, it is possible with the slicing machine according to the invention to realize a wide variety of displacement profiles, for example, sinusoidal courses of the axial displacement. The optimum displacement of the cutting blade can be stored in a computer associated with the cutting machine. The slicing machine according to the invention is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and operate.

In a preferred embodiment, the slicing machine has a counterweight, which is displaceable in the opposite direction to the cutting blade. This embodiment of the present invention has the advantage that the acceleration forces and moments are suppressed during the axial displacement of the blade, so that vibrations of the slicing machine are largely avoided. By a separate adjustment of the counterweight independent of the axial displacement of the blade, forces and / or moments can be canceled, which arise for example by wear or grinding-related Messerunwuchten. This adjustment of the knife is done after attaching the knife or during operation. The mass of the counterweight does not have to correspond to the mass of the cutting blade. Furthermore, the counterweight does not have to be symmetrical, in particular not rotationally symmetrical.

Another object of the present invention is a slicing machine for slicing food, especially sausage, meat or cheese bars with a rotating cutting blade, which is slidably mounted parallel to its axis of rotation, wherein it has a counterweight which is movable in opposite directions to the cutting blade ,

This slicing machine according to the invention has the advantage that acceleration forces or moments, which arise during the axial displacement of the knife, are compensated. As a result, the slicing machine runs almost vibration-free, so that in particular the machine frame can be made much easier. Furthermore, the cutting blade runs much quieter, so that more precise cuts are possible. By a separate adjustment of the counterweight independent of the axial displacement of the blade, forces and / or moments can be canceled, which arise for example by wear or grinding-related Messerunwuchten. This adjustment of the knife is done after attaching the knife or during operation.

In a preferred embodiment, the displacement of the cutting blade and the counterweight is carried out by a respective regulated drive. This controlled drive has the advantage that a very accurate and very fast axial displacement of the cutting blade and the counterweight is possible. The positions of the cutting blade relative to its zero point and the counterweight are known at all times. By means of this controlled drive, the respective axial displacement, in particular with regard to travel and acceleration, can be optimally adapted to the respective application. The optimum displacement of the cutting blade is, inter alia, a function of the cutting performance of the product, in particular the product geometry as well as the temperature of the product, the knife geometry, the position of the knife to the product and / or the disk thickness. Furthermore, it is possible with the slicing machine to realize a wide variety of displacement profiles, for example, sinusoidal courses of the axial displacement. The optimum displacement of the cutting blade and the counterweight can be stored in a computer associated with the cutting machine. The slicing machine according to the invention is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and operate.

Preferably, however, the slicing machine only has a preferably controlled drive for the displacement of the cutting knife and the counterweight. This embodiment has the advantage that only one drive is necessary for both movements. With regard to the advantages of a controlled drive of the displacement, reference is made to the above.

The following explanations apply to both above-mentioned slicing machines.

As a cutting knife every known to the expert knife comes into question. By way of example, only the circular blade, the spiral blade and the sickle blade are mentioned here. The circular knife advantageously turns around like a planet. The knife is rotated by a drive. Preferably, this drive is regulated.

As a counterweight is any weight with which the cancellation of the acceleration forces or acceleration moments and / or the cancellation of forces or moments caused by Messerunwuchten and the like, is possible. The person skilled in the art recognizes that the mass of the counterweight does not have to correspond to the mass of the cutting blade. The same applies to the temporal acceleration course and the displacement path of the counterweight, which need not correspond to the acceleration course or the axial displacement of the blade. Furthermore, the person skilled in the art recognizes that the counterweight does not have to be symmetrical, in particular not rotationally symmetrical. Preferably, the displacement of the blade and / or the counterweight is at least largely free of play.

Preferably, the displacement of the cutting blade and / or the counterweight is independent of the speed of the cutting blade.

In another preferred embodiment of the slicing machine according to the invention, the cutting blade has a drive shaft and the cutting blade and / or the counterweight are displaceably mounted along the drive shaft. The drive shaft preferably has a controllable drive.

Further preferably, the displacement of the cutting blade and / or the counterweight takes place with a spindle, which is particularly preferably arranged within the drive shaft. This spindle is preferably controllably drivable and preferably cooperates with the thread of at least one sleeve (nut), which is connected to the cutting blade or with the counterweight. Preferably, however, the slicing machine has two sleeves, one cooperating with the cutting knife and one with the counterweight. These sleeves preferably have different threads, wherein the threads preferably differ in their direction of travel and / or in their pitch angle. By this embodiment of the present invention, both the cutting blade and the counterweight are displaced by a drive. Preferably, the connection between the sleeves and the spindle is at least largely free of play. This can be achieved for example by a bias of the sleeves, so that they always rest on the same edge of the spindle.

Preferably, the displacement mechanism for the knife and / or for the counterweight is forced temperature controlled, preferably cooled. Most preferably, the drive of the cutting blade and / or its storage is additionally forcibly cooled. The respective temperature control can be carried out by liquids, preferably aqueous liquids or oil, and / or gas. Another object of the present invention is a method for axially displacing cutting blades during operation, wherein a counterweight is displaced in the opposite direction to the cutting blade.

The method according to the invention has the advantage that no or only slight vibrations occur when moving the cutting blade. The inventive method is simple and inexpensive to perform.

Preferably, the displacement of the cutting blade or the counterweight takes place synchronously.

Further preferably, the displacement of the cutting blade or the counterweight takes place with a drive.

Another object of the present invention is the use of axially displaceable counterweights for stabilizing the running of a cutting blade of a slicing machine.

It was extremely surprising for the person skilled in the art and it would not be expected that it would be possible to compensate for this by shifting counterweights, for example wear or grinding forces and / or moments.

Another object of the present invention is the use of the axial displacement of a cutting blade for adjusting the zero point of the cutting blade. The zero point of the cutting knife is the point where the knife just stops touching the cutting bar.

This use according to the invention has the advantage that the adjustment of the zero point relative to the so-called cutting bar can be done virtually automatically. The cutting bar only has to be changed in its position in extremely rare cases, so that the adjustment of the zero point, which must be carried out after each grinding of the knife, can be carried out automatically. Preferably, when adjusting the zero point, the torque of the drive of the knife is measured. As soon as it rises, a control unit associated with the slicing machine recognizes that there is contact between the cutting blade and the cutting bar and again moves the knife away from the cutting bar until the torque has dropped again accordingly. This point is the new zero point. The zero point can be stored and used for example for automatic adjustment of the cutting gap.

The zero point setting can be made at the start of the machine or during operation. For example, the zero point can be checked at regular intervals during operation of the machine and reset if necessary.

Another object of the present invention is the controlled axial displacement of the cutting blade for adjusting the cutting gap between the cutting edge of the cutting blade and a cutting bar.

This use according to the invention has the advantage that the cutting gap can be changed during operation or adapted to changing operating conditions. This makes it possible to produce the smallest possible cutting gap and thus very constant slice thicknesses.

Preferably, with the use according to the invention, the expansion of the blade by thermal expansion or by centrifugal forces as well as the operational wear is compensated in order to produce as constant as possible constant disk thickness.

Further preferably, the cutting gap is set automatically via a display and no longer needs to be manually measured or adjusted.

Preferably, the mechanical behavior of the knife is modeled and / or based on maps in the machine control, such as a computer deposited. This data will be used for the adjustment of the Cutting gap used in the operation of the cutting blade, so that at each operating time; that is, for example, at any speed and at any temperature with an at least almost constant cutting gap can be worked.

Another object of the present invention is a device for slicing food with a knife having a cutting plane and driven by a drive shaft driven knife and a cutting edge, the knife for adjusting the cutting gap between the cutting plane and the cutting edge is mounted slidably parallel to its drive shaft and the device comprises an adjusting means with which the cutting gap can be fixed.

It was extremely surprising for the person skilled in the art and it was not to be expected that the device according to the invention succeeds in automatically setting the cutting gap of a slicing device. The device according to the invention is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and operate.

According to the invention, the device for slicing food on an adjusting, with which the cutting gap can be fixed. For this, the adjusting means is brought into a certain position and then axially displaced the knife until it touches the adjusting means or until there is a certain distance between the adjusting means and the cutting plane of the knife. The distance between the cutting plane and the cutting edge then corresponds to the desired cutting gap.

Preferably, the adjustment is therefore an adjustment stop against which the knife is driven by an axial displacement. As soon as the knife touches the adjusting stop, the axial displacement of the knife is terminated.

Preferably, the Justieranschlag between a basic position and an adjustment position is movable. In the adjustment position, the setting of the cutting gap. In the basic position, the adjustment stop has a conscience distance to the knife. This embodiment of the present invention has the advantage that the slicing of the food bar is not affected by the adjustment stop. The adjustment of the Justieranschlags between the basic and the adjustment position can be done in any manner known to those skilled in the art. By way of example, only a manual setting is mentioned here. Preferably, however, the adjustment is carried out by an actuator, so that a very accurate positioning of the adjusting means and thus a very accurate adjustment of the cutting gap is possible.

The detection of the contact between the knife and the adjusting means can be done in any manner known to those skilled in the art. However, the adjustment stop preferably has a touch sensor.

Preferably, the axial displacement of the knife with a motor, preferably a servo motor. In this embodiment of the device according to the invention, the current consumption of the motor can be used to determine the contact with the adjusting means.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the position of the adjusting means, preferably the Justieranschlages and thus the width of the cutting gap, particularly preferably by means of a display selectable. The machine operator selects the desired cutting gap on the display and the adjustment stop moves automatically into the corresponding position at the next setting of the cutting gap.

Preferably, the setting of the cutting gap is done with the knife stationary. However, the setting of the cutting gap can also be done with the rotating blade, for example, to compensate for speed and / or thermally induced changes in the cutting plane.

The device according to the invention has the particular advantage that the axial position of the knife after touching the Justieranschlages or after the determination of a certain distance of the blade to the cutting edge no longer needs to be changed. Another object of the present invention is a method for adjusting the cutting gap with the device according to the invention, in which a Justieranschlag is moved from its basic to the desired cutting gap corresponding adjustment position and the knife is axially displaced until it touches the Justieranschlag.

The inventive method is simple and inexpensive to perform. With the method according to the invention, any desired cutting gap, which can be preselected for example on a display, can be set before or during the operation of the knife.

Preferably, the adjustment stop is brought to the initial position after the adjustment of the cutting gap.

Another object of the present invention is a device for slicing food with a rotating cutting blade, which is displaceable parallel to its axis of rotation, wherein the displacement takes place with at least one means having a first and second end, which are mutually changeable in their position ,

It was extremely surprising for the skilled person and it was not to be expected that such a simple means would allow the knife to move back and forth between two positions.

Preferably, the means is a coupling rod or a leaf spring.

Further preferably, the first and the second end of the means, for example, the coupling rod are rotated against each other, so that their length shortened reversibly relative to the axis of rotation.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the means, for example a leaf spring, is bent and relaxed again. In the following the inventions will be explained with reference to FIGS 1-9. These explanations are merely exemplary and do not limit the general inventive concept.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the slicing machine according to the invention with a spindle.

FIG. 2 shows a further schematic diagram of the slicing machine according to the invention with a spindle.

Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of the slicing machine according to the invention with three spindles.

FIG. 4 shows the device according to the invention with an adjustment stop in the basic position.

Figure 5 shows the device according to the invention with the Justieranschlag in the adjustment position.

Figure 6 shows the contact between the adjustment stop and the knife.

FIG. 7 shows the adjustment stop, which has been returned to the basic position.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show a device according to the invention for the axial displacement of a knife.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of the slicing machine according to the invention. The food to be sliced 1 is on a support (not shown) having a cutting bar 15 at its front end. The knife 2, with the food slices are separated from the food 1, has a cutting edge 18 which cooperates with the cutting bar 15 during the separation of the food slices. The knife 2 is by means of a hub 7 on the Drive shaft 5 axially displaceable but rotatably mounted on two bushings 19. The drive shaft 5 is in turn rotatably supported by bearings 10 on a machine frame 17. The drive shaft 5 is driven by means of the toothed belt wheel 11, which cooperates with a controlled drive (not shown), for example a servo motor. Also on the drive shaft 5, the counterweight 4 rotatably, but axially displaceably mounted on two bushings 19. Within the shaft 5 is a spindle 6, which is connected via the toothed belt wheel 12 with a controlled drive (not shown), in the present case a servo motor. On the spindle 6, the sleeves 8 and 9 are arranged, each having an internal thread 13, 14, which cooperates with the spindle 6. The thread 13 is a right-hand thread while the thread 14 is a left-hand thread. Furthermore, the threads differ in their pitch. The skilled person recognizes that the latter need not be the case. The sleeve 8 is connected to the hub 7, on which the knife 2 is arranged. The skilled artisan recognizes that the hub 7 and the sleeve 8 can also be made in one piece. The sleeve 9 is connected to the counterweight 4. Again, a one-piece design is conceivable. As a rule, the shaft 5 and the spindle 6 rotate during the slicing of food at the same speed, so that the sleeves are 8.9 in a stationary position relative to the spindle 6. If an axial displacement of the blade 2 and the counterweight 4 is desired, the speed of the spindle 6 or the drive shaft 5 is changed so that they no longer run at the same speed, so that the sleeves 8, 9 move relative to the spindle 6 , Due to the different directions of rotation of the threads 13, 14 of the sleeves 8, 9, the cutting blade and the counterweight move in different directions, so that cancel forces or moments that are induced by the respective movements. In the present case, the pitch of the thread 14 of the sleeve 9 is greater than the pitch of the thread 13 of the sleeve 8, so that the counterweight 4 can be selected smaller than the mass of the cutting blade. The person skilled in the art recognizes that the counterweight 4 does not have to be rotationally symmetrical, so that imbalances of the blade can be compensated with the counterweight. The skilled person further recognizes that it may also be possible that the counterweight 4 can be moved independently of the cutting blade along the spindle. Since it is not a rotationally symmetric blade in the present case, the hub 7 in its upper part a balancing mass 16 ^' on which an additional balancing mass 16 is arranged in order to ensure balancing of the blade. The person skilled in the art recognizes that the balancing masses 16, 16 'are arranged on the right and left of the knife, in order to avoid tumbling of the knife. The skilled person also recognizes that the balancing masses 16, 16 'need not be arranged directly on the knife. For example, it is advantageous if the blade 2 is moved axially without the balancing masses 16, 16 ^' .

Since the exemplary slicing machine has controlled drives, this can be used to set the zero point of the cutting blade. For this purpose, the knife 2 is initially spaced apart from the cutting bar 15 arranged in a rotational movement and slowly moved in the direction of the cutting bar 15. In this case, for example, the torque is measured, which is required to drive the cutting blade 2 constant. As soon as this torque increases, d. H. the cutting blade is in engagement with the cutting bar 15, the axial movement of the blade is stopped and optionally reversed incrementally. The setting thus found is the new zero point. This embodiment has the advantage that the cutting bar does not have to be moved relative to the knife as in the prior art and that the zero point finding can be done automatically in the slicing machine according to the invention and can be repeated during the slicing process. The zero point is stored by the slicing machine according to the invention in a control unit associated with the machine and can be used to adjust the cutting gap.

Furthermore, the controlled drive can be used to adjust or readjust the gap width. The skilled artisan will recognize that the cutting blade 2 is bowl-shaped. During operation of the cutting blade 2, this expands, for example, by thermal effects and / or centrifugal forces. The degree of expansion is thus, inter alia, a function of the rotational speed of the cutting blade and the expert either known or can be measured. In particular, in a slicing machine in which the speed of the cutting blade is not constant but also after the cold start, the expansion by a relative movement between the spindle and the drive shaft be balanced so that can be cut with the slicing machine according to the invention during the entire cutting process with a constant cutting gap and thus food slices with a very constant thickness can be achieved. By automatic adjustment or adjustment of the cutting gap can be cut with much smaller cutting gaps than in the prior art, which has a positive effect on the cutting quality. The drive 5, 7 of the blade 2 and / or the adjusting mechanism 6, 8, 9 of the blade 2 and / or the counterweight 4 are temperature controlled in the present slicing machine, preferably cooled.

FIG. 2 shows a further schematic diagram of the slicing machine according to the invention with a spindle 6. The slicing machine essentially corresponds to the slicing machine according to FIG. 1, so that the explanations given there apply analogously. In the present case, however, the slicing machine has a spring 20, which cooperates with the sleeves 8, 9 and biases them so that their threads 13, 14 cooperate in each case only with one flank of the thread of the spindle. As a result, the play between the sleeves 13, 14 and the spindle 6 is at least largely reduced. Furthermore, in the present case, the hub 7 is not mounted on bushes but on lamellae 21. The lamellae deform during the axial displacement of the hub 7. The lamellae can simultaneously assume the function of an axial spring for backlash-free bias of the sleeve 8. In addition to the lamellae with circumferential beads, slotted louvers can also be used. The storage with slats has the advantage that no friction and thus no heat and no wear occurs. In addition, details of the temperature, preferably cooling can be found in the present illustration. The tempering medium, in the present case water, is fed via the channels 22 of the slicing machine and then passed into the area in which the storage of the blade and the displacement of the blade 2 and the counterweight 4 takes place. After these areas have been tempered, the tempering is led out via the channels 23 from the slicing head.

Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of the slicing machine according to the invention with three spindles. In the present case, the knife is attached to a knife holder 24 arranged, which is axially displaceable. The knife holder 24 has a balancing mass. In principle, the axial displacement of the knife holder as shown in Figure 1, except that in the present case, the axial displacement is not done by one but by at least 3 spindles, which cooperates with two sleeves, the spindles are arranged rotationally fixed and the sleeves 9 (only one shown) is driven by the gear 25. A sleeve has a right-hand and a left-hand thread. During operation, the driven by the drive shaft 5 rotor 26 and the gear 25 rotate at the same speed and in the same direction. For axial adjustment of the knife holder 24 and the counterweight 4, the speed of the gear 25 or the rotor is changed so that the spindle and thus the knife holder 24 and the counterweight 4 moves in the desired direction. The person skilled in the art recognizes that the spindle 6 can also be driven and the sleeves 8, 9 can be rotationally fixed. Furthermore, the person skilled in the art recognizes that each spindle 6 or sleeve 8, 9 can be driven individually. Also in the present case, the displacement mechanism is tempered. For this purpose, a tempering medium, preferably water, is passed through the channel 22 and an axial bore in each spindle and then discharged through the channel 23 again.

FIG. 4 shows a device according to the invention for slicing food bars. The food bars (not shown) are transported with the conveyor belt 32 in the direction of a knife 27, which cuts the food bar into food slices. The knife 27 is rotatably connected to a shaft 30 which is driven in rotation by a motor (not shown). The knife 27 is mounted on the shaft 30 axially displaceable. The skilled person understands that the shaft itself can be mounted axially displaceable. Between the cutting plane 26 of the knife 27 and the cutting bar 28, with which the knife cooperates during cutting, there is a cutting gap 29, which is adjustable, and which should be as small as possible for an optimum cutting result. However, the knife must not touch the cutter bar 28 when cutting. To set the cutting gap, the device according to the invention has an adjusting stop 31, which in the present representation is in its basic position, ie that it is relatively far removed from the knife. The adjustment stop 31 can, as by the double arrow shown, moved axially. This axial displacement can be done manually, but preferably it is done by Einsteilantrieb, which in turn is connected to a central control unit, so that, for example, on the display of the machine, a certain position of the Justieranschlages and thus a certain width of the cutting gap can be preselected. The axial displacement of the Justieranschlages in the direction of the knife is limited in the present case by the nuts 41.

FIG. 5 shows the device for slicing food according to FIG. 1, wherein in this figure the adjusting stop is in its adjustment position; d. H. it has been moved from the actuator or manually to the left towards the knife.

After the adjustment stop has been moved to the left, the knife, as shown in Figure 6, axially shifted to the right until it touches the Justieranschlag. The axial displacement of the blade takes place in the present case by a motor. The touch of the knife and the adjusting stop can be detected, for example, by a touch sensor located in the adjusting stop or by the current drawn by the motor which axially displaces the knife. Once the knife has touched the Justieranschlag, the cutting gap 29 has the desired width and the Justieranschlag can, as shown in Figure 7, be moved back to its normal position.

The adjustment of the adjustment gap can be done before cutting a new food bar and / or after a knife change. With the device according to the invention, it is possible to adjust the cutting gap when stationary or even with a rotating knife. The setting with a rotating knife has the advantage that changes in the cutting plane, for example by centrifugal forces or thermal influences can be compensated.

FIG. 8 shows a further slicing machine according to the invention. With slicing machines, slices of a food bar, for example a sausage, ham or cheese bar, are separated today with relatively high cycle numbers. The food is here on a product edition on and are transported by this gradually or continuously against the cutting blade. At very high cutting performance, there is a need to blank, ie movements of the cutting blade, where no food disc is separated from the food bar, provide. Such idle cuts are generated for example by a preferably axial displacement of the knife. In particular, the axial displacement of the blade is shown in FIG. The device shown there has a rotating knife 2, which cooperates with a cutting bar 28. The knife 27 is rotatably mounted on the left end of the shaft 30. The shaft 30 has at its right end a means 40 which is connected directly or indirectly to a motor which drives the shaft 30. Furthermore, the device according to the invention coupling rods 33 which are connected by means of ball joints at its two ends 34, 35 with receiving rings 36, 37. The receiving ring 36 is rotatably, but axially displaceably mounted on the shaft 30. The receiving ring 37 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 30 and is driven by the means 39 which is directly or indirectly connected to a motor. In the illustrated example, means 39 and 40 are synchronously controlled. Since the coupling rods 33 are in a vertical position, the distance between the knife 27 and the cutting bar 28 in the present figure is greatest possible. In this position of the knife, gaps are created.

In Figure 9, a state is shown after the coupling rods 33 have been rotated. Due to the fact that the axial length has been reversibly shortened relative to the axis of rotation by the rotation, the receiving ring 36 and thus the knife 27 are retracted axially in the direction of the cutting bar 28. The distance between the cutting plane and the knife now corresponds to the desired cutting gap and food slices are separated from the food bar.

The rotation of the coupling rods is effected by a short-term change in the speed of the means 39 compared to the speed of the means 40, wherein the speed change must be such that either the .Drehzahl the means 39 slows compared to the speed of the means 40 or that the speed of the By means of 40 compared to the speed of the means 39 is increased. After Completion of the rotation turn the two means 39, 40 again at the same speed. A greater distance between the knife 27 and the cutting bar 28 can be achieved again by bringing the coupling rods 33 into a vertical position. This is done either by the fact that the speed of the means 39 accelerated for a short time and / or that the speed of the means 40 is slowed down for a short time.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 food

2 cutting blades

3 rotation axis

4 counterweight

5 drive shaft

6 spindle

7 hub

8, 9 sleeve with internal thread

10 Storage of the drive shaft

11 gear

12 gear

13 threads

14 threads

15 cutting bar

16 balance mass

16 ^' balancing mass

17 machine frame

18 cutting edge

19 jacks

20 spring

21 lamellae

22 cooling (inlet)

23 cooling (drain)

24 knife holder

25 gear

26 cutting plane

27 knives

28 cutting edge Cutting gap Drive shaft Adjustment means Conveyor belt Shifter means First end of the displacement means 33 Second end of the displacement means 33 Retaining ring Ball bearing Drive of the receiving ring Drive of the drive shaft 5 Nut Double arrow

Claims

claims:

1. slicing machine, for slicing food (1), in particular sausage, meat or cheese bars, with a rotating cutting blade (2) which is slidably mounted parallel to its axis of rotation (3), characterized in that the displacement of the cutting blade by a controlled drive success.

2. slicing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a counterweight (4) which is displaceable in opposite directions to the cutting blade (2).

3. slicing machine, for slicing food (1), in particular sausage, meat or cheese bars, with a rotating cutting blade (2) which is slidably mounted parallel to its axis of rotation (3), characterized in that it is a counterweight ( 4) which is displaceable in the opposite direction to the cutting blade (2).

4. slicing machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the displacement of the cutting blade (2) and / or the counterweight (4) by preferably a controlled drive (6, 8, 9).

5. slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement of the Schneidemessers (2) and / or the counterweight (4) is independent of the speed of the cutting blade.

6. slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting blade has a drive shaft (5) and that the cutting blade (2) and / or the counterweight (4) along the drive shaft (5) is displaceably mounted (are).

7. slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement of the cutting blade (2) and / or the counterweight (4) with at least one spindle (6).

8. slicing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the spindle (6) with the thread (13, 14) at least one sleeve (8, 9), which is connected to the cutting blade or the counterweight cooperates.

9. slicing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the threads (13, 14) of the sleeves (8, 9) are different.

10. Aufschneidemaschine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement mechanism (6, 8, 9) of the knife (2) and / or the counterweight (4) tempered, preferably cooled.

11. slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, that the knife (2) and / or the knife holder (7) is mounted with lamellae.

12. A method for the axial displacement of Schneidmessem during operation, characterized in that a counterweight (4) is moved in opposite directions to the cutting blade (2).

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the displacement takes place synchronously.

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the displacement of the cutting knife (2) and the counterweight (4) by a drive (6).

15. Use of axially displaceable counterweights (4) for stabilizing the running of a cutting blade (2) of a slicing machine.

16. Use according to claim 15, characterized in that occurring during the displacement of the blade forces and / or moments are compensated.

17. Use of the axial displacement of the cutting blade (2) of a slicing machine for setting the zero point.

18. Use according to claim 17, characterized in that during the displacement, the torque of the drive of the cutting blade is measured.

19. Use of the axial displacement of the cutting blade for adjusting the cutting gap between the cutting blade and a cutting bar.

20. Use according to claim 19, characterized in that the adjustment of the cutting gap takes place during operation of the knife.

21. Use according to claim 20, characterized in that expansion phenomena of the blade are compensated by thermal expansion and / or centrifugal forces.

22. Use according to claim 19 - 21, characterized in that the desired cutting gap is set or changed via a display on the machine.

23. Use according to one of claims 15 - 21, characterized in that the mechanical behavior of the knife is modeled and / or based on maps in the machine control, such as a computer deposited.

24. Use according to claim 23, characterized in that these data are used for adjusting or adjusting the cutting gap during operation of the cutting blade.

25. A device for slicing food with a cutting plane (26) exhibiting and by a drive shaft (30) rotatably driven knife (27) and a cutting edge (28), wherein the knife (27) for adjusting the cutting gap (29) between the Sliding plane (26) and the cutting edge (28) is mounted displaceably parallel to its drive shaft (30), characterized in that it comprises an adjusting means (31) with which the cutting gap (29) can be fixed.

26. The device according to claim 25, characterized in that the adjusting means is a Justieranschlag.

27. The device according to claim 26, characterized in that the Justieranschlag between the basic position and an adjustment position is movable.

28. The device according to claim 27, characterized in that the adjustment of the Justieranschlags done manually or by an actuator.

29. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Justieranschlag is a touch sensor.

30. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axial displacement of the knife takes place with a motor.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, characterized in that the current consumption of the motor can be measured and the motor is controlled by the current consumption.

32. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position of the Justieranschlages and thus the width of the cutting gap is preferably selectable by means of a display.

33. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the setting of the cutting gap takes place when the knife is stationary or rotating.

34. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axial position of the blade is not changed after touching the Justieranschlags.

35. A method for adjusting the cutting gap with a device according to any one of claims 25 - 34, characterized in that characterized in that the adjustment stop is moved from its base in its the desired cutting gap corresponding adjustment position and that the knife is moved axially until it touched the adjustment stop.

36. The method according to claim 35, characterized in that the adjustment stop is brought to the setting of the cutting gap in its normal position.

37. A device for slicing food with a rotating cutting knife (27) that is displaceable parallel to its axis of rotation (30), characterized in that the displacement takes place with at least one means (33) having a first (34) and second ( 35) end which are mutually changeable in their position.

38. Apparatus according to claim 37, characterized in that the means is a coupling rod or a leaf spring.

39. Apparatus according to claim 38, characterized in that the first and the second end are rotatable relative to each other.

40. Device according to one of claims 37 - 39, characterized in that the means is bent.