EP1704973A1 - Method and apparatus for slicing elongated food products - Google Patents

Abstract

The method of cutting a strip form food involves placing the foodstuff on a support (2) to be gripped (18,19) at its outer end and pushed forwardly to a cutter (8). During cutting, the foodstuff is held by a lower holder (15) in the direction of a lifting surface (3) of the support. The foodstuff is protected from tipping by a retainer (22) during feeding.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a method for cutting a strand-shaped food, wherein a Gutsstrang of the food is inserted into an insertion region of a cutting machine, an engagement element of a gripper device is positively engaged with a rear end of the Gutsstrangs in the feed direction and then the Gutsstrang with the gripper device continuously on a cutting device is advanced and cut there, wherein the Gutstrang is pressed during the cutting operation by means of a hold-down device in the direction of a footprint of the insertion region.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a device for cutting a strand-shaped food, with the above-mentioned method is executable.

State of the art

The use of gripper means for secure fixation of the Gutsstrangs during the feed and cutting operation is well known. Both gripper devices with claw- or claw-shaped engagement elements, which are pivoted from a rest position into an engagement position, but also those in which the engagement element, which in this case may also have tines arranged within a plane, are conventional in the Gutsstrang in a linear direction is introduced. During the; Feed of the Gutsstrangs on the cutting device and the successive cutting of, for example discs remain the engagement elements within the Gutsstrangs. Shortly before the engagement element would enter the sphere of influence of the cutting device, the cutting process is interrupted and the rest of the Gutsstrangs still held by the engagement element dissolved. After a return movement of the gripper device, the engagement element can then again be brought into engagement with the rear end of a next Gutsstrangs.

Particularly in the case of irregularly shaped product strands of a hard food, such as raw ham, it is disadvantageous in the known methods that, at the moment in which the engaging element enters the Gutsstrang, this lifts from the footprint in the deposit area. In particular, if between the rear end of the Gutsstrangs and the footprint - due to the shape of Gutsstrangs - a space is due to the large forces that oppose the penetration of the engaging member, the rear end of the Gutsstrangs pressed down it comes in the front of the Gutsstrangs to lift off. Such a process is undesirable because it leads to permanently unstable conditions during the feed and the Aufbbneidens such a fixed Gutsstrangs.

task

The invention has for its object to provide a method and apparatus for cutting a rope-shaped food, in which or in which a tilting of the Gutsstrangs in the process of penetration of the engagement member of the gripper device is avoided to after the penetration of the engagement member one for the subsequent Feed and cutting operation to obtain useful fixation of Gutsstrangs.

solution

Based on the method of the type described above, this object is achieved in that the Gutsstrang is secured during the penetration of the engaging element in the Gutsstrang with a fixing device against tilting.

The fixing device is an additional device to the gripper device and to the hold-down device, with which the goods strand is held together with the gripper device at least at two different locations. The point of attack of the fixing device and the Einnffsort the engagement element of the gripper device are to be positioned so that a tilting of Gutsstrangs is prevented. In particular, the Gutsstrang can be kept on both sides of a typically central bearing area so that moments of different rotational direction can be introduced into the Gutsstrang and optimally cancel each other. But also a support of Gutsstrangs on the underside by the fixing device is in principle conceivable to compensate for the forces exerted by the engagement element forces. Thus, while the fixing device is at least during the penetration of the engagement element of the gripping device sicherd actively, the pressing effect of the known, independent of the fixing taxable and movable Niederhalteereinxichtung typically - temporally and spatially - later, since the hold-down device usually only at a short distance is arranged in front of the cutting device. However, an overlap of the active phases of fixing device and hold-down device is not excluded.

Characterized that according to the invention, the Gutsstrang is hindered in an unwanted and usually uncontrolled movement even in the moment in which the engagement element enters the Gutsstrang, the Gutsstrang is always in a secure state, which immediately initiate the other to the Schneidverfrahren counting process steps allowed, such as the controlled and free movement of the Gutsstrangs by a scanning device and the subsequent slicing. Without the fixing device according to the invention, there would be a risk that the Gutsstrang under the action of existing even in known machines holding device, which is usually located between the scanning device and the cutter, in the transverse direction to the feed direction, ie in particular on the footprint of the loading area, is displaced , whereby the measurement result of the scanning device and thus the weight accuracy of the cut slices is adversely affected.

According to one embodiment of the method according to the invention, it is proposed that the securing of the Gutsstrangs against tilting by means of the fixing device takes place substantially only during the penetration of the Exngriffselements the gripper device. At the latest at a time when a front end of the Gutsstrangs is in the sphere of influence of the arranged in front of the cutter hold-down, a force effect of the fixing is no longer required. The Fixiereizuriehtung can then create in their deactivated form during the further feed of the Gutsstrangs required for the passage of the gripper device free space in the region of the conveyor cross-section.

The invention further ausgestaltend is provided that the securing of the Gutsstrangs against tilting by fixing takes place at the opposite end of the engagement element of the gripper device. Since the contact area of Gutsstrangs is usually in the middle, in this way the introduction of opposite torques is achieved by a possible pivot point and thus the Gutsstrang held down on both sides, without that he could turn unintentionally.

When the Gutsstrang is advanced during penetration of the engagement element of the gripper device and the fixing by means of the fixing device on the cutting device and the gripper device and at least one standing with the surface of the Gutsstrangs contact element of the fixing device at the same speed to the cutting plane to move the feed of the Gutsstrangs can be continued without interruption in the moment of activating the gripping device and the fixing device. This is important in so-called continuous cutting processes, in which the Gutsstrang without standstill from the loading area on the cutting device, are advanced.

In a simple manner, a mobility of the contact element of the fixing device can be realized if it is attached to an arm of the fixing device and this arm is pivotable in the feed direction during the penetration of the engagement elements of the gripper device.

In order to continuously exert a force on the Gutsstrang to be held down during the aforementioned pivoting operation, it is provided to extend the length of the arm of the fixing device during the pivoting movement so that the contact element always remains in contact with the surface of the Gutsstrangs. For the extension of the arm, a pneumatic cylinder is preferably used

According to a further development of the method, the contact element of the fixing device remains in contact with the surface of the Gutsstrangs at least until a pressing element of the retaining device has come into supporting contact with the surface of the Gutsstrangs. As a result, the Gutsstrang is continuously held down after penetration of the engagement element, initially only by the fixing device, then during a transitional phase in addition by the hold-down device and finally only by the hold-down device. An unwanted movement when lifting the contact element of the fixing can be safely avoided.

Furthermore, it is provided according to the invention that the contact element of the fixing device after completion of securing the Gutsstrangs against tilting from a working position is moved back into a rest position in which the gripper device between the contact element and a footprint of the loading area can be moved through.

In terms of the device, the underlying object is achieved by a device for cutting a strand-shaped food with a loading area in which a Gutsstrang of the food is inserted, a cutting device and a gripper device having an engagement element, which in a feed direction of Gutsstrangs rear end the Gutsstrangs is insertable, wherein the Gutsstrang with the gripper device along a contact surface of the loading area on the cutting device to be displaced and pressed by means of a hold-down device during the cutting process in the direction of the contact surface and which is characterized in that the Gutsstrang during penetration of the engagement element of Gripper device can be secured against tilting by means of a fixing device.

With such a device, the problem of unwanted and uncontrollable rotation of a Gutsstrangs, in particular a hard food such as raw ham, safely avoid, as provided as an additional fixing allows a securement of the Gutsstrangs at a second location.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, a contact element of the fixing device engages at the end of the Gutsstrangs, opposite to the end is located at which the engagement element of the gripper device penetrates. Due to the support at opposite ends, a rotational movement of the Gutsstrangs around a rotation axis in the region of a central bearing surface is reliably prevented.

It is further provided that a contact element of the fixing device during securing against tilting with the Gutsstrangs moving in the feed direction is movable. This complies with the typical procedure according to which the penetration of the engagement element takes place with continued feed movement of the Gutsstrangs. In order to be able to fulfill in a simple manner the function of supporting the moving Gutsstrangs, the contact element of the fixing device can be suspended pendulously on an arm whose length is variable by means of a fluid cylinder, preferably a pneumatic cylinder.

An embodiment of the invention also consists in the fact that the fluid cylinder is acted upon during backup against tilting with a constant pressure of the working fluid and thereby continuously extended with continued movement of Gutsstrangs piston rod to the end attached thereto contact element with the surface of Gutsstrangs always in To keep in contact. Preferably, the fluid cylinder is in a rest position, in which the contact element is out of contact with the surface of the Gutsstrangs, vertically aligned and is deflected in working position with the movement of the Gutsstrangs on the cutter to corresponding.

Finally, it is provided that the piston rod of the fluid cylinder is guided through a first plate with a slot whose width is adapted to the width of the piston rod and whose projection into the contact surface of the insertion region parallel to the feed direction and by a parallel to the first and within a rotatably mounted with this common plane second plate is guided, which also has a matched in its width of the piston rod slot. In this way, despite the pivotal movement of the piston rod of the fluid cylinder of the breakthrough between the conveyor section and the engine room located above it to a minimum, namely the overlapping portions of the two slots limited. The risk that undesirable substances penetrate into the interior of the machine housing is thereby minimized.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Schneidmaschine unter einem Blickwinkel schräg entgegen der Vorschubrichtung,

Figur 2

wie Figur 1, jedoch in einer anderen Perspektive und einer etwas vergrößerten Darstellung,

Figur 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Schneidmaschine unter einem Blickwinkel schräg in Vorschubrichtung,

Figur 4

wie Figur 3, jedoch in einer anderen Perspektive und in etwas vergrößerter Darstellung,

Figur 5

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Greifereinrichtung,

Figur 6

wie Figur 5, jedoch in einer anderen Perspektive,

Figur 7

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Fixiereinrichtung in einer ersten Arbeitsstellung und

Figur 8

wie Figur 7, jedoch in einer zweiten Arbeitsstellung.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment of a device for cutting food, which is shown in the drawing. It shows:

FIG. 1

a perspective view of a cutting machine at an angle obliquely against the feed direction,

FIG. 2

like Figure 1, but in a different perspective and a slightly enlarged view,

FIG. 3

a perspective view of the cutting machine at an angle obliquely in the feed direction,

FIG. 4

as in FIG. 3, but in a different perspective and in a slightly enlarged representation,

FIG. 5

a perspective view of the gripper device,

FIG. 6

like Figure 5, but in a different perspective,

FIG. 7

a perspective view of the fixing device in a first working position and

FIG. 8

like Figure 7, but in a second working position.

A device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 for cutting foodstuffs in the form of a Gutsstrang in slices each, has an insertion area 2, in which a Gutsstrang of the food can be inserted. A footprint 3 of the Einlegelbereichs 2 is formed by the upper run of a circulating conveyor belt 4, the deflection and drive rollers for the sake of simplicity are not shown. The footprint 3 of the insertion region is further formed by a plurality of parallel to each other and between each a distance transversely to Fördernchtung having having straps 5 an additional feed means 6. The additional feed means 6 further comprises a roller provided on its outer casing with spikes (see in particular FIG. 1). The spikes run in circumferential rows, which are axially spaced apart in such a way that between each two adjacent straps 5 a number of spikes 7 of the roller is arranged. The spines 7 are dimensioned in their length so that they protrude with respect to the plane formed by the straps 5 as part of the footprint 3 and in this way can penetrate into the Gutsstrang guided along the footprint 3, to form a slip-preventing positive engagement.

The device 1 further includes a cutting device 8, which comprises a rotationally drivable sickle-shaped knife 9.

Component of the device 1 is further a scanning device 10 with a rotatably mounted scanning ring 11, which is provided with two offset by 180 ° arranged laser optical scanning elements 12, within a scan plane passing through a passage cross section within the scan ring Gutsstrang in terms of its outer contour, ie his Cross-section, scan and measure. The scan ring 11 in each case performs an oscillating rotational movement over an angular range of slightly more than 180 °, whereby due to the two scanning elements 12, the entire outer circumference of the Gutsstrangs is scanned within the scan plane.

Another component of the device 1 is a hold-down device 13, which is arranged between the scanning device 10 and a guide frame 14 for the knife 9 of the cutting device 8. The hold-down device 13 consists of a rotatably mounted roller-shaped pressing element 15, from whose two front ends two vertically extending lifting rods 16 go out. The lifting rods 16 terminate in a drive means 17 of the hold-down device 13. In the drive means, not shown, there is a servo motor, which allows a fast and precise vertical displacement of the two lifting rods 16 and thus also the pressing member 15. The contact pressure element 15 is cylindrical in its central region, while adjoining the conical regions on both sides so that in cross-section in particular concave Gutstränge are also guided laterally. Optionally, the contact pressure element 15 can be designed as a rotatably driven and also provided with spikes roller.

The device 1 by far comprises a gripper device 18, which is provided at its the cutting device 8 facing the front end with an engaging element 19 in the form of 5 angled and parallel claws. The claws are rigidly connected to a front horizontally oriented part 20 of the gripping device 18. At this part 20, a rear obliquely upwardly extending portion 21 connects. The construction of the gripper device 18 which can be moved up and down in the vertical direction will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

Another component of the device 1 is formed by a fixing device 22 which, viewed in the feed direction, is arranged in front of the scanning device 10. The fixing device 22 consists of a pivotably mounted in a joint 23 on a frame-shaped part of the machine housing arm 24, which is formed by a pneumatic cylinder. The downward emerging from the pneumatic cylinder piston rod 25 carries at its lower end a contact element 26 in the form of a horizontally extending rod portion which is rigidly connected to the piston rod 25 and this gives a T-shaped configuration at its end. The position of the contact element 26 is on the one hand by retraction or extension of the piston rod 25 variable. Furthermore, the contact element 26, starting from the first working position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in the feed direction (arrow 27 in FIG. 4), can be pivoted by rotation in the joint 23. The structure of the fixing device 22 will be explained in more detail later with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, it is clear that the rear part 21 of the gripper device 18 is fastened to a horizontally extending bar 29 by means of two clamping elements 28. The rod 29 is provided at its not visible in Figures 5 and 6 front end with a nut which cooperates with a lifting spindle 30. The lifting spindle 30 is over by a drive 31, which may be pneumatically or electrically actuated over set a non-visible belt drive in rotation, so that the rod 29 and with her the kind of boom forming parts 20 and 21 with the attached thereto engagement member 19 in the vertical direction and move up. In this case, the rod 29 entlag a the vertical stroke up and down limiting slot 32 in a housing 33 of the gripper device 18. The gripper device 18 is supported by means of an angled boom 34 via a slide bushing 35 on a linearly extending guide rod 36 from. On the opposite side of the gripping device 18 with respect to the insertion region 2, the housing 33 of which also extends the extension arm 34 is mounted in a linearly displaceable manner on a further guide device. The linear displacement of the gripper device 18 overall takes place by means of an unrecognizable but generally known drive.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 6, the front part 20 below the engagement element 19 has an articulated stripping element 37 in the form of a comb, which is able to grip with its four prongs between the claws of the engagement element 19. The stripping element 37 is drivable via a lever mechanism and a pneumatic cylinder 38 not shown in detail such that it performs a pivoting movement about an axis of rotation, not shown, and pressed by an engagement position, not shown, in which the stripping element through the Gutsstrang upon penetration of the engagement element 19 upwards 6 can be converted into the stripping position shown in FIG. 6, in which the prongs of the stripping element 37 are located at a level below the tips of the claws of the engagement element 19. As will be explained in more detail later, a still remaining piece connected with the engagement element, which can not be further cut, can thereby be removed from the engagement element 19.

FIG. 7 shows the fixing device 22 in a first working position, in which the contact element 26 located at the end of the piston rod 25 is in contact with the surface of a Gutsstrang located underneath but not shown at a first time. The piston rod 25 penetrates a first upper plate 39 in a first slot 40. A second plate 41 arranged underneath has a second slot 42 which extends in its projection into the contact surface 3 of the insertion region 2 in the direction of the feed direction 27. By means of a screw connection 43, the two sheets 39 and 41 are pivotable relative to each other and that within a plane formed by their contact surfaces.

Figure 8 shows the arm 24 together with the piston rod 25 in a second working position in which a pivoting has taken place by an angle α. Such a pivoting is due to the fact that the contact element 26 moves during the exercise of the fixing function in the feed direction (arrow 17), so that the contact point of the contact element 26 on the surface of the Gutsstrangs during the contact pressure corresponding to the feed rate of the Gutsstrangs by a certain distance in Feed direction has moved. In This second working position penetrates the piston rod 25, the two slots 40 and 42 at their opposite to Figure 7 opposite end portions. By the pivoting of the rotatable sheet 39 relative to the rigid plate 41, the piston rod 25 penetrates the two sheets 39 and 41 always in a minimized in area passage cross-section to prevent the passage of dirt from the loading area upwards. The attachment of the plates 39 and 41 is carried out on a machine-fixed inclined plate 44, the inclination of the inclined rear portion 21 of the gripper device corresponds to the gripper device 18 can move sufficiently far forward.

The operation of the device 1 will be explained in more detail below:

An unillustrated Gutsstrang a food, such as a raw ham with greatly varying cross-sectional shape is inserted into the insertion area 2. The gripper device 18 is positioned in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction so that the claws of the engagement element 19 are located above the rear end region of the Gutsstrangs in the feed direction. The gripper device 18 is then lowered in the vertical direction, so that the engagement element 19 penetrates into the Gutsstrang.

Since the described apparatus 1 is a continuous machine, the conveyor 4 is continuously driven during the above-described operation. The positioning and lowering of the engagement member 19 of the gripper means 18 must therefore be done with moving Gutsstrang, i. during lowering, the gripper device 18 is moved simultaneously with the feed speed in the feed direction. A relative movement between the gripper device 18 and Gutsstrang thus does not take place.

According to the Gutsstrang is held down at its front end during lowering of the engaging member 19 by means of the fixing device 22 and thus secured against tilting For this purpose, the pneumatic cylinder forming the arm 24 at the time of lowering the engaging member 19 is pressurized, so that the piston rod 25th extends and the contact element 26 is supported on the upper side of the Gutsstrangs in the front end region. Since the Gutsstrang moves during this holding or securing operation in the feed direction, and the contact element 26 must be able to follow this horizontal movement. The articulated mounting of the arm 24 including the piston rod 25 and the contact element 26 allows at this moment that the contact element 26 can follow the feed movement of Gutsstrangs. The beginning and end position of the pivoting movement are shown in Figures 7 and 8. So that the fixing device 22 can exercise its holding function even in the second working position shown in FIG. 8, a greater length of the arm 24 is required, ie the piston rod 25 must continue to be extended from the pneumatic cylinder. Therefore, the pneumatic cylinder is continuously connected during the fixing operation with the pressure supply and therefore exerts in its further extended state shown in Figure 8 (equal to) holding force on the surface of the Gutsstrangs. The end position of the piston rod, ie the contact element 26, thus results automatically by the predetermined system pressure, the compressed air. Regardless of the pivot position of the fixing device 22 thus ensures the Gutsstrang always with the same holding force.

As soon as the engagement element 19 has completely penetrated into the rear end of the Gutsstrangs and the gripper device 18 is moved continuously at feed speed to the cutter 8, the piston rod 25 of the fixing device 22 actively retracted as possible by applying the other side of the piston of the pneumatic cylinder possible. While in Figures 3 and 4 the piston rod 25 and the contact element 26 are in an extended position, i. a Fixicrstellung are shown, the piston rod is retracted so far in a rest position that the contact element 26 is applied directly to the inclined plate 44 and thus has a minimum possible space requirement.

During the feed of the Gutsstrangs by the scanning device, the cross section of Gutsstrangs is continuously detected within the scan plane in order to draw conclusions about the subsequently cut slices can. The information about the cross section of the Gutsstrangs determined by the scanning device according to the invention, however, not only used to determine the weight of the cut slices, but also for positioning of the pressing member 15 of Niederhaltereiririchtaug 13. For this purpose, in particular the information regarding the height of the respective cross section of Gutsstrangs is needed , If necessary, however, further information about the cross-sectional shape can also be incorporated into the determination of the optimum distance of the contact pressure element 15 of the hold-down device 13 from the contact surface 3. Since the cross-sectional measurement by means of the scanning device 10 takes place shortly before the passing of the hold-down device 13, sufficient time remains to convert the determined cross-sectional information into an always optimal positioning of the contact pressure element 15. When using a self-locking drive for the lifting rods 16 of the pressing member 15, the pressing member 15 is practically not yielding in the vertical direction. With the inventively controlled by the scanning device 10 hold-down device 13 can thus, if necessary, also generate very large holding forces that cause a particularly secure fixation of Gutsstrangs during the cutting process. In this case, the guarantee of an always optimal hold-down force is possible even with Gutssträngen over its length strongly fluctuating cross-sectional height, since the position of the contact element 15 is adjusted continuously and very quickly. The pressing element 15 facing surface contour of the Gutsstrangs is traced by the pressing member 15 thus "as copied", whereby an optimal hold-down result is achieved.

As soon as the engagement element 19 of the gripper device 18 located in the rear end region of the Gutsstrangs moved up to a safety distance to the knife 9, i. When the cutting operation is completed with respect to a Gutsstrangs, the knife is stopped in a position outside the conveyor section. The gripper device 18 is moved through the cutting plane with the engagement element 19 and the remainder piece of the Gutsstrangs, so that the remainder on an adjoining, but not shown in the drawing removal conveyor belt, can be abgegrelegt to later by the weighing device before to be discharged from the packaging station. In order to release the remainder piece from the gripper device 18, the stripping element 37 is activated and thus the remaining piece is stripped off the claws of the engagement element 19.

The gripper device 18 is then returned at maximum speed against the feed direction and at the same time raised. In the meantime, the next Gutsstrang has been placed on the conveyor belt 4, which is already taken in the already described at the beginning of the engagement member 19 of the gripper device 18 at its rear end. In this case, at the front end of the Gutsstrangs turn the fixing device 22 is back in action. During the entire operation of stopping the cutter 8, discarding the remnant, and retracting the gripper, the conveyor 4 was moved at a continuous speed, namely, the feed speed. In order to have sufficient time for the discarding of the remaining piece after completion of the slicing process of a Gutsstrangs, the gutstrings are placed on the conveyor belt 4 side so that there is a sufficient horizontal distance between them.

Claims (17)

A method for cutting a strand-shaped food, wherein a Gutsstrang of the food is inserted into an insertion area (2) of a cutting machine, an engagement element (19) of a gripper device (18) is positively engaged with a feed direction in the (17) rear end of the Gutsstrangs and Subsequently, the Gutsstrang with the gripper device (18) is continuously fed to a cutting device (8) and cut there, wherein the Gutsstrang during the cutting process by means of a hold-down device (13) in the direction of a contact surface (3) of the insertion region (2) is pressed , characterized gekeimzeichnet that the Gutsstrang is secured during the penetration of the engaging member (19) in Gutsstrang by means of a fixing device (22) against tilting. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the securing of Gutsstrangs against tilting by means of the fixing device (22) substantially only during the penetration of the engagement element (19) of Greifeinnchtung (18) takes place. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the securing of Gutsstrangs against tilting by fixing on the engagement element (19) of the gripper device (18) opposite end takes place. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that during the penetration of the engagement element (19) of the gripper device (18) and the fixing by means of the fixing device (22), the Gutsstrang is advanced onto the cutting device (8) and that the gripper device ( 18) and at least one contacting with the surface of Gutsstrangs contact element (26) of the fixing device (22) at the same speed on the cutting device (8) to be moved. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that an arm (24) of the fixing device (22) during the penetration of the engagement element (19) of the gripper device (18) is pivotable in the feed direction. Retracting according to claim 5, characterized in that the length of the Anns (24) of the fixing device (22) is extended during the pivoting movement so that the contact element (26) always in contact with the surface of Gutsstrangs remains and preferably always the same fixing force exercises the Gutsstrang. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the length of the arm (24) of the fixing device (22) is adjustable by means of a pneumatic cylinder. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the contact element (26) of the fixing device (22) at least as long in contact with the surface of Gutsstrangs remains until a pressing member (15) of the hold-down device (13) with the surface of the Gutsstrangs has come into supporting contact. A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the contact element (26) of the fixing device (22) after completion of securing the Gutsstrangs against tilting from a working position is moved back into a rest position in which the gripper device (18) between the contact element (26). and a footprint (3) of the insertion area (2) is moved therethrough. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the Gutsstrang during the engagement of the gripper device (18) outside the effective range of the hold-down device (18). Device (1) for cutting a string-shaped foodstuff, having an inserting area (2) into which a Gutsstrang of the food can be inserted, a cutting device (8) and a gripper device (18) having an engagement element (19), in an in Feed line (17) of the Gutsstrangs rear end of Gutsstrangs is inserted, the Gutsstrang with the gripper device (18) along a contact surface (3) of the loading area (2) on the cutting device (8) advanceable and by means of a hold-down device (13) during the Cutting process in the direction of the contact surface (3) can be pressed, characterized in that the Gutsstrang during penetration of the engaging element (19) of the gripping device (18) by means of a fixing device (22) is secured against tilting. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that a contact element (26) of the fixator (22) engages the end of Gutsstrangs, which is opposite to the end at which the engagement element (19) of the gripper device (18) penetrates. Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that a contact element (26) of the fixing device (22) during securing against tilting with the in the feed direction (17) moving Gutsstrang is movable. Apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the contact element (26) of the fixing device (22) is suspended swinging on an arm (24) whose length by means of a fluid cylinder, preferably a pneumatic cylinder, is variable. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the fluid cylinder during the protection against tilting is acted upon by a constant pressure of the working fluid and thereby with continued movement of the Gutsstrangs continuously extending its piston rod (25) to the end attached thereto contact element (26) with the Always keep the surface of the Gutsstrangs in contact, preferably with a constant fixing force. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the fluid cylinder is vertically aligned in a rest position in which the contact element (26) is out of contact with the surface of the Gutsstrangs and in working position with the movement of Gutsstrangs on the cutting device (8), is deflected accordingly. Apparatus according to claim 15 or 16, characterized in that the piston rod (25) of the fluid cylinder is guided by a first plate (39) having a slot (40) whose width is adapted to the width of the piston rod (25) and its projection in the Contact surface (3) of the application area (2) parallel to the feed direction (17) and that the piston rod (25) is guided by a parallel to the first and within a common plane with this common second plate (41), which also a has in its width the width of the piston rod (25) adapted slot.

Images