EP2107962B1 - Portioning device and method - Google Patents

Description

I. Field of application

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 14 and a method according to the preamble of claim 1 for accurate weight portioning.

II. Technical background

Wholesalers and bulk consumers in the food sector, especially commercial kitchens, catering services, restaurant chains and similar wish that especially the expensive foods such as fish and meat, that the provided therefrom discs or multi-disc portions always have the same weight, possibly only a weight tolerance of ± 3% is allowed, eg. For example, for fresh meat for sale in self-service retailing with 500 g target weight.

The separation of a disc (boneless) with a certain predetermined target weight of a large muscle strand of fish or meat, on the one hand has an inhomogeneous consistency and on the other hand a different shape and size, prepares especially in automated operation, in which the generation from eg 200 slices per minute is required, significant problems.

Are known for this purpose Portioniervorrichtungen and corresponding methods in which it is assumed that matching volumes of the same piece of meat or fish piece also have approximately the same weight. Based on this, a portioning chamber with predetermined dimensions and volume is completely filled with the material to be cut, which is at least dimensionally deformable, and then separated from the material to be cut by a separating cut directly on the open side of the blind-shaped portioning chamber.

To automate this process, the strand-like material to be cut in a front open and closed at the rear by a longitudinally movable ram forming tube, which has a constant cross-section in the longitudinal direction, inserted and pressed by advancing the ram so that it is a shorter strand with constant cross section corresponding to the cross section of the forming tube is created.

From this forming tube, the strand of material to be cut is displaced out of the front end into the usually immediately adjoining portioning chamber, a slice is cut off by means of the press ram, and so forth.

There are still a variety of problems that prevent or complicate a fully accurate compliance with the actual weight, but which is sought by the meat or fish processors to minimize their use of goods and to secure the profit margins.

• Solche Kotelettstränge werden derzeit zerlegt, indem der Kotelettstrang mit seinem V-förmigen Knochen in eine offene Rinne gelegt und am Ende der Rinne Scheiben abgetrennt z. B. mittels eines Messers abgehackt, werden.

The problems are again differently stored, if it concerns a Schneidgut from bones and it meat, for example a chop strand, is:

• Such pork chops are currently being broken down by placing the chop strand with its V-shaped bone in an open gutter and separating slices at the end of the gutter, e.g. B. chopped off by means of a knife, are.

In this case, the blade, which is generally beveled obliquely, displaces the strand in the longitudinal direction when it penetrates into the material to be cut, in particular the hard bone, so that the discs often do not have the exact desired nominal thickness D.

In addition, compliance with the target weight is made difficult by the fact that in this method, the meat strand is not pre-compressed in the transverse direction and has no defined circumferential contour, so that no exact relation between thickness D and the weight of the disc exists. However, a Vorverpressung to obtain a strand with over the longitudinal extension of the same cross-section has not yet been realized because of the shape and not compressibility of the bone in the transverse direction, especially since the bones have different shape and size depending on the size of the animal.

In this context, a generic cutting method and a cutting device from the EP 0 306 012 known, in which the meat strand - although bone-containing meat strands are not mentioned here - first pre-pressed in the transverse direction and then pressed in the longitudinal direction, before after the disc is separated on the opposite side of the longitudinal extrusion die.

It is also known, by means of a present in the end face of the longitudinal pressure stamp pressure to determine the end facing away from the cutting end, in the punch and thus also in the material to be cut, which does not correspond to the pressure at the front, abzutrennenden end of the material to be cut since on the one hand, the material to be cut is limited compressible, which changes the pressure conditions over the length of the material to be cut and, above all, the material to be cut is pressed out of the forming tube at the front end and thus the conditions as in the molded tube are no longer present in the pressed-out part.

• Das Abtrennen mittels eines stabilen Messers trägt die Gefahr des Versatzes des Schneidgutes in Längsrichtung in sich. Ein Durchtrennen des Knochens mittels einer gezahnten Säge, beispielsweise einer Kreissäge oder Bandsäge, bedeutet zum einen eine Verschmutzung der erzielten Scheiben durch Knochenmehl, welches beim Segen entsteht und zum anderen einen relativ hohen Gewichtsverlust, wenn mittels der Säge auch die Durchtrennung des angrenzenden Muskelstranges erfolgt.

Another problem is the separation process:

• The separation by means of a stable knife carries the risk of misalignment of the cutting material in the longitudinal direction in itself. A cutting of the bone by means of a toothed saw, for example a circular saw or band saw, on the one hand means contamination of the discs obtained by bone meal, which is the result of blessing and, on the other hand, a relatively high weight loss. if by means of the saw also the transection of the adjacent muscle strand takes place.

However, the possible loss without loss of the muscle strand by means of a sharpened blade would require two separate, independent separation processes, which has not been done in automatic operation and in one and the same machine at predetermined longitudinal positions.

Because in addition, the disassembly speed in automated mass operation plays a significant role in the severing of such a bone-containing meat strand.

The problems described using the example of a bone-containing meat strand can also occur with meat other than meat or fish, which also consists of two different components, namely hard, shaped material on the one hand and softer, only conditionally or not form-retaining Material on the other hand. In the present application, however, only the term "bone" and "meat" is used as a representative.

III. Presentation of the invention a) Technical task

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a method and a device that, despite high process speed and low susceptibility to failure, the deviation of the target weight of the discs with bone portion or slice portions with bone fraction of the actual weight as low as possible holds.

b) Solution of the task

This object is solved by claims 1 and 14. Advantageous embodiments will be apparent from the dependent claims.

By monitoring the physical conditions, in particular the pressure, in or near the separated part of the material to be cut before separating the disc, it can be achieved that the assumed relation between the thickness of the slice to be separated and the target weight actually applies.

By pre-pressing at least the meat portion of the strand-like material to be cut, preferably first in the transverse direction and then in the longitudinal direction, a constant at least in terms of the outer contour of the material to be cut cross section of the strand is achieved, and thus - if one of only a moderate change in the outer contour and the cross-sectional area of the Bone proceeds over the length of the strand - a consistent cross-section of the pre-compressed strand altogether. This ensures that equally thick slices are also about the same weight, but at least no too strong differences from one to the next same thick disc occur here.

If the pre-pressing over a defined period of particular 5 sec to 50 sec maintained, z. B. with 1.0 to 6.0 bar, so a stable at least over a period of time deformation of the meat content is achieved, with the result that for the subsequent separation of slices to a lower pre-pressure of z. B. 0.2 bar to 1.0 bar, with the result that the pushing out of the strand from the forming tube for separating the disc does not necessarily have to be in the form of pushing in and picking up in a Portionierkammer, but also cantilevered or only by a counter punch frontally held front portions of the strand-like material to be cut slices of defined thickness can be cut off.

If one additionally scans the outer contour of the material to be cut - before or preferably after the pre-pressing - on the bone side, the actual cross-sectional area of the pre-compressed strand can be determined and thus the specific weight of a length section of the strand can be determined.

In this case, however, the rear end face of the strand acted upon by the advancing press ram is preferably actively held on the press ram in order to prevent it from being lifted off the press ram. This lifting can be done by cutting the bone, which often results in a force in the strand in the longitudinal direction, which would change the disc thickness undefined and unintentional.

In addition, of course, the punch itself must be fixable in his position, so be sure.

• Indem Klammern oder einfache Zinken von dem Gegenstempel in die Stirnfläche des Fleischanteils des Schneidgutes hinein vorstehen, und zwar vorzugsweise nicht in Vorschubrichtung, sondern schräg hierzu, insbesondere mit den freien Enden gegen den Knochen gerichtet und/oder in den Knochen eingreifen, ebenso vorzugsweise schräg zur Vorschubrichtung, kann das Schneidgut am Pressstempel gehalten werden.

The holder of the strand on the ram, in particular its stamp plate, can be frictionally, for. B. by sucking the meat content by means of vacuum openings on the press plate of the press stamp, done, but preferably positively:

• By protruding from the counter punch in the face of the meat portion of the cutting material in the clamps or simple prongs, preferably not in the feed direction, but obliquely thereto, in particular directed with the free ends against the bone and / or engage in the bone, preferably also obliquely to Feed direction, the material to be cut can be held on the ram.

For separating separation tools are used, which are specifically designed for separating bone on the one hand and meat on the other hand, in particular even as two separate separating tools, in particular knives, be formed.

Preferably, the two separating tools are formed together on a base body, ie on a knife z. B. areas with a toothed Sägehalsschneide for cutting the bone present and a ungezahnte in the course direction, ground blade as a knife for cutting the meat. Such a combination tool can have a crescent-shaped or round outer contour and can be driven to rotate or pivot. The arrangement of the two areas one behind the other along a rod-shaped or band-shaped main body is possible.

Above all, the tool for cutting the bone, which is preferably used only after the meat portion is already severed, is preferably cleaned before re-immersion in the bone, in order to discharge the bone meal located thereon from the cutting gap, which in particular by special openings in the knife or in the saw, in particular additional openings such as holes in addition to the spaces behind the teeth, can be additionally promoted.

The cleaning is done with water, compressed air or mechanical means.

Due to the formation of the forming tube in two parts by cooperating Formrohrrinne and in the opening transversely insertable side punch and at least two opposing strongly rounded corners on the one hand, a bone-containing meat strand, such as a chop strand with unbalanced, V-shaped bone in cross section, and inserted its meat content is compressed so that in this case the entire strand have a cross section which remains constant over the longitudinal extent.

Preferably, this is achieved in that the V-shaped outer edge of the bone portion of the meat strand in the approximately parallelogram or elongated inner cross section of the mold cavity of the forming tube is inserted so that it is close to a rounded, in particular that corner with an inner angle of less than 90 ° , is applied there in particular to the longer side of the parallelogram.

This positioning during insertion and the specific shape of the mold cavity different width and high chop strands can be placed in one and the same variable mold cavity and pressed as desired, the meat content.

In the following, the presence of the use of a portioning chamber into which the front end of the material to be sliced, and whose volume completely filled by the material to be cut predetermines the slice to be separated, is assumed, unless stated otherwise.

The complete filling of the portioning chamber is facilitated or assisted by air openings through which the air present on insertion of the material to be cut can exit the portioning chamber or a negative pressure can be applied to the portioning chamber to feed the material to be cut into the portioning chamber suck it in or after the separation and before ejecting the disc from the portioning chamber to keep it.

The existing for the portioning knife between the portioning chamber and the mold cavity slot is harmless because it is sealed after forward sliding of the material to be cut from this.

The feed direction is preferably from bottom to top, so that the portioning chamber is above the front end of the forming tube or this upstream cutting tube, with the result that the blind-hole-shaped portioning chamber is open at the bottom.

This ejection of the separated disc from the portioning chamber is very easily possible by the Portionier chamber, so the corresponding Portionier plate, only in the transverse direction must be moved out of the feed path to then without further movement or the like of the portioning Plate the disc from the portioning chamber to eject down and drop onto a transport device.

In this case, the actual weight of the disc can be determined during or before the drop by a portioning scale, which, for example,. Part of the transport device is and measures the weight of the disc when recording on the transport device or may be part of the Portioniermoduls.

Such a portioning scale can serve either to prove to the customer the maximum weight deviation for the individual slices or a multi-slice portion, but more importantly, it can also be used to process the same piece of sliced product during processing to optimize the weight of the subsequently produced disc depending on the detected actual weight of the preceding discs.

• Beispielsweise zu diesem Zweck wird der Boden der Portionier-Kammer in Vorschubrichtung beweglich als Gegenstempel, welche die Portionier-Kammer abschließt, beweglich und ansteuerbar ausgebildet, über eine Strecke, die einem Mehrfachen der Soll-Dicke einer Scheibe entspricht.

However, this is only possible if, for this purpose, the physical conditions in or near the part of the material to be separated can be changed during processing, for example the pressure prevailing in the region of the portioning chamber, especially in the cutting material there, for example by changing the pressing force of the press ram, but above all by changing the volume of the portioning chamber and thus the disc to be produced:

• For example, for this purpose, the bottom of the portioning chamber is movable in the feed direction as a counter punch, which closes the portioning chamber, formed movable and controllable, over a distance which corresponds to a multiple of the target thickness of a disc.

The latter allows the additional advantage to be able to separate several slices one after the other, without having to immediately remove them from the portioning chamber. So it is the already separated slices by means of the whole cutting material gradually shifted further into the portioning chamber and separated, and gradually retracted to the same extent the counter punch to create the necessary volume for this purpose. This is possible over a whole number of slices, in particular over the entire sliced product, since the effect that different elastic areas, ie muscle fiber types, are present within a material to be cut, and accordingly behave and expand differently after the separation, only over the Number of discs totaled adversely affect the newly separated disc can.

Especially if, as mentioned, the entire slices are sliced successively sliced into slices in the Portionierkammer, so that there finally cut the entire sliced present in the Portionierkammer, can thus create a particularly simple and inexpensive machine by no device part is needed, the immediately after the separation of a disc, these are displaced out of the cutting area with the aid of the portioning chamber and removed, and a new empty portioning chamber is provided at the cutting position.

This device part must be very fast and work very precisely, which makes a high mechanical effort and thus a high cost share of the overall device.

This can be dispensed with if the emptying of the portioning chamber only has to be done once after cutting the entire material to be cut.

So that this does not necessarily have to take place in a very short time, two portioning chambers and thus portioning tubes and preferably two forming tubes are preferably present per machine, which can be moved back and forth between two positions, namely the cutting position for cutting the material to be cut and a discharge position spaced therefrom. in particular displaceable back and forth are.

This makes it possible to spend the filled portioning chamber, which is only a portioning gutter in training with a side punch from removing the side punch, from the working position to the loading position to empty them there either manually or by means of an axially acting slider ,

Relatively much time is available for this, because in the meantime the other empty portioning chamber is brought into working position, and a renewed cutting cycle begins.

Likewise, during the cutting of the material to be cut, which is located in a first forming tube, a second forming tube located next to it in the ejection position can already be filled with new material to be cut.

When within the time window, which is required for the slicing of a material to be cut, the new loading of the second forming tube or the unloading of the second Portionierrohres done, can be selected by the operator, so that a time buffer is given for other activities, and for example several such machines can be operated by a single operator.

The sliced food can be transported on a conveyor belt or stored in trays and then portioned manually and semi-automatically or fully automatically and further processed.

Such a machine is then particularly inexpensive to produce, if the corresponding individual parts such as mold tube and Portionierkammer, forming tube gutter and Portionier gutter, the respective transverse punches and / or ram and counter punch are identical, so that a machine with two or even more pairs of molded tube and Portionierrohr can be constructed from the same individual parts.

With a displaceable transverse punch, it is always important to ensure that the point of application of the punch and counter punch is located in the center of the punch, and consequently the position of the punch drive or counter punch drive relative to the mold tube or Portionierkammerrinne changed depending on the position of the cross bar must become.

However, due to the possible fine positioning of the counter punch, it is now also possible to readjust the volume of the portioning chamber for each new slice to be separated, depending on how the deviation from the nominal weight has been shown in the previously measured actual weights of the separated slices ,

In particular, it is also possible in this way not only to strictly adhere to the target weight of individual slices, but also to the target weight of portions which are to comprise several slices, since in this case the target / Add actual deviations of the individual slices, but concretely shortly before the end of the completion of the portion by weighing eg the individual slices, the difference of the actual weight of the target weight in the sum is known and balanced by the one or more last slices or in the desired way can be controlled, for example, by approaching the actual weight of the total portion at the lower limit of the allowable tolerance range.

This is particularly easy if one of z. B. 6 slices existing portion whose target weight is given to two partial portions, for example, 2 x 3 slices or 1 x 5 slices and 1 x 1 slice, divided by the partial portions with several slices separated by succession, but record one behind the other in the portioning chamber, and after determining the actual weight of the first partial portion, the last partial portion can be specified correspondingly precisely with regard to the desired weight and thus actual weight by means of appropriate adjustment of the longitudinal position of the counter punch.

By the longitudinally displaceable press die undesirable deformation of the meat can be avoided by the counter punch so to speak "picks up" the cutting material to be pushed into the portioning chamber at the level of the portioning knife, ie the open side of the portioning chamber, before filling the portioning chamber the counter punch is advanced to the opening of the portioning chamber, preferably until it touches the front end face of the material to be cut, and then moved together with the material to be cut in the feed direction, preferably with constant contact of the front surface of the material to be cut on the pressing surface of the counter punch until this Target position in the portioning plate has reached.

Especially if it should also be dispensed on a pre-press plate before the knife gate, the counter-punch can have introduced from its open front, intersecting slots that correspond in position and thickness and depth of the knife gate, so that - if the portioning knife transversely from the Mold cavity is removed - the counter punch can be advanced to the first cutting edge of the first knife gate between the knife into it and serves as a stop surface for the front of the material to be cut.

The counter punch then moves at the beginning of the cutting process with the material to be cut in the axial direction, and only when the counter punch is no longer in the range of action of the Portioniermessers, takes place only in the transverse direction cutting process using the Portioniermessers.

As a result, the individual strips are not inserted into an already existing portioning cavity, and a different transverse extent is not possible, since the normally narrow crushed strips can not extend forward towards the bottom of the empty, available portioning cavity as an alternative.

If, with a device according to the invention, slices or cubed sliced products are to be produced, ie slicing should additionally take place by means of the knife guards, then of course the knife guild must be displaced out of its working position and replaced by a corresponding filling piece.

In addition, a special cross-sectional shape of the mold cavity and thus also of the cavity in the portioning chamber is recommended in order to be able to deform the material to be cut in the transverse direction with one and the same forming tube or portioning tube so that both slices and diced bodies can be cut.

For this purpose, a parallelogram-shaped cross-sectional contour, in particular with rounded corners, and a large corner angle of 120 ° - 150 ° is recommended.

This offers on the one hand the advantage that the volume can be changed by means of a channel and transverse traversable transverse punch, in that the transverse punch forms one of the sides of the parallelogram and is displaced in the direction of the two adjacent parallelogram sides.

In addition, however, this cross-sectional shape also offers the possibility that in the knife gate the two knife directions are not at right angles to each other lie, but in each case parallel to the outer sides of the parallelogram. Although this does not cut cube-shaped but parallelogram-shaped pieces of meat, this does not make any difference to the consumer.

On the other hand, this offers the advantage that in this cross-sectional shape, the typical cutting material in the form of a pig's salmon can still be pressed to this cross-sectional shape, and yet there is a form in which the cutting of uniform cube-shaped body is possible.

Preferably, for this process, the control of the ram and the counter ram will allow a precisely synchronous movement of these two rams, or even a mechanical coupling of the two rams, preferably decoupled, can be provided.

Furthermore, a pressure measurement in the portioning cavity can be provided, for example by measuring the pressure or the pressing force of the counter punch.

On the one hand, the correlation between the volume and the weight absorbed therein depends on the specific weight of the material to be cut, and although this is slightly but not completely insignificant, on the pressure prevailing in the material to be cut. On the other hand, the pressure in the portioning chamber should be between predefined limits before or during portioning, that is to say cutting off of the slice, since too low a pressure in the material to be cut can lead to incomplete filling of the portioning chamber and too high an internal pressure Structure of the material to be cut can damage.

In order not to increase the pressure prevailing in the cutting material during the cutting process by the penetrating blade and its volume displacement before the beginning of the cutting process, but also not to lower, and thereby reduce the shape accuracy and weight accuracy of the disc to be separated, the goal is to this before beginning the cutting process prevailing pressure to keep as constant as possible during the cutting process.

In order to achieve this, the volume displacement effected by the penetrating portioning knife is compensated by a counter punch which is retracted to the same extent, ie in particular increasingly and not abruptly, which makes it possible to keep the pressure constant as at the beginning of the cutting process.

In order to keep the volume displacement by the cutting blade as small as possible, the cutting blade is formed as thin as possible, and designed for this purpose not as inherently stable plate, but as biased in the direction of the knife, very thin plate or film, but in particular as a closed plate, the after the complete severing of the strand-like material to be cut completely closes the front opening of the mold cavity.

After preforming and pre-compression of the material to be cut, which at a higher pressure than in the subsequent advancing and portioning, namely with usually 1.0 bar to 6.0 bar against a pressure in the portioning chamber when portioning only 0.2 bar to 1.0 bar, the pre-press plate is moved out of the feed path in the transverse direction and moves the material to be cut in the feed direction for portioning.

Compression punches and / or counter punches are usually driven by a conventional punch drive, such as a hydraulic cylinder or an electric drive or the like, preferably only in alignment with the feed path such a drive unit, with multiple present on a turret or a transverse displacement unit Portionier plates or molding tubes.

In addition or instead, the counter punch can also be actuated by spring bias and / or despite its longitudinal adjustability on his Rear be acted upon with compressed air, which can then be used for ejecting the separated disc from the portioning chamber.

For this purpose, the mentioned valves for shutting off the pressure chamber, preferably the solid bottom of the Portionier chamber on the back of the ram, available, the optional vent lines, compressed air connection or negative pressure release or close, while preferably in the front of the ram also already mentioned, preferably closable via valves, openings for negative pressure of the Portionier cavity are present.

In order to additionally facilitate the ejection of the separated slice from the portioning chamber, several possibilities are provided.

On the one compressed air outlets in the pressing surface of the counter punch, possibly also an annular gap between the outer periphery of the article and the inner peripheral surface of the Portionier chamber to cause the detachment of the separated disc from the Portionier chamber.

In this case, the axial moving out of the disc from the portioning chamber is generally effected by pushing the counter-punch forwardly in the direction and preferably to the opening of the portioning chamber. There, the movement of the counter punch is stopped as suddenly as possible to assist the detachment of the disc by their kinetic energy, which can be further promoted by opening compressed air outlets in z. B. the pressing surface of the counter punch for detaching the discs just before reaching this position.

• Indem das Ausgangs-Schneidgut vor oder nach dem Einbringen in das Formrohr verwogen, insbesondere automatisch verwogen, wird, kann - vorzugsweise mittels einer in der Steuerung für die Gesamtmaschine, integrierte Recheneinrichtung - das Soll-Gewicht der einzelnen Scheiben bzw. Portionen im Rahmen deren zulässiger Toleranzwerte so verändert werden, dass unter Berücksichtigung des Ausgangsgewichts und gegebenenfalls unter Berücksichtigung als Erfahrungswert bekannten Schwundes durch in Form von Verschmutzungen durch das Messer oder die Portionier-Platte ausgetragenen Fleischfasern etc. so bestimmt wird, dass von dem Ausgangs-Schneidgut-Gewicht ein möglich geringes, nicht mehr portionierbares Restgewicht verbleibt.

By the fine adjustment of the target weight of the disc, z. B. by the fine adjustment of the position of the counter punch, also minimizing the less usable remnants of a meat strand etc. after portioning is possible:

• By weighing, in particular automatically weighing, the starting material to be cut before or after being introduced into the forming tube, the nominal weight of the individual discs or portions can be permitted within the scope of their permissible, preferably by means of a computer integrated in the control for the entire machine Tolerance values are changed so that, taking into account the initial weight and possibly taking into account known as shrinkage known by experience in the form of contamination by the knife or the Portionier plate discharged meat fibers, etc. is determined so that of the initial cut material weight a possible low , no more portionable residual weight remains.

This thus previously known residual weight can for example be used to - distributed to a gate disc and a residual disc or completely without rest - for the remaining, usable, dimensionally stable portions to create a clean start and end surface.

c) embodiments

Fig. 1:

die gesamte Vorrichtung geschnitten entlang der Vorschubrichtung sowie betrachtet von oben in Vorschubrichtung,

Fig. 2:

Detaildarstellungen des Formrohres,

Fig. 3:

eine Detaildarstellung vor allem des Portioniermoduls,

Fig. 4:

den Ablauf beim Portionieren,

Fig. 5:

Darstellungen eines Kotelettstranges,

Fig.6:

Messervarianten,

Fig. 7:

eine zweite Bauform der Vorrichtung geschnitten entlang der Vorschubrichtung 10,

Fig. 8:

das aus Rinne und Querstempel bestehende Formrohr bzw. Portionierrohr im Querschnitt in verschiedenen Zuständen, und

Fig. 9:

eine vergrößerte Detaildarstellung aus Fig. 5 mit Schneidgut.

Embodiments according to the invention are described in more detail below by way of example. Show it:

Fig. 1:

the entire device cut along the feed direction and viewed from above in the feed direction,

Fig. 2:

Detailed representations of the forming tube,

3:

a detailed presentation especially of the portioning module,

4:

the process of portioning,

Fig. 5:

Depictions of a pork chop,

Figure 6:

Diameter variations,

Fig. 7:

a second design of the device cut along the feed direction 10,

Fig. 8:

consisting of gutter and transverse punch form tube or Portionierrohr in cross section in different states, and

Fig. 9:

an enlarged detail Fig. 5 with cutting material.

FIG. 1a shows along the feed path 10 ', the functional interaction of the individual components, namely located in this case down feed module 100 and the portioning module 1 arranged above and the portioning knife 4 located therebetween, each of which is shown in longitudinal section through the centers, for reasons of clarity without Filling, so without cutting material.

Instead of an exactly vertical arrangement as in FIG. 1a shown, the arrangement can also be chosen inclined.

The feed module 100 comprises the upwardly and downwardly open forming tube 101, which in the feed direction 10 has the same internal cross-section and is closed at the rear, in particular lower, rear end of a matching ram 102, by means of a ram drive 108 in the longitudinal direction, ie in and against the feed direction, is movable in the forming tube 101 and can change the internal volume.

In the feed direction 10 thereafter, that is to say upwards, in this case, a cutting tube 25 adjoins the forming tube 101 in an aligned manner, possibly without a gap (for example, pressed by a pressing cylinder), which has the same internal cross section.

The cutting tube 25 serves to cross each other, in transverse directions 11, 11 'extending knife gate 23 a, b, which exist only with boneless goods and each consisting of several parallel juxtaposed knives, to lead by the individual knives Slots of the opposite walls of the cutting tube 25 pass through and thereby extend over the entire inner cross section of the cutting tube 25, where they are indeed reciprocated in their longitudinal extent for dividing the initially still strand-like material to be cut into individual in the feed direction 10 extending strip.

Immediately before, so in this case below the knife gate 23 a, b is a pre-press plate 22 usually transversely with a direction transverse to the feed direction 10 in corresponding slots of the cutting tube 25, and can close or release the inner cross section by means of existing in the pre-pressing 22 Hole with the same internal cross-section as cutting tube 25th

This pre-pressing plate 22 is used in the inserted, the cross-section closing state to support the inserted into the forming tube 101 in its original shape strand of material to be cut during pre-forming and pre-pressing according to the remaining inner contour of the forming tube in the direction of the front end, without thereby significantly less stable knife the knife gate 23 a, b to charge. If the knife guards 23a, b are missing, the pre-press plate 22 is usually not necessary, because then directly against the portioning module 1, e.g. against the countermark, is pre-pressed.

The portioning module 1 comprises a blind-hole-shaped portioning plate 5, whose bottom surface is opposite the feed module 100, formed by an inner cross-section of the blind-hole portioning chamber 7 counter-punch 12 which in the longitudinal direction, ie in and against the feed direction 10, by means of a counter punch drive 13 is movable. The inner cross section of the portioning chamber 7 corresponds to that of the cutting tube 25 and the forming tube 101 and is aligned therewith.

The from the forming tube 101 by means of the punch 102 forward, so in the direction of feed 10 up, pushed strand of cutting material is pushed forward, thereby cut by the knives of the two cutting gates in the longitudinal direction strips, and further feeding until it rests against the counter punch 12th pushed, and thus fill with its front-side front end and the portioning chamber 7 in the portioning plate 5. Before that takes place after the pre-deformation in the forming tube, in which no cavities unfilled with material to be cut remain in the mold tube cavity 101a, after removing the pre-pressing plate 22 from the inner cross-section.

In this state, the portioning knife 4 is then introduced in the transverse direction in the inner cross section and thereby severed the strand of cutting material and thus cuts its front end, namely the volume received in the portioning chamber 7 in the form of a disc 2, as in the remaining figures shown.

The ram drive 108 and / or counter punch drive 13 must be fast and accurate to move, especially the exact mobility is difficult by a pneumatic drive. Instead, mechanical drives, for example by means of a threaded spindle or ball-roll spindle, are preferred which combine speed and precise positioning. The two drives can be controlled separately, but also - electrically or mechanically - be synchronized.

In FIG. 1 a is also the transport device 50 in the form of a conveyor belt for transporting the portioned slices or cubes shown, as well as the turret drives 6a and 106a for rotating the portioning turret 6 by the portioning plates are 5, as well as the feed Turret 106, on which the forming tubes 101 are located, as well as for positioning these revolvers in the desired rotational position.

In this case, the direction of movement of the side punch 104 in the mold tube groove 103 also obliquely to the longitudinal axis of the contour of the mold cavity 101a, which has the advantage that the length and width of the mold cavity 101a are changed simultaneously.

Various portioning knives 4 are in FIG. 2b shown. The portioning knife 4 is flat with an area which is large enough to cut through the cross section of the forming tube cavity 101 a and thus the entire cutting material 3 and cover after the disc 2 is cut off, which is mainly for the subsequent transverse displacement of the with the slice 2 filled portioning plate 5 is important.

The cutting edge 4b can be straight, in particular obliquely to the direction of movement of the knife, namely the transverse direction 11, run, or even V-shaped or contoured differently. However, it is important that the portioning knife 4 is tensioned in its running direction 4 ', ie transversely to its direction of movement, in tension, for example between the freely ending legs of a portioning knife 4, e.g. U-shaped knife bracket 24.

Due to this bias, the blade despite sufficient inherent stability in the untensioned state, ie when produced from a very thin steel plate, sufficiently stable and displaced during cutting still little volume.

• Dies dient dazu, um den Ausgangs-Querschnitt des Hohlraumes 101a bereits vor dem Verpressen der Querschnittskontur des Ausgangs-Schneidgutes 3 anzupassen. Zu diesem Zweck kann der Seitenstempel 104 vollständig aus der Formrohr-Rinne 103 heraus verfahren werden, und dadurch das einzulegende Schneidgut 3 in die Formrohr-Rinne 103 erleichtert werden.

Figures 1b . c show in cross section the formation of the forming tube 101 of two parts, namely the U-shaped forming tube groove 103 with mutually parallel inner edges, and the precisely fitting side punch 104 which is movable in the transverse direction 11 and thereby vary the remaining mold tube cavity 101a can:

• This serves to adapt the initial cross-section of the cavity 101a even before the compression of the cross-sectional contour of the starting material 3. For this purpose, the side punch 104 can be completely moved out of the forming tube channel 103, and thereby the cutting material 3 to be introduced into the forming tube channel 103 can be facilitated.

Since this variable cross-section must be closable by means of corresponding press dies 102 a, b ..., the side punch 104 can approach preferably defined transverse positions 105 a, b ... within the mold tube channel 103, for the analogous shaped press dies 102 a, b. .. are available or the ram is infinitely adjustable in its surface.

After inserting the starting material to be cut 3, the side punch 104 will thus have such a transverse position, e.g. 105a, approach, in which the starting material to be cut 3 is already deformed and pre-pressed in the transverse direction so far that it fills the remaining inner cross-section as far as possible or completely.

Subsequently, with the appropriate punch, e.g. 102a pushed the material to be cut 3 in the feed direction 10 against the pre-pressing plate 22 and also pressed so far in the longitudinal direction that then no cavities between 3 Schneidgut and inner contour of the forming tube cavity 101 a remain.

In the rectangular mold cavities 101 a according to Fig. 1b can be cut material 3 in the form of a meat strand pressed well.

However, if the cutting material 3 consists of a meat strand with bone portion, such as a partially bony cutting material, this is a rectangular mold cavity less well suited.

In Fig. 2 a and 2 b is therefore a mold cavity 101 a shown, in the form of a parallelogram, in which the corners of the parallelogram with the small inner angle strongly and preferably also the two remaining corners are rounded. Instead of the parallelogram shape, any other shape is possible which has two mutually parallel sides and overall results in an elongated contour rounded at the ends.

In the described Parallelogrammform is on the other hand, the strongly rounded corner with the small inner angle and the adjacent edge of the parallelogram formed in the ram stamp 103 on the one hand and the ram 104 on the other hand, wherein the contact surfaces of the side slider 104, which is displaceable in the inner edges of the channel 103, which correspond to two mutually parallel sides of the parallelogram or a similar contour.

In this way, a chop strand, whose unbalanced V-shaped bone (viewed in cross section) can be different in size and also the hanging thereon cross-section of the meat strand, yet be pressed well transversely.

The chop strand 3 'is thereby inserted so that the outer edge of the bone K is inserted into the contour of the forming tube groove 103, such as the bone edge K at the transition between rounding and straight edge of the channel 103 or even in the rounding, while the free End of the long bone KL at the adjacent to the rounding flank, which is not contact surface for the side punch 104, is applied.

By pressing the side punch 104 while the inner contour of the side punch 104 presses the meat part F of the cutting material 3 'against the bone K and thus the bone K, especially its large arcuate bone KL, against the bottom of the channel 103. The meat F is so deforms that between the bone K and side shifter 104 all cavities are filled by the meat F and thus the cutting material 3 'on the side facing away from the bone K side has a uniform outer contour over the length.

Assuming that the cavity between the bone KL and the bottom of the channel 103 over the length, ie feed direction 10, remains the same, this means a constant in the feed direction 10 cross section of the material to be cut 3 '. In addition, this cavity can be automatically scanned and thus determined by extending out of the channel 103 into the mold cavity 101a extending in the feed direction 10 sliding webs 112, after inserting and cross-pressing the material to be cut 3 'against the concave outer contour of the bone K, especially the long Bone KL, are extended and automatically pass their position to a controller 20 of the machine for calculating the cavity and thus the actual cross-section of the cross-pressed material to be cut 3 '.

The comparison of FIGS. 2a and 2 B shows that in this way also in cross section strongly different sized chop strands 3 ', 3 "can be handled well.

• Neben der Querschnittsform des Kotelettstranges 3', die in Fig. 5a nochmals vergrößert dargestellt ist, und der perspektivischen Darstellung im unverpressten Zustand in Fig. 5d zeigt die Seitenansicht der Fig. 5b, dass der Fleischstrang F eines Kotelettstranges sich quasi in Längsrichtung zur Mitte hin zusammenzieht, und dadurch in den Endbereichen einen größeren Querschnitt besitzt als in der Mitte der Längserstreckung, und zusätzlich die Stirnseiten des Fleischstranges F vom Knochen aus schräg und nicht gerade verlaufen.

The fact that the cross compression described and the subsequent or simultaneous longitudinal compression of a chop strand 3 ', 3 "is necessary in order to be able to portion uniformly heavy slices, show the Figures 5 :

• In addition to the cross-sectional shape of the chop strand 3 ', the in Fig. 5a is shown enlarged again, and the perspective view in the unpressed state in Fig. 5d shows the side view of Fig. 5b in that the meat strand F of a chop strand contracts quasi longitudinally towards the center and thereby has a larger cross-section in the end regions than in the middle of the longitudinal extension, and additionally the end faces of the meat strand F extend obliquely and not straight from the bone.

Both are avoided by sufficiently strong cross-compression, which must be accompanied by a sufficient longitudinal support for the formation of flat faces, in particular to be able to utilize the starting and end discs, and equally difficult to portion the other slices.

The same applies on the side of the Portioniermoduls 1 possibly for different sized Portionier chambers 7 a, b in corresponding Portionier plates 5 a, b, which in turn on a portioning turret 6 analogous to the feed turret 106, but possibly with mutually offset axes of rotation , as in FIG. 1 a are shown arranged.

Press punch drive 108 and counter punch drive 103 are preferably only simple, namely fixedly arranged on the feed path 10 ', available. If a cutting tube 25 is present, this must also be changed together with the forming tube 101 a, b or arranged with the portioning plate 5 together on a revolver.

• Figur 1b und 1c zeigen in der Aufsicht von oben gemäß Figur 1 a einen solchen Portionier-Revolver 6 und Formrohr-Revolver 106. Auf dem Portionier-Revolver 6 können sich in diesem Fall zwei, denkbar sind auch drei oder mehr, verschiedene, allerdings in ihrer Kontur und Größe gleich große Portionier-Platten 5 mit entsprechenden, ebenfalls gleich großen und gleich konturierten Portionier-Kammer 7a,b.. befinden.

Especially on the side of the portioning module 1, the training in turret construction can be used as follows:

• FIG. 1b and 1c show in the top view according to FIG. 1 a portioning turret 6 and turret 106. In this case, two, conceivable are three or more, different, but in their contour and size equal sized portioning plates 5 with corresponding, equally sized and identically contoured portioning chamber 7a, b .. are located.

This can be used to continue to rotate the portioning turret 6 after separating a disc 2 in the cutting position S of the revolver and the next chamber, e.g. 7b to bring to cutting position and immediately after the retraction of the knife 4 to refill by advancing the cutting material 3.

The just-filled portioning chamber 7a is further rotated together with the separated disc 2 still located therein, e.g. in the immediately subsequent ejection position A, and only there ejected the disc 2 from the portioning chamber 7a or 7b and on e.g. a transport device 50 stored.

The possibly still remaining two rotational positions of the portioning turret 6 can serve, for example, for cleaning the portioning chamber 7 or serve a rotational position of the feed turret 106 and for filling the mold cavity 101a, by another transport device 50 'in this position, the next cutting material 3 transported, optionally with automatic weighing by means of a in this transport device 50 'integrated direct balance 107th

Of course, also on the side of the portioning chamber 7, the cross section of the chamber can be changed, e.g. by two-part design of the portioning plate 5 by means of trough 103 and side punches, as has already been described analogously in the case of a multi-part forming tube 101, with the result that even then the side punch, e.g. can reach defined transverse positions for which corresponding counter punches 12 must be available.

This makes it possible, despite the arrangement of several equally large Portionier-chambers 7a, b ... on a portioning turret 6 time-saving cutting and ejecting at different rotational positions and thus simultaneously perform, and still the advantage of adjusting the sizes of Portionier chambers 7 on the entire portioning revolver 6 to keep.

In an analogous manner, on the side of the feed turret 106, such a distribution of the functions to a plurality of rotational positions can serve to refill the next forming tube 101 with cutting material 3 while advancing and portioning a material 3 on the feed path 10 'in another rotational position already to press in the transverse direction 11 by means of the side punch 104 to clean the mold tube to disinfect by means of UV light and the like.

It shows FIG. 3 a in a partial sectional view through the Portioniermodul 1 and its portioning turret 6, as the ejection process, which is already facilitated in principle by the fact that the portioning chambers 7 are downwardly open by the arrangement of the portioning plates 5 above the forming tubes 101 and thus the ejection of the discs 2 is already promoted by their gravity.

FIG. 3 a shows in this case the inclusion not only of a separated slice 2 in the portioning chamber 7, but the possibility created by the longitudinally movable counter punch 12, several slices 2, even different target thickness D and actual thickness, to separate one behind the other, and together initially in the still located in the cutting position S portioning chamber 7a record and to leave until the desired number of slices, which may represent about a portion or portion Portion is reached, and only then this chamber 5 from the cutting position S to the ejection position A according to the left half of the FIG. 3 to spend what saves time in the workflow. The ejection position A may be located diametrically opposite the cutting position S, as in FIG FIG. 3 represented, or at any intermediate angle.

In FIG. 3 a in the right half of the situation when separating a second disc 2 is shown, while a first separated slice 2 is already in the portioning chamber 7 at cutting position S, and the counter punch 12 thus at an axial position corresponding to twice the slice thickness D. located.

In the left half of the picture, the two now separated slices 2 are still outside the portioning chamber 7 still adhering to the counter punch 12, and will be ejected from this in this ejection position A underneath transport device 50, in which a portioning scale 14 installed as a direct balance is that directly weighs the portion falling, in this case consisting of two slices 2, and the weighing result to those in the FIGS. 1 indicated control 20 for all movable components of the overall machine weitergeibt to adjust the setting, especially the position of the counter punch 12 for the subsequent cutting operations.

As in FIG. 3 a can be seen on the back of the counter punch 12, ie between the solid bottom of the portioning plate 5, which may be the portioning turret 6 directly, and the back of the counter punch 12 as a pressure chamber 16 usable, lockable interior available.

The interior 16 is acted upon by closable valves 18a, b with lines for venting and / or compressed air and / or negative pressure, and thus can be completed pressure-tight by closing all valves.

Thus, for the ejection of the pressure chamber 16 with pressure, so compressed air, are acted upon, and thereby the counter punch 12 against the feed direction 10 are moved downward, preferably until the pressing surface of the counter punch 12 with the opening, so the bottom of the portioning plate 5 is aligned, or shortly before, which is realized by means of a preferably positive end stop.

The ram 102 stands - at least as long as the corresponding portioning plate 5 is in the cutting position S - under a corresponding pressure, which is arranged by a pressure sensor 15, either between the counter punch 12 and the counter punch drive 13 acting on it or directly in the pressing surface of the counter punch 12, as in FIG. 1 is shown, or is determined by measuring the current consumption in the drive 108, or it is mechanically locked in the corresponding longitudinal position.

In FIG. 3 A can be displaceable in the ejection position A of the counter punch 12 by a drive 13 ', preferably a drive analogous to the drive at the cutting position S, in the longitudinal direction 10. Preferably, however, this should be omitted.

As described, the counter punch 12 can be moved downwards, thereby mechanically ejecting the disks 2 from the portioning chamber 7, which preferably ends when the pressing surface of the punch 12 has reached the opening of the portioning chamber 7.

• Zu diesem Zweck ist - wie in Fig. 3 a ersichtlich - der Gegenstempel 12 zweiteilig ausgebildet mit einem zusätzlichen, demgegenüber in Vorschubrichtung 10 verschiebbaren Anschlagteil 19. Das Anschlagteil 19 weist einen nach vorne gerichteten Anschlag 19a auf, mit dem die Bewegung an der vorderen Endposition gegenüber einem fest mit der Portionier-Platte 5 verbundenen Bauteil erreicht wird.

This pressurization of compressed air has the further advantage that it can also be used to detach the first disc 2 adhering to the counter punch 12:

• For this purpose - as in Fig. 3 The stop member 19 has a forwardly directed stop 19a, with which the movement at the front end position with respect to a fixed to the portioning plate 5 is connected to the counterstamp 12 two-piece design with an additional, displaceable in the feed direction Component is achieved.

The stamp plate 12 'provided with its own stamp on the back is mounted in the hollow punch of the stop member 19 and the stop member 19 is biased by a spring 30 in the retracted position relative to the fixed bottom of the plate 5.

The pressing plate 12 'is penetrated by rearwardly expanding air openings 8a into which the forwardly facing extensions of the stop member 19 fit, which can close the air openings 8a.

When ejecting the counter punch 12 at the end of Auswerfposition, so preferably before alignment of the pressure plate 12 'in front of the front end of the portioning chamber 7a, abruptly stopped by the end stop 19a to support a detachment of the discs 2a, b by their kinetic energy , At the latest in this state, the spring 30 presses against this downward movement of the counter-punch 12 against a corresponding shoulder of the stop member 19 upwards and thereby prevents the projections at the lower end of the stop member 19, the air openings 8a close.

The compressed air, with which the pressure chamber 16 is acted, thus flows through the air openings 8a on the front of the pressure plate 12 'and thus between the pressure plate 12' and there adhering first disc 2, and dissolves them. A supporting effect can be achieved if there are further air openings between the outer circumference of the pressing plate 12 'and the inner circumference of the portioning chamber 7, for example in the form of a circumferential annular gap.

After repelling the discs 2, the corresponding press plate 5 can be used again for portioning, and is brought back to the cutting position S at the appropriate time. There then presses to apply a corresponding counterforce of the counter punch drive 13 from above, ie opposite to the feed direction, on the rear end faces of both the stop member 19 and the counter punch 12 until the rear end faces are aligned a relative position of these two parts is achieved to one another, in which the projections at the front, lower end of the stop member 19, the 12 open the die plate 12 'of the counter punch penetrating air openings.

In Fig. 3b is the in Fig. 3a only indicated ram 102 shown enlarged in detail.

It can be seen that projecting from the ram 102 pointed pins 113 parallel to each other against the cutting material 3 ', either perpendicular to the surface of the ram 102 running or obliquely thereto to penetrate into the material to be cut, be it the meat F or the bone K. and to keep this on the press ram.

Also brackets 114 are here conceivable, or other form-fitting holding the meat holding devices.

The FIGS. 4 show the individual states of motion using the example of a portioning chamber 7 until the two separated slices 2a, b are located one behind the other in the portioning chamber 7, and in addition not in disc form, but the slices divided into individual cubes or cuboids.

FIG. 1 shows the basic situation at the transition between forming tube 101, cutting tube 25 and portioning plate 5, as in FIG. 1 on the feed path 10 'can be seen. In this case, the pre-pressing plate 22 is still in the mold cavity 101a closing position, but the cutting material 3 is so far pre-compressed in the longitudinal and transverse directions that in the mold cavity 101 a no more voids are present, which would not be filled with material to be cut 3.

After removing the pre-pressing plate 22, the material to be cut 3 is pushed forward by means of the press ram 102 until it touches the counter-punch 12, which closes the opening of the portioning chamber 7 with its pressing surface, as in FIG FIG. 4a represented, wherein the cutting material 3 is already cut into strips by passing through the two knife gates 23a, b. Subsequently, according to FIG. 4b the cutting material 3 together with the counter punch 12 moved into the portioning chamber 7, in particular together due to synchronous movement of the ram 102nd

This is continued until the counter punch 12 and thus the material to be cut 3 reaches the desired depth, as a rule corresponding to the desired thickness D of the slice 2 to be produced ( Figure 4c ).

After stopped in this position, the counter punch 12, preferably mechanically fixed, is, the portioning knife 4 is retracted in the transverse direction into the mold cavity until it has completely severed the cutting material 3 in the transverse direction 11 and a first disc 2, possibly divided z , B. in cuboid, is separated from the strand.

Subsequently, the portioning knife 4 is withdrawn from the inner cross section, cutting material 3 including the separated disc 2 and together with the counter punch 12, where it bears under pretension, moves further in the feed direction 10, preferably in turn together with the synchronously moving ram 102, to the counter punch 12 has reached the next defined axial position, preferably corresponding to a depth of twice the target thickness D of the disks 2 in the portioning chamber 7.

In this position, in turn, the stopping and preferably fixing of the counter punch 12 in this longitudinal position, and again the retraction of the portioning knife 4 ( FIG. 4d ) From the outside in the inner cross-section until in turn a next disc 2b is completely separated.

In this way, the corresponding number of slices can be produced in succession, without ejection from the portioning chamber 7a, which as before with reference to FIG. 3 described, and thus time required only once per portion and not every time per slice, is performed.

The Fig. 6 show various possibilities of separating tools to cut both the bone K and the meat F of a bony portion such as a chop strand.

The bone knife 4.1 are shown as a toothed, saw-like tool, while the meat knife 4.2 is provided a sharply ground edge, ie for a normal, ie in particular a pulling, cut. In Fig. 6d the chop strand is shown, which is severed there by different cutting tools.

The meat content F can be cut through a conventional meat knife 4.2, which can be stretched for example between two lateral brackets.

The two arcuate bones KL and KK are separated by separate pivotable or rotatable bone knives 4a1, 4a2 separately and laterally, but in the same plane, which is also the plane of the meat knife 4.2, severed.

The pivot point of the two knives 4a1 and 4a2 lies in each case on the circular arc center, which is formed on the one hand by the arcuate long bone KL and on the other hand by the also arched, much shorter bone KK, but the center of a bone knife not in the path of movement of the other knife may lie.

The knives are preferably not formed as a full circular disk, but as a circular segment disk, with a toothing on its circumference. Preferably, when formed as a circle segment, the preferably toothed cutting edges or sawing edges have an increasing radius. The Fig. 6a to 6c on the other hand, portioning knives in the form of combination knives, on which both the bone cutter 4.1 and the meat knife 4.2 are accommodated.

at Fig. 6a it is a circular disk-shaped knife with a constant outer radius, of which a peripheral portion is formed as a bone knife 4.1, in particular by toothing of the cutting edge.

Fig. 6.2 shows a crescent-shaped knife, in which along the cutting edge whose distance from the fulcrum along sickle steadily increases. Here, too, a portion of the cutting edge, either the first portion as shown here or preferably also the last portion is formed as a bone knife 4.1, the rest of the cutting edge as a meat knife 4.2.

Fig. 6c shows a piece of a conventional, straight, band-shaped saw blade, the cutting edge is formed over one of the two end portions as a bone knife 4.1.

The bone knives 4.1 have additionally in the area of the knife of the cutting edge set back, but as far as possible far back, round openings 28, which are used in addition to the free spaces behind the individual teeth to absorb cutting flour and from the cut, ie the bone, herauszutransportieren.

The FIGS. 7 and 9 show in longitudinal section, that is cut along the feed direction 10, a second design of the device, wherein in Fig. 7 the representation of the feed module 100 with the corresponding representation in Fig. 1a matches except for the absence of the revolver lever 106a, since in this case the two forming tubes 101 are not on a feed turret, but on a feed cross slide 106 ', with the aid - as better with reference to Fig. 9 to recognize - the two mutually parallel forming tubes 101, 101 'transverse to the feed direction 10 from the cutting position S, in which the blades are located in an adjacent discharge position A, which is double on opposite sides to the cutting position S, and back again can be moved.

In addition, different Fig. 7 from Fig. 1 in that, on the opposite side of the portioning blade 4, the essentially identical unit is again present in a mirror image to a plane parallel to the portioning blade 4, but this time with the function of portioning tubes 5 ', 5 ", like the forming tubes 101 and 101 '- Preferably are arranged together in a base body, are also arranged transversely displaceable as a cross slide for moving between the cutting position S and the ejection position A.

Accordingly, the axial length of the mold cavities 101 a, 101 a 'is the same size as that of the portioning chamber 7, 7', so that the Ausgangsschneidgut 3 can be taken completely sliced in slices or cubes in the Portionierkammer 7 above the Portioniermessers 4, so the cut material 3 completely sliced or cubes in the portioning chamber 7 takes place, without this previously empty, as in principle already based on the Fig. 3 mentioned.

The main advantage of such a design of the machine is that those device parts of the solution according to Fig. 1 , which are necessary for a quick and accurate emptying of the portioning chamber 7 after each slice cut, and the subsequent equally precise and fast removal to a downstream automatic packaging unit, which must work just as fast, is not needed.

This reduces the construction costs and maintenance costs compared to the machine Fig. 1 Nevertheless, the operator still has a semi-automatic operation, since the cutting process itself is automatic, but the filling and emptying of the material to be cut need not necessarily be automated, especially if there is not only a pairing of forming tube 101 and portioning tube 5 '. but two such pairs next to each other, as based on the FIGS. 7 and 9 which allows the following advantageous procedure:

After inserting the material to be cut in the mold cavity 101 a, which is in the cutting position S, this is pre-compressed to 3 cut material by means of the press ram 102 and possibly by means of a cross bar 104. Subsequently, according to Fig. 9 the material to be cut 3 by means of the ram 102 gradually pushed forward in the direction of portioning knife 4, with simultaneous investment and synchronous movement of the counter punch 12 at the front end face of the cut material 3, while slice by slice the cut material 3 by means of Portioniermessers sliced, or - if Messergatter 23 is present - in cube-shaped pieces until the cut slices 3 is completely in the Portionierkammer 7.

In the meantime, the operator may add a new starting cut material 3 'to the other mold cavity 101a' located at the ejecting position.

After the end of the described cutting process, the cross slide 106 'with the forming tubes 101, 101' so shifted that the new material to be cut is in the cutting position, and also the cutting tube cross slide 106 "moves in the transverse direction, that the filled portioning chamber 7 - In this case, to the right - moved to the ejection position, and is there, for example, by means of an axial slide 109 later completely pushed out of this portioning chamber 7 in order to prepare them for reuse.

In the meantime, however, the other portioning chamber 7 'is already at the cutting position S, and the next cutting operation is already taking place during this time.

Since the addition of a new Ausgangsschneidgutes 3 'and the removal of the cut material to be cut from the Portionierkammer 7 - especially if it is also done automatically or semi-automatically - less time than the cutting of a whole cut material 3, the operator has a time window available, within he can do this work so that an operator can operate several such machines simultaneously.

As Fig. 9 shows, the machine also cheaper by the fact that ram 102 and / or counter punch 12 and the corresponding drives 108, 13 only once, namely at cutting position S, are present.

• Da neben dem Portioniermesser 4 in einem kurzen Schneidrohr 25 bzw. einer Schneidplatte 25 sich kreuzende Messer 23a, 23b ein Messergatter 23 bilden zum Würfelschneiden, welches allerdings komplett durch seitliches Herausfahren der Schneidplatte und Ersetzen durch ein Füll-Rohr deaktiviert werden kann, weist der Gegenstempel 12 in seiner freien Stirnfläche eingebrachte, sich kreuzende Schlitze auf, die je nach Richtung unterschiedliche Tiefe aufweisen, und zur Aufnahme der Messer 23a,b des Messergatters 23 dienen.

Another special feature is the formation of the countermark 12:

• As next to the portioning knife 4 in a short cutting tube 25 and a cutting plate 25 intersecting knife 23a, 23b a knife gate 23 form for dicing, but which can be completely disabled by lateral retraction of the insert and replacement by a filling tube, has the counter punch 12 introduced in its free end face, intersecting slots, which have different depth depending on the direction, and serve to receive the blades 23 a, b of the knife gate 23.

As a result, while saving a pre-pressing plate, as in example Fig. 3 has been explained, the counter punch 12 from the beginning, even in the pre-compression, are in direct contact with the front surface of the cut material 3, by receiving the knife 23 a, b in its matching slots to the axial position of the front edge of the foremost knife 23rd can be driven up.

The molding tubes 101, 101 'and the Portionierrohre 5', 5 "may be formed as over the circumference integrally continuous tubes or as already explained from two parts, namely a groove and a retractable from the open side of the channel from the transverse punch z. 104, as based on the FIGS. 8 shown as a cross section at an arbitrary longitudinal position of the forming tube 101, as well as the transverse punch 104 with its drive is preferably present only at the cutting position S in the forming tube, and analogously such a counter punch only at the cutting position S once at the portioning module. 1

• Der Querschnitt des Formhohlraumes ist parallelogrammförmig, und der die eine Seite des Parallelogramms bildende Querstempel 104 ist in Richtung der beiden anderen Seiten des Parallelogramms zwischen dessen freie Schenkel hinein verschiebbar.

Fig. 8 further shows a different mold tube cavity 101a than with reference to FIG Figures 2 explains:

• The cross section of the mold cavity is parallelogram-shaped, and the one side of the parallelogram forming transverse punch 104 is displaceable in the direction of the other two sides of the parallelogram between the free leg.

This cross-sectional shape of the cavity allows - with the arrangement of a knife gate - the arrangement of the directions of the blades 23a and 23b respectively parallel to the outer surfaces of the parallelogram cross-section, so that although no cubes, but small parallelograms, cut, but all about the have the same volume.

This cross-sectional shape allows the adaptation of a z. As pig salmon by way of pre-compression without too much deformation, so that in this cross-sectional shape without changing the forming tube both slicing and cutting cubic body is made possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

apportioning

2

disc

3

be cut

4

Portioning knife

4.1

bone knife

4.2

meat knife

5

Portioning plate

6

Portioning Revolver

7

Portioning chamber

8th

air opening

9

input unit

10

feed direction

10 '

feed path

11

transversely

12

counterpunch

13, 13 '

Counterpunch drive

14

Portioning scales

15

pressure sensor

16

pressure chamber

17

piston rod

18 a, b, c

Valve

19

Eject pin

20

control

21

flow channel

22

Vorpressplatte

23 a, b

knife gate

24

knife bracket

25

cutting tube

25 a

Cutting tube cavity

26

cleaning device

27

Power device Fair

44 a, b

axis of rotation

50, 50 '

transport device

100

feed module

101

forming tube

101 a

Form tube-cavity

102

press die

103

Forming tube-shaped channel

103a

opening

104, 104 '

page stamp

105 a, b

transverse position

106

Feed turret

106 '

Feed-cross slide

106 '

Cutting pipe cross slide

107

Direct scale

108

Press punch drive

109

Bone trough

109 a, b

leg

110

axis of rotation

111

membrane

112

Sliding webs / -Pulley

113

axial slide

K

bone

KL

Bones long

KK

Bones short

D

thickness

A

Ejection position

S

Cutting position

Claims (36)

1. A method for cutting weight precise slices (2) or slice portions from a conditionally form stable cutting material (3) which, however, includes form stable components, in particular bones, in particular fish or meat, wherein

   - a portioning blade (4) that is fixated in place in a feed direction (10) cuts off a slice (2) directly behind a forward open end of a form tube (101) or cutting tube from a cutting material,

   - the slice (2) is transported away from the cutting material (3),

   characterized in that
   physical conditions, in particular pressure, are monitored and/or controlled in a piece of cutting material (3) that is cut off or that is to be cut off immediately before the slice (2) is cut off.
2. The method according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   before cutting off the slice (2) from the cutting material (3) the cutting material (3) is pre compressed to form a strand with a constant cross section in feed direction at least of soft components (meat) of the cutting material (3), in particular by compressing in the transversal direction (11) between a form tube chute (103) and a side plunger (104) as well as in the feed direction (10) between a press plunger (102) and a reaction bearing, in particular a pre compression plate (22) or an opposite plunger (12).
3. The method according to one of the preceding method claims,
   characterized in that
   an outer contour of the cutting material (3) on a form stable side, in particular the bone side, is scanned with respect to its cross section and a cross sectional surface of the pre compressed strand of the cutting material (3) is computed from the scan and a nominal thickness of the slices (2) is determined as a function of a nominal weight of the slices (2) before and in particular also during portioning of the cutting material.
4. The method according to one of the preceding method claims,
   characterized in that
   the cutting material is supported against a reaction bearing providing resistance in feed direction, in particular an opposite plunger that is moveable in the feed direction, during cutting off the slice.
5. The method according to one of the preceding method claims,
   characterized in that

   - during cutting off a slice the form stable components, in particular the bone (K) on the one hand side, and the softer components, in particular the muscle on the other hand side, are cut apart sequentially, in particular the meat is cut apart first and the bone thereafter, and in particular

   - the cutting tool remains in the cutting material as an axial spacer during a penetration of the cutting tool for the muscle when the bone is cut through first.
6. The method according to one of the preceding method claims, wherein

   - the cutting material (3) is pressed into a dead hole portioning chamber (7a) with a defined depth with a forward face end of the cutting material until the cutting material completely fills the portioning chamber, and in particular

   - the base of the portioning chamber (7a) is configured as an opposite plunger (12) that is moveable in the feed direction and wherein a loading force of the opposite plunger (12) in the longitudinal direction is measured by the opposite plunger drive (13) and/or a pressing force of the opposite plunger against the cutting material (3) is measured directly.
7. The method according to one of the preceding method claims,
   characterized in that
   an actual weight of the slice (2), in particular of every slice (2) is determined automatically and physical parameters in the portioning chamber (7) are changed for subsequent slices (2) as a function of a deviation of an actual weight of the slice (2) from its nominal weight, in particular an axial depth of the portioning chamber (7a) is changed during cutting the cutting material (3) in the portioning chamber (7a).
8. The method according to one of the preceding method claims,
   characterized in that
   a pressure in the portioning chamber (7a), in particular in the cutting material (3) arranged therein, is kept constant during the cutting process, in particular also relative to a pressure directly before a beginning of the cutting process, in particular by increasing a volume that is available for the cutting material (3) by a defined pull back of the opposite plunger (12) according to a volume displacement by a penetrating portioning blade (4) relative to the positioning plunger (12), in particular respectively by half a thickness of the portioning blade (4).
9. The method according to one of the preceding method claims,
   characterized in that
   a weight of the an incoming cutting material is determined indirectly by volume determination or directly by weighing, in particular automatically, and as a function of a nominal weight of the incoming cutting material (3) the nominal weight of the individual slices (2a, b) is determined before cutting within a permissible tolerance range so that a minimum residual remains from the incoming cutting material (3), in particular no residual remains at a beginning and/or an end, wherein the residual remains in particular in the form of an end slice.
10. The method according to one of the preceding method claims,
    characterized in that
    the opposite plunger (12) is positioned at an opening of the portioning chambers (7a) at a beginning of an insertion of the cutting material (3) into the portioning chamber (7a) and in particular the opposite plunger (12) contacts the cutting material (3) and moves into the portioning chamber (7a) with the cutting material (3).
11. The method according to one of the preceding method claims,
    characterized in that

    - plural slices (2a, b, c...) are cut off sequentially wherein slices (2a, b) that are already cut off remain in the portioning chamber (7a) while the opposite plunger (12) moves back in increments and a slice portion is ejected and in particular transported away, in particular the entire cut up incoming cutting material (3) is transported away only after reaching a desired number of slices, and in particular

    - a weight precise nominal portion including plural slices is provided by producing and automatically weighing plural, in particular two partial portions which in particular respectively include plural slices (2a, b...) and controlling a nominal weight for a last, in particular a second partial portion as a function of a difference between an actual weight and a nominal weight of prior partial portions.
12. The method according to one of the preceding method claims,
    characterized in that
    the opposite plunger (12) is moved as a function of a movement of a press plunger (102), in particular synchronously thereto or asynchronously thereto during insertion of the cutting material (3) into the portioning chamber (7a).
13. The method according to one of the preceding method claims,
    characterized in that

    - a pre compression is performed against a pre compression plate (22) introduced into a feed path (10') during a pre compression of the cutting material (3) before introducing it into the portioning chamber (7a) wherein the cutting material (3) is pre compressed into a strand with a constant cross section in the longitudinal direction (10) wherein the strand includes at least the non form stable portion wherein the pre compression is performed by the press plunger (102) and the surrounding form tube (101), and in particular

    - adapting the nominal cross section of the pre compressed strand (2) to the inner contour of the tube (3) is performed in particular by incremental insertion in transversal direction of the form tube chute (103) forming the form tube (101) and of the side plunger (104) into one another and replacing the press plunger (102a, b...) adapted thereto.
14. A device for cutting off weight precise slices (2) or slice portions from a conditionally form stable cutting material (3) which however includes form stable components, in particular bones (K), wherein the cutting material is in particular meat or fish, the device comprising

    - a portioning module (1) for cutting and storing the slices (2) or portions, and

    - a feed module (100) for preforming and feeding cutting material (3) to the portioning module (1), wherein the feed module (100) includes:

    - a form tube (101) extending in a feed direction (10), wherein a rear open end of the form tube is closed by a press plunger (102) that is moveable in the feed direction (10) in the form tube (101) for pre forming and moving the cutting material (3) in a linear manner,

    - wherein the form tube (101) is configured in two pieces with a laterally open form tube chute (103) and a side plunger (104) that is transversally insertable in a tight manner into an opening (103a) of the form tube chute (103),

    - wherein the form tube (101), in particular its form tube chute (103) includes an inner contour which is provided with a different cross section size for receiving the cutting material (3), also with a different cross section size of the bone (K), and in particular has an elongated cross section with strongly rounded corners,

    characterized in that
    the device is configured so that during cutting off the slice (2) or immediately before cutting off the slice (2) the physical conditions, in particular the pressure in the portion of the cutting material to be cut off or proximal to the portion of the cutting material to be cut off is monitorable and/or controllable.
15. The device according to claim 14,
    characterized in that

    - a movement direction of the side plunger (104) extends at a slant angle relative to a longitudinal axis and/or a transversal axis of the form tube cavity (101 a), and in particular the form tube (101 a) cavity is a parallelogram with at least two, in particular four rounded corners, wherein at least one of the rounded corners, in particular two adjacent rounded inner corners are configured in the side plunger (104) wherein at least one, in particular both adjacent rounded inner corners are configured in the side plunger (104), and at least one, in particular both other rounded inner corners are configured in the form tube chute (103), and the form tube chute (103) as well as the side plunger (104) include inner flanks or outer flanks that are respectively parallel to each other, wherein the inner flanks or the outer flanks extend in a direction of one of the pairs of side lines of the parallelogram and are identical with each other along the direction and are in particular identical with the side lines, and in particular

    - when there is a blade grid (23a, b) an extension direction of the blades is parallel to the directions of the sides of the parallelogram.
16. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that

    - the portioning module (1) includes a portioning blade which includes a bone blade (4.1) or a bone saw as well as a meat blade (4.2), and in particular

    - the bone blade (4.1) or the bone saw on one side and the meat blade (4.2) on the other side operate at an identical longitudinal position and are in particular functionally combined, and in particular the functionally combined portioning blade (4) is configured sickle shaped or disc shaped with a teething only over a portion of the outer contour, or rod shaped or band shaped with a teething configured as a bone blade (4.1) only in a portion of the cutting edge.
17. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that

    - separate bone blades (4a1, 4a2) are provided for cutting a short bone (KK) and a long bone (KL) configured as rotating blades or saws, in particular with an outer radius increasing over its extension and including teeth, and in particular

    - when using rotating separate bone blades (4a1, 4a2) for both arms (KL and KS) of the bone, the bone blades rotate about rotation axes (44a, b) which correspond to a curvature center of the respective bone arms (KL, KS) in particular of the meat side inner contour of the bone arms.
18. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that

    - the side plunger (104) can only approach defined transversal positions (105a, b) relative to the form tube chute (103) and

    - the feed module (100) includes plural press plungers (102a, b) according to the transversal positions (105a) which the press plungers are moveable in the feed direction.
19. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that

    - the rotating bone blades (4.1) or (4a1, 4a2) are only configured as circular arc segments with respect to their rotation axis and can be stopped at a defined rotational position to enter an idling position, and in particular

    - the rotating bone blade (4.1) or (4a1, 4a2) is drivable in both rotation directions.
20. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that
    a force measuring device (28) is coupled with the bone blade (4.1) or (4a1, 4a2), wherein the force measuring device is provided in particular as a current measuring device for the driving electric motor, wherein the driving electric motor is coupled with a control (20) of the machine.
21. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that

    - the press surface of the press plunger (102) is configured with vacuum outlets, or

    - support devices are provided at the press plunger (102) for form locking engagement, in particular by clamps or spikes into a rear end of the cutting material (3) against an unintentional lift off of the cutting material (3) from the press plunger (102) and the press plunger (102) is securable against an unintentional forward movement in the feed direction.
22. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that
    the side plunger (104) can only approach defined transversal positions (105a, b) relative to the form tube chute (103).
23. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that
    the feed module (100) includes an indirect weighing device for determining a weight of the cutting material (3), including

    - a longitudinal position of the press plunger (102a, b) reached after compressing the cutting material (3),

    - an entry unit (9) for entering a type of the cutting material (3), and

    - a computing unit, in particular configured as a portion of the control (20) of the device in which specific weights for one or plural specific compression pressure are stored for different types of cutting materials,

    - and a total weight of the cutting material (3) is computable from the preceding factors over the volume of the cutting material (3),

    - optionally sensors for determining a selected form tube position (101 a, b...) or a transversal position of the side plunger (104) and of the press plunger (102a, b...).
24. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that
    a base of the portioning chambers (7a or 7b) is formed by an opposite plunger (12a, b) that is displaceable in and against the feed direction (10) and in particular for plural portioning chambers (7a, b) in a portioning plate (5) the opposite plungers (12a, b) of the individual portioning chambers (7a, b) are only loadable in the receiving position, thus along the feed path (10') by an opposite plunger drive (13).
25. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that
    the portioning chamber (7a) corresponds to the form tube cavity (101 a) in particular with respect to its axial length and the portioning chamber is configured to receive the entire incoming cutting material (3) in a portioning tube (5) and in particular the portioning chamber is configured analog to the feed module (100) in particular identical thereto with respect to the form tube (101) e.g. the form tube chute (103) and the side plunger (104) and the press plunger (102).
26. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that

    - the device includes two pairings including a feed module (100) including the form tube (101) and a portioning module (1) with a portioning tube (5') which are moveable, in particular transversally moveable in an alternating manner from a cutting position (S) for cutting the cutting material in which cutting position the press plunger and the opposite plunger drive are arranged, into an ejection position (A) outside of the cutting position (S), and in particular

    - in the ejection position (A) an axial slide (109) is provided which moves the cut up cutting material (3) in axial direction out of the portioning tube (5), in particular after removing the side plunger from its portioning chute in an axial direction, and in particular

    - for at least two pairs of feed module (100) and portioning module (1) only one common pair of side plungers (104, 104') is provided, wherein the common pair of side plungers is associated with the cutting position (S).
27. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that
    the opposite plunger (12a, b) is moveable by portions of the nominal thickness (D) of the slice (2) and also by a multiple of a thickness (D) of the slice (2).
28. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that
    in the transport device (50) a portioning scale (14) is arranged in the ejection position, wherein the portioning scale (14) is coupled with a control (19) for the opposite plunger (12a, b).
29. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that
    in the press surface of the opposite plunger (12a, b) at least one pressure sensor (15) is arranged or the pressure is measured by a force measurement at the opposite plunger drive (13) which is connected with the control (20) for the opposite plunger (12a, b) for keeping the pressure impacting the cutting material (3) or the slice (2) constant also during a penetration of the portioning blade (4).
30. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that
    the opposite plunger (102) is useable in an ejection position of the portioning chamber (7a, b) as an ejector and in particular forms a pressure cavity (16) together with a portion of the portioning chamber (7a, b) arranged behind the opposite plunger (12), wherein the pressure cavity (16) is closable pressure tight towards an edge of the portioning chamber maintaining an edge gap or optionally loadable with compressed air and/or vacuum.
31. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that

    - the pressure cavity (16) is penetrated by a piston rod (17) extending from a back side of the opposite plunger (12a,b) wherein the piston rod penetrates the portioning plate (5) on the back side for connecting with the opposite plunger drive (13), and in particular

    - the control (20) for the portioning revolver (6) and/or the opposite plunger (12a, b) is connected with the valves (18a, b) for opening or closing the venting conduits or the compressed air or vacuum conduits.
32. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that

    - the opposite plunger (12a, b) is configured in plural components with a stop element (19) and an opposite plunger (12) that is moveably supported in ejection direction, and in particular

    - the plunger plate (12') is penetrated by air openings (8a) which are opened relative to the press plate (12') in the pulled back idle position of the stop element (19).
33. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that
    the device includes plural cutting plates (25a, b) whose cavity (25a) cross sections vary according to the provided shapes of the press plungers (102a, b).
34. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that
    the form tube cavity (101) includes vacuum connections, in particular through the press plunger (102) and/or the pre pressed plate (22), and in particular the device does not include a portioning chamber (7a...).
35. The device according to at least the preamble of one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that

    - a pre pressing plate is insertable between the feed module (100) and the portioning module (101) wherein the pre pressing plate is introducible transversal to the feed path (10') and closes the form cavity (101 a), in particular closes it tight, and in particular between the portioning blade (4) and the pre pressing plate (22) at least one transversally extending blade grid (23a, b) is provided in particular directly behind the pre pressing plate (22), and in particular

    - the at least one blade grid (23a, b) and the pre pressing plate (22) are supported in a cutting plate (25), whose cavity (25a) is open on both sides and connects a front end of the form cavity (101 a) with the portioning chamber (7a, b) adjoining in the feed path (10').
36. The device according to one of the preceding device claims,
    characterized in that
    omitting the pre pressing plate (22) the opposite plunger (12) includes grid shaped notches from the free face wherein the notches correspond to the blade grid (23a, b) so that the opposite plunger can be pushed forward to the foremost cutting edge of the blade grid (23) between the blades.

Images