EP2407285B1 - Method and device for cutting food products - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device for slicing food products, in particular a Hochleistungsslicer, with a product feeder which feeds a product aufzuschnendes along a Produktzuführrichtung a cutting plane in which a cutting blade, in particular rotating and / or revolving moves, the product supply at least one Product conveyor formed to continuously convey the product and a product holder engageable with the product, in particular with a rear product end.

Such cutting devices serve to cut up food products, such as sausage, cheese, ham and the like, with high cutting sequence. For high-performance slicers, the quality of the cut depends largely on how safely and reliably the product is held and guided during the slicing process. Said combination of a product conveyor (continuous conveyor) formed to convey the product continuously, for example a belt, belt or roller conveyor, and a separate rear end product holder may help to ensure the required safe product handling. In addition, other measures for actively conveying or advancing the product and / or for passively guiding or holding the product may also be provided so as to improve the quality of the cut.

However, a problem with a product holder to be alternately engaged with respective product ends is that it must be returned to its original position after completion of the slicing process, regardless of whether it contributes to the product feed itself or is simply "dragged along" with the product for stabilization before a new product can be cut open. Between two successive aufzuschneidenden products must therefore always take place a return movement of the product holder. The throughput and thus the economic efficiency of Hochleistungsslicers is limited by such "empty runs", which is why, if necessary - especially for certain types of products such as ham - is dispensed with a product holder. However, this inevitably leads to poor product handling towards the end of the slicing process and, in some cases, even to unwanted slicing of the product end that is actually to be treated as scrap.

US 2009/120256 A1 and US 5,628,237 each show a device for slicing food products according to the preamble of claim 1, but without a continuous product promotion.

EP 0 733 446 A1 describes a device for slicing food. A food product is hereby fed vertically to a cutting blade. The feeding takes place with the aid of a pair of conveyor belts. A holding element in this case comprises claws, which can engage at a rear end of a ham loaf out of a standby position.

The object of the invention is to ensure a safe product management and product support in cutting devices of the type mentioned and at the same time to allow the highest possible product throughput.

The object is achieved on the one hand by a device having the features of claim 1.

According to the invention a control device for the product holder is provided, which is adapted to the product holder after the start of the slicing process from a way for the product releasing wait position in a working position behind the product and / or in the way for the product and after completion of the slicing process back into to adjust the waiting position, and the product holder and the product conveyor form a unit or belong to a common assembly, preferably the product holder in the product conveyor is integrated. These measures, taken in combination, allow the advantages of product delivery with product conveyors and product holders to be utilized without affecting product throughput, as is the case with prior art devices. In particular, in a device according to the invention, the product holder does not have to travel back to the starting position over the entire conveying path.

By "in the way of the product" is generally meant a working position in which the product holder engages the product and into which the product holder passes by being at least partially moved into the area which the product as it is supplied to the product Cutting knife is taken at least temporarily. The product holder may e.g. from the side or from the top into the product without being completely behind the product.

The invention is based, in part, on the recognition that it is generally not necessary to keep the product holder in engagement with the product throughout the slicing process, since the product-carrying and / or holding action of the product holder is in any event not effective until the end of the slicing process comes when the attack surface of the continuous product conveyor has fallen to a minimum. By adjusting the product holder between a waiting position and a working position behind the product and / or in the way for the product, the problem of empty runs can be avoided. Namely, before the start of the slicing operation, especially before inserting a new sliced product into the cutting device, the product holder is positioned in the waiting position, whereby the conveyor line of the product feeder is released. It is not necessary to place the product holder in a starting position behind the to move newly provided product. The waiting position can rather be located at an arbitrary point of the conveying path, in particular relatively close to the cutting blade. From the standby position, after the product has passed or is in its area, the product holder can be transferred to the working position and brought into engagement with the product, in particular with the rear end region of the product or with the rear end of the product. Subsequently, for example, either the unit of product conveyor and product holder as a whole can be moved in the direction of the cutting plane or the product holder can be moved relative to the product conveyor in the direction of the cutting plane. Both by adjusting the product holder after the start of the slicing process from a waiting for the product release waiting position in a working position behind the product or in the way for the product and after completion of the slicing process back to the waiting position as well as by training the product holder and the product conveyor as a unit or assignment of the product holder and the product conveyor to a common assembly dead times when slicing several products are successively avoided, thus increasing the efficiency of the cutting device.

Further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawings.

The adjustment movement of the product holder preferably takes place with a component transverse to the product feed direction. The product holder is thus moved from above, from below or from the side into the working position behind the product or in the way for the product. Alternatively, the product holder could also be transferred by means of a rotary or pivoting movement into the working position and back to the waiting position. Of course It is also conceivable that the product holder performs a combination of different movements to switch between the waiting position and the working position.

According to one embodiment, the product holder is effective in the end region of a product conveying path extending along the product feed direction on the cutting plane. The product conveyor line designates the area between the cutting plane and the rear product end of a newly supplied product at the product feeder. By providing the product holder near the cutting plane, dead times are avoided that otherwise result from moving the product holder back across the entire conveyor line.

Preferably, the product holder in the waiting position is spaced from the cutting plane. The product holder can thus, after a transition from the waiting position to the working position over a certain distance, which e.g. essentially corresponds to the spacing, move with the product and thus serve the product management and -halterung.

The product holder is preferably arranged in the waiting position next to the product or above the product. From this position, the product holder can easily be moved behind the product and / or in the path for the product, provided that the rear end of the product has already moved past the product holder or is located in the region of the product holder.

The product conveyor may comprise a conveyor acting on the product top, in particular a belt conveyor. The product, for example, located on a product support can thus be in contact with the conveyor over a relatively large area. As mentioned above may be provided instead of a belt conveyor, a belt conveyor, a multi-strip conveyor or a roller conveyor. It could in principle also be provided on the product top attacking conveyor.

According to a further embodiment, the belt conveyor behind the product is at least partially lowered to transfer the product holder from the waiting position to the working position. By lowering the belt conveyor, a product holder integrated in the belt conveyor can be transferred from the waiting position to the working position. A separate adjustment of the product holder relative to the belt conveyor is not necessary in this embodiment.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the product conveyor comprises at least one endless belt, with which the product holder can be coupled such that the product holder is taken in the working position of the endless belt and is in the waiting position out of engagement with the endless belt.

In this way, a considerable simplification of the product supply can be achieved. The function of the product holder is in a sense taken over by the endless belt. In other words, a part of the endless belt is used here as a product holder. The concrete design for this is basically arbitrary.

In a preferred embodiment, one or more distributed transversely to the product feed direction arranged pin or needle elements are provided which are not moved in a waiting position with the endless belt and clear the way for the product, said pin or needle-like holding elements on the one hand in engagement with the Product brought and to others can be coupled to the endless belt to move together with the endless belt in the direction of the cutting plane while holding the product or lead. In this case, it can be provided that the retaining elements acting, for example, in the manner of a fork with a plurality of prongs, pierce the product from above or from the side.

It is also possible to provide a plurality of arrangements (each with one or more arranged transversely to the product supply direction arranged holding elements) in the product feed one behind the other and perform these arrangements independently adjustable. These arrangements can then be sequentially brought into and out of engagement with the product. By means of such, of needles or pins, which can be selectively coupled to the endless belt, formed product holder can be done so in particular an individually tailored to the particular application and in particular to the respective product product handling.

An advantage of such a pin holder is that the size of the end pieces which can no longer be cut can be further minimized. It can be sort of "cut to the last slice".

The distances between the individual pin-shaped or needle-shaped holding elements with one another can be made adjustable, specifically transversely to the product feed direction and / or in the product feed direction.

Furthermore, it is possible to design the penetration depth of the individual elements into the product differently. In particular, it may be advantageous if only the element interacting furthest rear with the product penetrates comparatively deeply into the product, so that In a sense, only the "last slice" is completely grasped or held by means of the product holder.

According to a further embodiment, the product holder is arranged in a front end region of the product conveyor facing the cutting plane, and the front end region of the product conveyor is adjustable in the product feed direction between an initial position spaced from the cutting plane and an end position closer to the cutting plane. In particular, the end position can be located directly on the cutting blade, that is, the end position can be just chosen so that the product is held and guided as long as possible by means of the product holder towards the end of the slicing process. Preferably, the starting position is at a predetermined distance from the cutting plane, but relative to the entire conveyor line relatively close to the cutting blade, since then the return movement must be made only over a relatively short distance and can be performed quickly accordingly.

According to one embodiment, the product conveyor as a whole is adjustable relative to the cutting blade. The product holder can then be fixedly attached to the product conveyor, since proper movement of the product holder in the product feed direction is not absolutely necessary.

Between a front end of the product conveyor and the cutting plane, a hold-down for holding and / or guiding the product may be provided. By means of such a hold-down, which in particular may comprise round bars and / or sheet metal parts, the free space between the front end of the product conveyor and the cutting plane is bridged in order to prevent unwanted product movements during the slicing operation in this area as well.

According to a further embodiment, the product conveyor extends to the cutting plane, the product holder being adjustable relative to the product conveyor in the product feed direction, in particular between a starting position spaced from the cutting plane and an end position closer to the cutting plane. In this embodiment can be dispensed with bridging hold-down, since the product conveyor ensures safe guidance of the product up to the cutting plane. Should the application require it, additional downers may nevertheless be provided. The product holder can also be integrated directly into the product conveyor in this embodiment. For example, the product holder could be mounted on a linear guide of the product conveyor and be provided with a controlled drive.

The product holder may comprise a controllable gripping device, in particular at least two mutually pivotable holding claws according to one embodiment of the invention. By gripping the rear end of the product by means of the retaining claws, in particular by piercing the retaining claws into the product, a safe control of the product during slicing can generally be achieved.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the product conveyor is adapted, at least during the adjustment of the product holder in the working position to pressurize the product by means of an increased holding or clamping force.

By way of example, the product conveyor may be an endless belt engaging the top of the product, which product is still in the waiting position during product supply Product holder acted upon in particular from above with a certain pressure or a specific holding or clamping force. The embodiment in question here proposes to increase this pressure or this holding or clamping force, so that when the product holder is moved into the working position, ie when the product holder is brought into engagement with the product, the product is held more securely by means of the product conveyor or is trapped. This will prevent the product from being misaligned when the product holder is engaged. Preferably, during this process, the product supply is neither interrupted nor slowed down, ie the process of slicing the relevant product is not impaired by the transfer of the product holder into the working position. The application of the product with the increased holding or clamping force by the product conveyor can begin a predetermined period of time before transferring the product holder into the working position. The duration of this period of time can be selected depending on the particular circumstances, for example the properties of the respective product.

The solution of the above object is further achieved by a method for slicing food products, in particular by means of a Hochleistungsslicers in which at least one product aufzuschneidendes, in particular successively a plurality of products along a Produktzuführrichtung a cutting plane is fed, in which a cutting blade, in particular rotating and / or revolving, wherein a product-engageable product holder is positioned in a waiting position for the product, the product is supplied by means of a continuous product conveyor, wherein the product holder and the product conveyor form a unit or a common Assemble assembly, wherein preferably the product holder is integrated into the product conveyor, the product holder is moved to a working position behind the product and / or in the way for the product when the rear end of the product to the in the Waiting for product holder has moved past or in the area of the product holder, the product holder is brought into engagement with the product, in particular with the rear end region of the product or with the rear product end, and the product holder and the product are moved along the product feed direction, and the product holder into the product holder Waiting position is reset when the slicing process is completed. The product holder is thus not used during the entire slicing process, but it engages only during the slicing process, preferably towards the end of the slicing process, the product in order to feed this further to the cutting plane or to move with it to control the product.

In particular, the product holder grips the product as the product moves toward the cutting plane.

The product holder may assist the product conveyor in feeding the product or may accept the feeding of the product from the product conveyor when the product holder is engaged with the product.

Preferably, for feeding the product, the product holder is moved relative to the product conveyor or the product conveyor as a whole, including the product holder.

The time for transferring the product holder into the working position can be achieved by means of the product feed and / or by means of suitable sensors be recognized, for example, by a rear end of the product recognizing photocell.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine vereinfachte Seitenansicht einer Schneidvorrichtung gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

Fig. 2

zeigt eine Draufsicht auf eine Schneidvorrichtung gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

Fig. 3

zeigt eine Seitenansicht einer Schneidvorrichtung gemäß einer dritten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

Fig. 4a bis 4d

zeigen Teildarstellungen der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 3, welche einer Abfolge von Phasen eines Aufschneidevorgangs entsprechen.

Fig. 5 bis 11

zeigen ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung in verschiedenen Phasen während der Produktzufuhr.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1

shows a simplified side view of a cutting device according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2

shows a plan view of a cutting device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 3

shows a side view of a cutting device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 4a to 4d

show partial views of the device according to Fig. 3 which correspond to a sequence of phases of a slicing process.

Fig. 5 to 11

show a further embodiment of the invention in different phases during the product supply.

According to Fig. 1 a high-performance slicer comprises a product feed 11 and a cutting blade 13. The cutting blade 13 is designed here as a circular blade, which rotates about a knife axis A and additionally rotates planetary about a central axis, not shown. Alternatively, the cutting blade could also be designed as a sickle knife, which only rotates about the blade axis A. Regardless of the design of the cutting blade 13 whose cutting edge 25 defines one here The product feed 11 comprises a flat product support 37 on which a product bar 27 rests. An on the top of the product bar 27 attacking belt conveyor 29 with a front guide roller 51, a rear guide roller 53 and a circulating conveyor belt 55 ensures that the product bar 27 is continuously delivered during the cutting operation along a product feed P of the cutting plane S. Depending on the application, further belt conveyors may be provided which, for example, engage laterally on the product bar 27. In addition, in principle, the product support 37 itself could be designed as a belt conveyor. A front end element 39 of the product support 37 reaches up to the cutting plane S and defines a horizontal cutting edge, which interacts with the cutting blade 13 during the cutting operation as a counter-cutting edge.

The belt conveyor 29 is mounted on a support frame 31 shown only schematically, in which also the drive for the belt conveyor 29 is housed. The support frame 31 is adjustable relative to the cutting plane S in and against the product feed P by means of an adjusting device, not shown, which is in Fig. 1 represented by a double arrow. In principle, instead of a single product bar 27, a plurality of product bars arranged next to one another can be fed together to the cutting plane S, as described in the embodiment to be described later Fig. 2 the case is.

In the front end portion 30 of the belt conveyor 29, a product holder 40 is provided, which with a in Fig. 1 Unillustrated rear end of the product bar 27 can be engaged to hold the product bar 27 and convey in the product feed direction P. How out Fig. 1 shows, the product holder 40 is in the front pulley 51 of the belt conveyor 29 integrated. The product holder 40 comprises in the illustrated embodiment a plurality of mutually pivotable retaining claws 43, which are able to dig into the rear end of the product. As shown by the curved double arrow, the product holder 40 is between an in Fig. 1 illustrated waiting position and a working position, namely about a rotational axis of the front guide roller 51 pivotally.

In the waiting position, the product holder 40 is located above the product bar 27 and clears the way for a movement of the product bar 27. In contrast, when the product holder 40 is pivoted down to the working position and the product bar has moved past the front deflection roller 51, the holding claws 43 reach the rear product end and can dig into it.

During operation of the device, the product bar 27 is first supplied exclusively by means of the belt conveyor 29 of the cutting plane S, over the large-area contact between the conveyor belt 55 and the top of the product bar 27 sufficient guidance and support of the product bar 27 is ensured. Due to the cutting blade 13, product slices can therefore be separated from the product bar 27 with a high quality of cut.

As soon as the rear product end has moved past the product holder 40, this is detected by a suitable sensor, not shown, and reported to a control device, also not shown, which then causes the product holder 40 is pivoted from the waiting position to the working position. The retaining claws 43 dig into the rear end of the product and hold it firmly.

In order to avoid a stoppage of the product bar 27, immediately after the engagement of the holding claws 43 in the rear end of the product, the belt conveyor 29 as a whole in the product feed direction P in motion, so that the product bar 27 is further delivered with the desired conveying speed of the cutting plane S. Shortly before the product holder 40 has reached the cutting plane S, the belt conveyor 29 is stopped and the remaining, determined as reject product end is withdrawn from the cutting plane S and disposed of, for example via a recess, not shown in the product support 37. Finally, the product holder 40 is again in the waiting position according to Fig. 1 pivoted. A new product bar 27 can now be provided on the product support 37 and delivered again by the belt conveyor 29 of the cutting plane S.

The reset of the belt conveyor 29 and the product holder 40 can be done relatively quickly, since the belt conveyor 29 is only to move a small distance and the product holder 40 is not at all to move, but only to pivot.

With reference to Fig. 2 A further embodiment of the invention will be described, wherein like or equivalent components are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the embodiment according to FIG Fig. 1 ,

According to Fig. 2 several product bars 27 are supplied in parallel side by side of a common cutting plane S, so that with a correspondingly large, in Fig. 2 not shown cutting knife can be cut simultaneously several product bars. For example only Fig. 2 three product bars displayed side by side. Unlike the embodiment according to Fig. 1 range the belt conveyor 29 'at the in Fig. 2 illustrated embodiment almost zoom up to the cutting plane S. The product holders 40 'are arranged at a distance D from the cutting plane S laterally next to the belt conveyors 29' and the product bars 27.

From the in Fig. 2 shown holding position laterally next to the product bars 27, the product holder 40 'can be pivoted to a working position behind the product bars 27 so as to engage in the rear product ends. Furthermore, the product holders 40 'are slidably mounted on suitable guides, not shown, relative to the belt conveyors 29', so that they can be adjusted in and against the product feed direction P, which is described in US Pat Fig. 2 represented by double arrows.

As in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 takes place during the cutting operation, first, an exclusive conveying the product bars 27 by means of the belt conveyor 29 ', wherein the product holder 40' are in the way for the product bars 27 releasing standby position. As soon as the respective rear end of the product has moved past the product holder 40 ', it is transferred to the working position behind the product bar 27 and the holding claws 43 dig into the rear product end. Subsequently, the product holder 40 'with the product bar 27 is moved, it is up to the particular application, whether the feed further in the course continues via the belt conveyor 29', on the product holder 40 'or on both devices together accomplished.

Due to the simultaneous product guidance and product control by means of the belt conveyor 29 'on the one hand and the product holder 40' on the other hand, a particularly high quality cut can be achieved. At the same time it avoids that the product end destined for the committee is accidentally is cut, since this is indeed held securely by the product holder 40 '.

In Fig. 3 a further embodiment of the invention is shown, which is similar to the embodiment according to Fig. 1 is working. The product holder 40 "in this embodiment is not relative to the belt conveyor 29" adjustable, but the retaining claws 43 are directly integrated into the shaft 57 of the front guide roller 51, namely stored on this. For this purpose, the holding claws 43 can be arranged, for example, in a space between two sub-conveyor belts of the belt conveyor 29 ". In order to be able to transfer the holding claws 43 into a working position behind the product bar 27, the front end 59 of the product conveyor 29" can be lowered. In order to be able to lower and raise the belt conveyor 29 "optionally, a corresponding actuator 61 is provided.

With reference to the Fig. 4a to 4d The operation of the slicer will now be described after the rear product end 63 has moved past the product holder 40 ".

According to Fig. 4a First, one of the two retaining claws 43 or retaining claw arrangements is pivoted about the shaft 57, so that it engages in the rear product end 63. Subsequently, according to Fig. 4b the further retaining claw 43 is pivoted about the shaft 57, so that these also engage in the rear product end 63. Subsequently, the belt conveyor 29 "as a whole is moved towards the cutting plane S so as to further feed the product bar 27 to the cutting plane S. As soon as the belt conveyor 29" has an infeed Fig. 4c has reached the end position in which the retaining claws 43 are located shortly before the cutting plane S and the product bar 27 is completely cut except for a specific piece as reject tail, the movement of the belt conveyor 29 "in the product feed P stopped and the belt conveyor 29 "is according to Fig. 4d withdrawn together with the remaining piece. The remaining piece is disposed of as scrap. Subsequently, the product conveyor 29 "is raised again and the holding claws 43 are swiveled back into their starting position. A new product bar 27 can then be placed on the product support 37.

The embodiment of Fig. 5 to 11 corresponds to the embodiment of the Fig. 2 when the belt conveyor or conveyors 29 'reach as far as the cutting plane S. In the Fig. 5 to 11 only one product bar 29 'is shown. Also in relation to this embodiment, a multi-lane operation is possible in which simultaneously several product bars are cut open. For each track, so for each product bars, then a product feeder 11 is provided, as for example in the Fig. 5 to 11 is shown.

The product feeder 11 comprises a product conveyor 29 ', which has an endless belt 55 and extends with its front end as far as the cutting plane S and acts on a product bar 27 to be cut, which rests on a product support 37, from above. Side parts 85 of the belt conveyor 29 'carry at their front end a deflection roller 83 for the endless belt 55 and are in the longitudinal extent of the belt conveyor 29' extending slots 81 (see. Fig. 9-11 ) Mistake.

The product support 37 may comprise a conveyor 27 for the product 27 so that the product 27 is moved by a joint action of this lower product conveyor and the upper product conveyor 29 'in the direction of the cutting blade (not shown) circulating in the cutting plane S.

In the upper product conveyor 29 ', a product holder 40' is integrated, which in Fig. 5 in his waiting position, in which he clears the way for the product 27.

The product holder 40 'is formed in the manner of a lying on both sides of the conveyor belt 55 fork with two side parts 75, 77 and pivotally mounted at its rear in Produktzuführrichtung P end about an axis 87 relative to the side parts 85 of the belt conveyor 29'. At its front end, the product holder 40 'is provided with retaining claws 43.

An actuator, not shown, is adapted to actuate an actuating arrangement, of which a control element 73 cooperates with elongated holes 71 of the product holder 40 'which are formed in the side parts 75, 77 and act in the manner of a control cam. The control element 73 is also in the slots 81 (see. Fig. 9-11 ) of the side parts 85 of the belt conveyor 29 'forcibly guided and can thus be adjusted by means of the actuator in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the product conveyor 29' to pivot the product holder 40 'between the waiting position and the working position. In addition, the product holder 40 'can be moved relative to the product conveyor 29' on the cutting plane S to and from the cutting plane S away. This can be done independently of the conveying movement of the endless belt 55, wherein it is alternatively or additionally possible, by suitable means the product holder 40 'either with the endless belt 55 to couple or to release the endless belt 55.

In this way, it is possible to leave the product holder 40 'selectively either in a waiting position with a constant distance to the cutting plane S in the conveyor belt conveyor belt conveyor 55 or with the To move conveying speed of the conveyor belt 55 in the direction of the cutting plane S.

In addition, it is - as mentioned - due to the interaction of the control element 73 with the slot arrangements 71, 81 possible, by means of the actuator, the product holder 40 'from the in Fig. 5 shown in the working position to pivot, in order to bring the retaining claws 43 of the product holder 40 'with the product slab 27 to be cut in each case. This will be explained in more detail below. A pure pivoting movement for the product holder 40 'is not mandatory.

In Fig. 5 the product bar 27 is already cut open and moved in the product feed direction P by means of the belt conveyor 29 'in the direction of the cutting plane S. The product holder 40 'is in the waiting position, in which the product 27 can be promoted unimpaired by the product holder 40'. A rear end region 79 of the product 27 is still relatively far away from the cutting plane S.

In the state according to Fig. 6 the product 27 is still cut open. The rear end portion 79 of the product 27 is still relatively far away from the cutting plane S. The product holder 40 'is still in its waiting position.

This is also in the state according to Fig. 7 the case. However, the rear end portion 79 of the product 27 here approaches the position at which the product holder 40 'is to take effect.

This position is in Fig. 8 reached. By means of a sensor, not shown, for example, a light barrier, it is recognized that the rear End portion 79 of the product 27 is in the position in which the product holder 40 'to be effective.

The aforementioned sensors signal to a control device, not shown, that the mentioned actuator should be activated to pivot the product holder 40 'about the aforementioned axis. To this end, the control member 73 cooperating with the elongated holes 71 and the slots 81 is moved relative to the product holder 40 'a little way to the cutting plane S, whereby the product holder 40' is pivoted and with its retaining claws 43 in engagement with the rear end portion 79 of the product 27 arrives, as it is in Fig. 9 is shown.

At the same time, the product holder 40 'is moved toward the cutting plane S at the conveying speed given by the product feeder 11, so that the rear end portion 79 of the product 27 is conveyed neither slower nor faster than the product 27 itself, i.e., the product 27. the product holder 40 'despite the engagement with the product 27 does not affect the product supply, but either so far behaves neutral or supports the product supply.

Alternatively it can be provided that a piston / cylinder arrangement is provided, which can be activated to extend a piston at its front end a support for the product holder 40 'holding piston, with the predetermined by the product feeder 11 conveying speed, so also Here, the rear end portion 79 of the product 27 is promoted neither slower nor faster than the product 27 itself, ie the product holder 40 'despite the engagement with the product 27 does not affect the product supply, but either behaves neutral or supports the product supply. In this embodiment For example, the product holder 40 'may be pivotably mounted on the carrier, wherein here too a pure pivoting movement is not mandatory.

In the state according to Fig. 10 the product 27 is completely cut except for the rear end portion 79. The product feeder 11 now reverses the conveying direction so that the rear end region 79 representing the product residue is moved away from the cutting plane S by the joint action of the conveyor belt 29 'and the product holder 40'.

The product residue 79 may then be discarded, for example, by disengaging the product holder 40 'from the product residue 79 and ejecting the product residue 79 downwardly through an otherwise closed discharge opening (not shown) formed in the product support. The product holder 40 'is then again in the waiting position accordingly Fig. 5 ,

As mentioned in the introductory part, it may additionally be provided that, for example, shortly before the product holder takes effect 40 ', ie in the state according to FIG Fig. 8 , the belt conveyor 29 'is moved towards the product support 37, thereby applying an increased clamping force to the product 27 and thus securing the product 27 against misalignment when subsequently the product holder 40' is connected to the rear end region 79 of the product Product 27 is brought into engagement.

The invention enables the combined use of a continuous conveyor and a reciprocating product holder in a high performance slicer, without significant sacrifice in efficiency and economy. Since the waiting position of the product holder is relatively close to the Cutting knife is located, the return movement is so fast to perform that there are no dead times when slicing successive products.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

11

product feed

13

cutting blade

25

cutting edge

27

product Riegel

29, 29 ', 29 "

belt conveyors

30

front end area

31

supporting frame

37

product support

39

termination element

40, 40 ', 40 "

product holder

43

retaining claw

51

front pulley

53

rear pulley

55

conveyor belt

57

wave

59

front end

61

actuator

63

rear end of product

71

Long hole

73

control

75

side panel

77

side panel

79

rear end area, product residue

81

Slot in the side part 85 of the belt conveyor 29 '

83

idler pulley

85

Side part of the belt conveyor 29 '

87

axis

A

blade axis

S

cutting plane

P

product feed

D

distance

Claims (15)

1. An apparatus for slicing food products, in particular a high-performance slicer, comprising a product feed (11) which supplies a product (27) to be sliced along a product supply direction (P) to a cutting plane (S) in which a cutting blade (13) moves, in particular in a rotating and/or revolving manner,
   wherein the product feed (11) comprises at least one product conveyor (29') configured for the continuous conveying of the product (27) and a product holder (40') which can be brought into engagement with the product (27), in particular with a rear product end (63),
   wherein a control device is provided for the product holder (40') and is configured to adjust the product holder (40') after the start of the slicing process from a waiting position clearing the path for the product (27) into a working position behind the product (27) and/or in the path for the product (27) and after the end of the slicing process back into the waiting position,
   characterized in that
   the product holder (40') and the product conveyor (29') form a unit or belong to a common assembly, with preferably the product holder (40') being integrated into the product conveyor (29'),
   wherein the product conveyor (29') reaches up to the cutting plane (S), and wherein the product holder (40') is formed with two side parts (75, 77), is supported at its rear end pivotable about an axis (87) relative to side parts (85) of the product conveyor (29'), is provided with holding claws (43) at its front end and is adjustable relative to the product conveyor (29') in the product supply direction (P).
2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the adjustment movement of the product holder (40') takes place with a component transverse to the product supply direction (P).
3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the product holder (40') is operative in the end region of a product conveying path extending along the product supply direction (P), said end region being disposed at the cutting plane (S).
4. An apparatus in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the product holder (40') is spaced apart from the cutting plane (S) in the waiting position; and/or in that the product holder (40') is arranged next to the product (27) or above the product (27) in the waiting position.
5. An apparatus in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the product conveyor (29') is configured to apply an increased holding force or clamping force to the product (27) at least during the adjustment of the product holder (40') into the working position.
6. An apparatus in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the product conveyor (29') comprises a conveyor, in particular a band conveyor, engaging at the upper product side, with in particular the band conveyor (29") being at least partly lowerable behind the product (27) to move the product holder (40") from the waiting position into the working position.
7. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the product conveyor comprises at least one endless belt with which the product holder can be coupled such that the product holder is taken along by the endless belt in the working position and is out of engagement with the endless belt in the waiting position.
8. An apparatus in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the product holder (40, 40") is arranged in a front end region of the product conveyor (29, 29") facing the cutting plane (S) and the front end region of the product conveyor (20, 29") is adjustable in the product supply direction (P) between a starting position spaced apart from the cutting plane (S) and an end position disposed closer to the cutting plane (S).
9. An apparatus in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the product conveyor (29, 29") is adjustable as a whole relative to the cutting blade (13).
10. An apparatus in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    a downholder for holding and/or guiding the product (27) is provided between a front end of the product conveyor (29, 29") and the cutting plane (S).
11. An apparatus in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the product holder (40') is adjustable relative to the product conveyor (29') in the product supply direction (P) between a starting position spaced apart from the cutting plane (S) and an end position disposed closer to the cutting plane (S).
12. An apparatus in accordance with at least one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the product holder (40') comprises a controllable gripping apparatus, in particular at least two mutually pivotable holding claws (43).
13. A method of slicing food products by means of an apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one product (27) to be sliced, in particular a plurality of products after one another, is supplied along the product supply direction (P) to the cutting plane (S),
    comprising the steps:

    - positioning the product holder (40') in the waiting position;

    - supplying the product (27) by means of the product conveyor (29');

    - moving the product holder (40') into the working position when the the rear product end (63) or a rear end region (79) of the product (27) has moved past the product holder (40') located in the waiting position or is located in the region of the product holder (40');

    - bringing the product holder (40') into engagement with the product (27), in particular with the rear end region of the product (27) or with the rear product end (63), and moving the product holder and the product along the product supply direction (P); and

    - returning the product holder (40') into the waiting position when the slicing process is concluded.
14. A method in accordance with claim 13,
    characterized in that
    the product holder (40') supports the product conveyor (29') on the supply of the product (27) or takes over the supply of the product (27) from the product conveyor (29') when the product holder (40') is in engagement with the product (27).
15. A method in accordance with claim 12 or claim 13,
    characterized in that,
    for supplying the product (27), the product holder (40') is moved relative to the product conveyor (29') or the product conveyor (29, 29") is moved as a whole with the product holder (40, 40").

Images