EP2420362B1 - Method and device for cutting food products - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method and a device, in particular a high-performance slicer, for the simultaneous slicing of several food products.

In particular in connection with a portioned slicing of food products, it is known to perform so-called idle cuts, i. despite the continued movement of the cutting blade to ensure that no slices are temporarily separated from the product. Empty cuts are made in particular when a finished portion has to be transported away, since there is not enough time available for this removal without empty cuts.

In this connection, it is known not only to interrupt the supply of product for the passage of blanks, but to take an additional measure which causes a distance to be established between the cutting blade and the front end of the product in order to avoid a so-called chip formation.

This distance can be established by moving the product away from the knife during the blanking phase, or by being the knife that is moved away from the front end of the product.

The performance of blank cuts is also known in connection with the simultaneous slicing of several food products.

For this example, on EP 0 713 753 A2 such as WO 2010/011237 A1 directed. Here, the blanks are simultaneously performed on all tracks, ie for all food products, by either moving the common cutting blade away or moving the products together. This prior art also contains nothing that could be understood as a reason or a hint to refrain from a simultaneous implementation of blanks on all tracks.

The generative DE 100 54 514 A1 discloses a device for slicing food products with at least two cutting blades, in which during the cutting time of a cutting head, the supply of another cutting head can be loaded.

In the US 2009/120256 A1 a product feeder for a device for slicing food products is disclosed, which is provided with a weighing and classification tape.

The object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for simultaneously cutting several food products, with or with the most versatile work possible.

The inventors have recognized that applications associated with simultaneously slicing several food products with surprising advantages are possible if the slices are not performed simultaneously on all tracks but on a track-by-track basis.

Accordingly, it is provided in the method according to the invention that, at least at times, idle cuts are made in at least one track and / or the supply of the relevant product is interrupted while in at least one other track the product in question is being cut open.

The device according to the invention is accordingly able to interrupt the feeding movement for each track independently of the other tracks and in particular to resume them. In particular, the slicing device according to the invention comprises a correspondingly designed product feed and a control device which is designed for a track-specific blank cut management.

Below is a track in which at least temporarily blank sections are performed or in which at least temporarily the supply of the product is interrupted, also referred to as a passive track, whereas a track in which a product is currently being cut, hereinafter also as active Track is called.

Thus, with the invention it is possible to eliminate the equal treatment of all tracks or of the food products to be cut up in the tracks with regard to the performance of empty cuts. The slicing device according to the invention is designed such that idle cuts can be carried out in one or more tracks while food products located in one or more other tracks are cut open by means of the common cutting knife.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention and applications made possible by the invention are set forth in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

In one exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the product additionally moves away from the cutting plane, in particular retracted, in the passive track. As a result, in a track to be performed in the blank sections, a Schnitzelbildung be safely avoided.

In a further embodiment, it is provided that the products are cut into portions which in each case comprise at least one product slice. The invention is particularly advantageous in connection with such a portioned slicing of food products.

With the invention, it is possible to improve the results when simultaneously cutting several food products, in particular to increase the weight accuracy in the product slices or slice portions.

In the method, it can be provided, in particular, that the products are supplied individually to the cutting blade as a function of information concerning at least the outer contour and / or the interior of the products.

In the apparatus, in particular, the product feed can be designed to supply the products individually to the cutting knife as a function of information concerning at least the outer contour and / or the interior of the products.

In the following, when "information" is mentioned and nothing else is mentioned, it refers to information that at least includes information concerning the outer contour and / or the inner structure, ie the product interior, of the product.

The invention thus enables a track individualization taking into account information relating to the product interior and / or the product contour, for example the density distribution. The product feed in the individual tracks therefore need not be limited to the outer product contour, that is to say the cross-sectional profile or the cross-sectional profile of the products, although this is possible according to the invention. According to the invention, a maximum of such information can thus be used for the individual product supply. which are conducive to a weight-accurate slicing of the products.

In the method, it is provided, in particular, that in each lane the product feed takes place independently of information concerning products, in particular the interior of the products, in the other lanes. With regard to the use of information relating to the product interior, a complete independence of the individual tracks from each other can thus be realized in the individual product supply.

The information in question here can be obtained on or in the slicing device, in particular on or in a product feed of the slicing device. It is therefore possible to integrate the means, which are also referred to below simply as product scanners, for obtaining the information relating to the product interior and / or the product contour into the slicing apparatus or the product feed. In principle, however, it is also possible to carry out the information acquisition at a location separate from the slicing device and / or independently of time from the slicing process. It is then necessary to provide appropriate means to allow the product to be related to the information obtained from the product in order to ensure that the correct information is taken into account in the individual product supply during the slicing of the products.

Preferably, the information is obtained by a non-contact method, in particular using electromagnetic radiation.

The information can be obtained by screening and / or radiating the products. It is preferred if the information is obtained using X-radiation.

Furthermore, it can be provided that, for each product, the information is obtained in a multiplicity of planes extending through the product, which in each case run in each case perpendicular to a product feed direction. The or each product scanner may thus be configured such that each product is sequentially scanned at a plurality of individual levels. For example, the x-ray scanner may be stationary and arranged such that the scanning plane is perpendicular to the product feed direction, so that the information is obtained in such a way that the product in question is moved through the scanning plane during the scanning process. The partial information obtained in the individual levels can then be assembled by means of a suitable evaluation device into an "overall picture" relating to the product interior.

The information can be obtained while the products are being fed to the cutting blade.

The individual product feed can be made such that the speeds at which the products are supplied to the cutting blade, adjusted individually and / or changed.

During the slicing process, the products in the tracks can be fed to the cutting blade completely independently of each other. Alternatively, it is also possible that the products in the tracks are fed to the cutting blade in such a way that a plurality of parallel next to each other arranged conveyors driven together and the individual speeds of the conveyors are changed individually.

In particular, it is provided that the product supply takes place in each lane by means of its own control loop. As a result, a perfect track independence can be achieved, at least with regard to the product feed and the taking into account of the information relating to the product interior and / or the product contour.

In the apparatus may be provided in particular that the means for obtaining the information are adapted to screen the products and / or to irradiate. In particular, the means comprise at least one X-ray device.

For all tracks and thus all products to be sliced simultaneously, a single product scanner can be provided. Alternatively, each track may have its own product scanner. Even with the use of a single, common product scanner, information can be obtained and used individually for the individual products and, in particular, for the supply of the products during slicing.

The device is in particular designed to be operated according to a method of the type described here.

Consumers are becoming increasingly demanding. This also applies to the buyers of pre-packaged food slices. A plurality of product slices, also referred to here as a portion, should not only have a predetermined weight and be presented in an appealing manner, but also It is also increasingly desired that the packages contain slices of different products or products of different types, for example of different types of sausage or different cheeses, where it is also desired, for example, to form a mixed total portion in the packs of sausage and cheese slices.

Such consumer desires can be met in principle with conventional technology. Modern slicing machines, also known as high-performance slicers, can cut food products extremely fast, with great weight accuracy and extremely hygienic. Together with sophisticated conveyor technology and packaging machines, such slicers form highly efficient production lines with which packages of portions of food slices can be produced practically fully automatically. In order to produce "mixed packs" from slices of different products, several slicers are used, each slicing one type of product or product type. The individual product streams of the slicers are then combined in a suitable manner to produce the "mixed" total portions. A plurality of slicers is also necessary because the consumer demand to be satisfactorily satisfied by the pack manufacturers is that the "mixed packs" should not only contain slices of different products, but also different numbers of slices in the packs of the individual products.

The ability of known slicers to simultaneously slice multiple products can not eliminate the requirement of using multiple slicers since the prior art simultaneous slicing of multiple products merely increases the product throughput, that is, the "output" of the slicer. Consequently, the production of the mentioned "mixed packages" is currently associated with relatively high costs.

With the invention it is possible to produce "mixed packs" from slices of different food products, in particular of products of different types, as simply, reliably and inexpensively as possible.

In particular, the products are individually fed to the cutting blade such that each portion fulfills a condition prescribed for the respective track, in particular the weight of the portion, the weight and / or thickness of the product slices forming the portion, and / or the number of the portion forming product slices.

The individual product supply can be used to impart predetermined, in particular mutually different, properties to the portions produced in the individual tracks, ie. to achieve that the portions of the individual tracks, in particular different, meet conditions that can be specifically specified.

This makes it possible, in particular, to produce with a single slicing device those portions which are required for the formation of a total portion and thus for a "mixing pack" desired by the customer.

In particular, it is possible to simultaneously cut up food products of different types, wherein it is also possible to individually vary further parameters of the individual portions by a corresponding operation of the product feed. For example, can be produced in this way total portions, each having a certain number of slices a first type of sausage, a different number of specific slices of a second type of sausage and a different number of slices of a different type of cheese.

The generation of portions with different number of slices in the individual tracks can be carried out in particular by operating the slicing device in such a way that so-called idle cuts are purposefully carried out in the individual tracks, ie. a track individual Leerschnittmanagement takes place. To perform a blank cut, it is ensured that, despite a cutting movement performed by the cutting blade of the or the products concerned no disc is separated. For example, the product for which a blank cut is carried out, so that no slice is to be separated from it, can be temporarily stopped by corresponding activation of the product feed. The separation of slices from the other product (s) will continue. In this way, with a track-individually operable product feeder, the goal can be achieved to produce portions with different number of slices during the simultaneous, multi-track slicing of several products in the tracks.

The products in the tracks can be fed to the cutting blade completely independently of each other.

Alternatively, it is possible for the products in the tracks to be fed to the cutting blade in such a way that several parallel conveyors arranged side by side are driven together and the individual speeds of the conveyors are changed individually. The term "variety" used here is to be understood broadly. Thus, not only, for example, sausage on the one hand and cheese on the other hand or in each case different types of meat, sausage or cheese to form mutually different varieties within the meaning of the invention. Even products with "the same content", which differ from one another in terms of at least one parameter which is relevant from the point of view of the end user, should be considered as products of different types. Thus, for example, small-diameter salami on the one hand and large-diameter salami on the other hand are intended to represent different product varieties in the sense of the invention. By contrast, given that no two food products are strictly identical, the term "variety" is not to be understood as being broadly equivalent to differences between products that the end-user either does not perceive at all or that are completely irrelevant to the end-user, such as different distributions of the density or constituents of a product, which are naturally always present even when viewed from the consumer's "same" products.

In a likewise claimed method for forming total portions, the respective portions forming a total portion are produced by the slicing method according to the invention.

In particular, the total portions can be formed from portions whose slices differ from each other in terms of product variety.

Alternatively or additionally, it is possible for the total portions to be formed from portions which differ from one another with regard to the number of their slices, with regard to their portion weight, and / or with regard to the weight and / or the thickness of their slices.

The formation of the total portions can take place, for example, during the transport of the portions to a downstream device, in particular to a packaging machine for the total portions.

In particular, it is provided that the total portions are formed by the portions being at least partially superimposed.

Furthermore, it is possible that the total portions are formed by the portions being successively introduced into a package, in particular during the transport of the portions to a downstream device, in particular a packaging machine for the total portions. In this case, in particular initially a first portion can be inserted into a package, whereupon one or more further portions are placed on the first portion already in the package. But it is also possible that only the complete total portions are inserted into the packaging.

In one embodiment, it is provided that in the formation of the total portions each between at least two at least partially superimposed portions a release liner, for example, made of paper, is inserted.

The slicing device comprises, in particular, a product feed which comprises a plurality of conveyors arranged parallel to one another, with which the products can be fed in multiple tracks to a cutting plane in which at least one cutting blade, in particular rotating and / or rotating, moves. The product feed is designed in particular to make the products so individual to the cutting blade to supply each portion with a predetermined condition for the respective track, which relates in particular to the weight of the portion, the weight and / or the thickness of the product discs forming the portion, and / or the number of product slices forming the portion.

The conveyors of the product feeder can be operated completely independently of each other. Alternatively it can be provided that the conveyors can be driven together and the individual speeds of the conveyors are individually variable.

In a likewise claimed production line, which comprises at least one slicing device of the type described here and at least one conveying device which can be operated in the manner described here, the conveying device can be connected downstream of at least one packaging machine for the total portions to be produced.

The portioned slicing of food products, in particular using so-called high-performance slicer, is basically known. The formation of portions is particularly necessary if the slicer is followed by a packaging machine in which not individual product slices, but in each case a plurality of product slices combined in one or more portions are automatically packed. In this context, so-called transfer units are known, which are immediately downstream of the slicer and serve both to take the separated product slices and portions and also remove the portions formed in order to supply them downstream devices such as a packaging machine, in particular via other conveyors. An object of such transfer units is also the speed of operation of the slicer to the so-called system speed adapt the downstream devices, because in particular at very fast-working slicers, the portions formed must be removed with a speed from the Portionierbereich, which is much higher than the system speed.

Known transfer units are designed, for example, as combinations of conveyor belts. Portioning takes place on a portioning belt arranged immediately downstream of the slicer, on which the separated product slices are deposited to form the portions. Downstream of the portioning tape is at least one so-called control tape, to which the portions are transferred from the portioning tape.

Such transfer units are also used for a so-called portion completions, which is required especially for high-priced products, in the slicing product losses should be kept as low as possible. Portion completion is required if the desired portions are to have a certain number of slices and / or a certain portion weight and the last portion present after slicing a product does not yet meet the respective requirements, i. one or more additional product slices is required if it is not to be disposed of as waste.

With this portion completion, the still required product slices are separated from the following product. Since usually at the beginning of the slicing on the new product so-called trim cuts must be performed because the product, for example, does not yet have the required product cross-section, and the resulting in this "trimming", unusable product pieces on the Portionierband and thus on their Completion waiting incomplete partial portion would fall, the transfer unit is operated in the Portionskomplettierung so that the partial portions are transported by the portioning conveyor in the conveying direction to the control tape, where they await the implementation of trimming cuts. As soon as usable slices can be separated from the new product, the partial portion is transported back again from the control belt to the portioning belt, ie the transfer unit transports the partial portions in this phase against the "normal" conveying direction.

Such a Portionskomplettierung is basically known, for example DE 199 14 707 A1 ,

Also known is the simultaneous slicing of several food products on a slicing device, in particular by means of a single cutting knife. For this purpose, for example, the already mentioned above EP 0 713 753 A2 directed. The simultaneous slicing of food products is also referred to as multi-slicing.

In a slicing apparatus capable of slicing several products at a time, the products can be fed to the cutting blade at the same time. If the products have a different length and / or for certain reasons, the product supply in the individual tracks with different or different varying individual speeds, ie individually, then this leads to problems in Portionskomplettierung, since the slicing of products in the individual tracks is not finished at the same time and so in the individual tracks to be completed Teilportionen temporally succession arise. A possible reason that even with exactly the same product lengths, the cutting processes in the individual tracks can not be terminated at the same time, is an individual control of the conveyor speeds in the individual tracks, which is required if the products - seen in the conveying direction - different weight profiles (ie over the entire product constant product density so different cross-sectional profiles), then the thickness the separated product slices and thus the product supply must be adjusted individually to achieve the desired portion weight for each portion. Such an approach is for example off DE 196 04 254 B4 as well as out EP 1 178 878 B 1 known.

The invention makes it possible to provide a portion completion in multi-lane slicing of food products.

When portion completions, incomplete partial portions which are present after slicing a product can be completed by slices of a subsequent product. In particular, each partial portion is completed in the track in which this partial portion is created.

In the method, it can be provided that the completion of partial portions takes place in separate tracks.

In the case of the device, it can be provided that the transfer unit has a separate conveying path for each assigned track, which comprises at least two successive conveying units.

Due to the separation, it is possible to carry out measures to complete the portion in one lane, without disturbing any desired operation in the other lanes. In particular, depending on how the respective slicing the supply of Products done, the Portionskomplettierungen in the individual tracks, for example, completely independent of each other. Alternatively, a coordinated operation explained in more detail below is also possible, in which the completion of sub-portions present in the individual tracks is started simultaneously, even if these partial portions have been created one after the other. Such a procedure can in particular take into account situations in which the supply of the following products in all lanes is started simultaneously, ie - figuratively speaking - all lanes are always loaded simultaneously with new products.

So it is possible that both product losses and the need for manual corrections can be minimized. The former is particularly advantageous for high-priced products, while the latter substantially improves production hygiene.

In particular, it can be provided that each time a partial portion is formed in one track, it continues with the slicing in the remaining other tracks. Full portions can thus continue to be formed and transported away, even if the slicing of the product has already been completed in one or more tracks.

In one embodiment, the completion of the partial portions in one lane takes place independently of the completions of the partial portions in the other lanes, wherein in each lane in particular a partial portion formed is completed independently of the formation of partial portions in the other lanes. So it can start with the slicing of a subsequent product and thus with the completion of the present in the track partial portion, while in the other tracks the slicing of the products is still going on. However, such a temporal divergence of completion start is not mandatory. According to a further embodiment, it is also possible for the portion completions in the individual tracks to be coordinated in the individual tracks in such a way that each time a partial portion is formed in one track, it continues with the slicing in the remaining other tracks and only with the completion of the partial portions after the last partial portion is created. Such an approach is for example beneficial if the tracks are loaded with new products at the same time. This can be dependent on the respective application and / or on the design or mode of operation of the respective product feed.

Furthermore, provision is made in particular for the completion of a partial portion for each track after intermediate positioning of the partial portion in a waiting area and return of the partial portion to a portioning area.

As regards the product feed, it may be provided in one embodiment that the products in the tracks are fed to the cutting blade completely independently of each other.

It is also possible for the products in the tracks to be fed to the cutting blade in such a way that a plurality of conveying devices arranged parallel to one another are jointly driven and the individual speeds of the conveying devices are changed individually.

As already mentioned, such track-specific product feeds may be necessary or desired if at least largely constant portion weight is desired and the products differ in terms of their weight or cross-sectional profile of each other.

Furthermore, it is preferred if the completion of the partial portions and the delivery of the products are timed to each other, whereby this can be done only track-related or taking into account all tracks.

In the slicing device, the transfer unit can be configured and operable such that the completion of a partial portion formed on the first conveyor unit can be carried out by intermediate positioning of the partial portion on the second conveyor unit and return of the partial portion to the first conveyor unit.

The conveyor units may each comprise a belt conveyor, in particular an endless belt conveyor, which is operable in both the one conveying direction and in the opposite direction.

In particular, the conveyor sections may be operable such that each time a partial portion is formed on a conveyor line, the transfer of complete portions to the remaining other conveyor lines can be continued.

The conveying sections can be operated independently of one another, wherein in particular on each conveying section a resulting partial portion can be completed independently of the formation of partial portions on the other conveying sections.

It is also possible that the conveyor lines are so coordinated operated operable that at temporally successive partial portions each at If a partial portion is formed on a conveyor line, the transfer of complete portions on the remaining other conveyor lines can continue and the completion of partial portions can be suspended until after the last partial portion has formed.

Various types of food slicing apparatus are known in the art. For example, so-called high performance slicers are used to prepare food products, e.g. Sausage, meat or cheese, cut to high speed. Due to the principle of multi-track feeding, a single cutting device - with a correspondingly large knife - for simultaneous cutting of several product loaves or product bars - in the following simply: Products - can be used to further increase the cutting performance.

The separated product slices are usually assembled into portions - for example, in a stacked or shingled form - and then fed to further processing devices such as a packaging machine. Since the portions must have a predetermined weight and / or a predetermined number of slices, it may be that at the end of a product only an incomplete portion portion can be cut. Since the further processing of incomplete portions is to be avoided, but on the other hand discarding of product slices is undesirable, particularly in the case of high-quality products, there is a need to complete incomplete partial portions. In principle, this can be done by completing incomplete partial portions at the end of the product after the provision of a new product by product slices of this subsequent product. However, there is the problem that when a product change first an unusable end of the already cut open product and then also a non-usable portion of the new product must be removed. The incomplete partial portion must therefore, for example, on a portioning conveyor, initially conveyed away from the scope of the cutting blade and then fed back to this. In multi-lane cutting, this requires individually adjustable portioning conveyors for the individual lanes, since the products on the individual lanes normally do not run out of time exactly at the same time. The provision of individually controllable Portionierförderern is however complicated and expensive, since such Portionierförderer usually have to have additional functions. For example, portioning conveyors can be swiveled to the side or lowered downwards.

With the invention, it is possible to realize a simple completion of incomplete partial portions in a multi-lane slicing of food products.

In each case, the feeding of the product in one lane can be interrupted if the remaining product residue in this lane is no longer sufficient to form a complete portion and in at least one of the other lanes the remaining product residue is still sufficient to form at least one complete portion. The product remains are cut into incomplete portions, after the product remains of all traces have reached a level which is insufficient to form a full portion, and the incomplete portions are completed by product slices of subsequent products.

Each track will be cut as long as it is possible to create full portions. Once this is no longer possible on a track, the slicing on that track is interrupted and it it waits until the other tracks can no longer produce full portions. The slicing of the product residues resulting in incomplete partial portions then preferably takes place in a product residue exhaustion process common to all the slices. This has the advantage that the incomplete partial portions of all tracks can be conveyed away together from the effective range of the cutting blade in order to make room for the gate and its removal. After completion of the product change or bleed phase, the incomplete partial portions of all tracks can be transported back together, so as to be completed by slices of product to be rearranged subsequent products. An individually controlled conveying the incomplete partial portions is not required. The provision of individually controllable product feeds for the individual tracks is possible with less effort than the provision of individually controllable portioning conveyors.

Preferably, the partial portions are only moved together in and against a conveying direction, in particular a conveying unit undivided transversely to the conveying direction is used. This saves the effort to provide multiple conveyor units or conveyor sub-units.

According to one embodiment, when the supply is interrupted, the product is moved into a blank-cut position which is withdrawn relative to the cutting plane. In this way, unwanted chips formation during the interruption of the product supply can be prevented.

The slicing of the product residues in the individual tracks can be coordinated in such a way that it ends at the same time in all tracks. With others In other words, the last usable product slice at the end of the product can be cut simultaneously on all lanes. The trailing edges of the incomplete partial portions are then aligned flush. The completing can thus begin on all tracks at the same time.

Furthermore, the time sequence of the slicing of the product residues in the individual tracks can be coordinated on the basis of the size of the respective product residues, in particular when the product residues having the largest remaining product residue are cut open. The size of the respective product residues can be detected by suitable sensors. In practice, important characteristics of the product, such as length, thickness, cross-sectional shape or weight, are in principle recorded and stored before each slicing process. These data can be used advantageously to determine the size of the respective product residues. By starting the product remains with the largest residual product remaining, a simultaneous termination of the product residue exhaustion process can be achieved.

According to a further embodiment, the completion of the partial portions in all tracks is started simultaneously. This facilitates the coordination of the completion process.

According to a further embodiment, the portions in the tracks after the completion are aligned relative to each other with respect to a conveying direction, preferably such that in relation to the conveying direction, the leading edges of the completed portions in all tracks are at the same height. The alignment can be achieved, for example, by means of track-specific, individually controllable belt conveyors - so-called portion-stop belts. In this way, the completed portions can be aligned as the regular cut complete portions. That is, in particular, the offset can be compensated, which results from the simultaneous termination of the product residues in the individual tracks and the resulting offset completion of the product residues in the individual tracks. Since the alignment can be done after the completion process at any point of the conveyor line, it is associated with much less effort than if a Portionierförderer would provide with individually controllable tracks.

According to an alternative embodiment, the slicing of the product residues in all traces is started simultaneously. In this embodiment, the leading edges of the incomplete partial portions are aligned flush.

When completing the partial portions, it is possible to start with that partial portion which has the highest number of slices required for completing. The further traces may then later in the course of the completion process, depending on the length of the product residue later.

In particular, the completion of the partial portions in the individual tracks can be coordinated in such a way that the partial portions of all tracks are added at the same time to the last slice required for completion. In such an embodiment, a subsequent alignment of the completed portions relative to each other is not required because the trailing edges of the completed portions and thus - with the same number of discs - whose leading edges are aligned flush from the outset.

The completion of the partial portions can be carried out after a common intermediate positioning in a waiting area and a common return to a Portionierbereich, in particular initially either the trailing edges of all subportions are simultaneously returned to a completion position or returned only the trailing edge of a first partial portion in a completion position and the trailing edges of the other partial portions beyond the completion position. While the partial portions are in the waiting area, the removal of the product end pieces and / or the cutting and removal of the cut can be carried out unhindered in the portioning region. If only the trailing edge of a first partial portion is returned to a completion position and the trailing edges of the other partial portions are returned beyond the completion position, care should be taken that the space is sufficient for returning, i. that no product slices fall off the portioning conveyor. Such a configuration is therefore particularly suitable for flush-stacked or shingled portions to a small extent.

• das Zuführen des Produkts in einer Spur zu unterbrechen, falls der verbliebene Produktrest in dieser Spur nicht mehr zum Bilden einer vollständigen Portion ausreicht und in wenigstens einer der anderen Spuren der verbliebene Produktrest noch zum Bilden mindestens einer vollständigen Portion ausreicht, und
• die Produktreste zum Aufschneiden dem Schneidmesser zuzuführen, nachdem die Produktreste aller Spuren ein Maß erreicht haben, welches zum Bilden einer vollständigen Portion nicht mehr ausreicht.

In the apparatus, in particular a high-performance slicer, for simultaneous cutting of several food products into portions comprising a plurality of product slices, the product feed can be designed in such a way that the feed movement for each track can be interrupted and resumed independently of the other tracks, one downstream of the cutting knife, At least a portion of the tracks associated transfer unit is provided, with the complete portions to downstream devices handed over and complete after cutting a product incomplete partial portions by product slices of a subsequent product completed are, and wherein a control device is provided which is adapted to

• stopping the feeding of the product in a lane if the remaining product residue in that lane is no longer sufficient to form a complete portion and in at least one of the other lanes the remaining product residue is still sufficient to form at least one complete portion;
• To feed the product residues for cutting the cutting blade after the product remains of all traces have reached a level that is no longer sufficient to form a complete portion.

Due to the fact that the feed movement for each track can be interrupted and resumed independently of the other tracks, a complex, individually controllable portioning conveyor can be saved.

The control device can in particular be designed to coordinate the operation of the product feed and the operation of the transfer unit for completing the partial portions, in particular in such a way that the cutting of the product remains in all the tracks ends simultaneously and the completion of the partial portions in all the tracks is started simultaneously, or that the slicing of the product remainders in all the tracks is started simultaneously and the completion of the partial servings is started with the partial portion having the highest number of slices required for completing.

The conveyors can each have their own drive. Alternatively, the conveyors may have a common drive, wherein an adjustable device for individually adjusting the conveying speed is provided for each track.

For transferring the partial portions in and against a conveying direction, the transfer unit preferably comprises at least one conveying unit undivided transversely to the conveying direction. As a result, the manufacturing cost of the device can be reduced compared to an arrangement with individually eligible partial portions.

Furthermore, the transfer unit can comprise at least two conveyor units following one another in a conveying direction, wherein the completion of the partial portions formed on a first conveyor unit can be carried out after intermediate positioning of the partial portions on a second conveyor unit and return of the partial portions to the first conveyor unit.

The conveyor units may each comprise a belt conveyor, in particular an endless belt conveyor, which is operable both in and against the conveying direction.

Furthermore, the transfer unit may comprise a Ausrichtförderer, with the portions in the tracks after the completion relative to each other with respect to a conveying direction are aligned, preferably such that relative to the conveying direction, the leading edges of the completed portions in all tracks are at the same height.

Fig. 1

schematisch eine Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Aufschneidevorrichtung mit einer Produktzuführung gemäß einer Ausführungsform,

Fig. 2

eine Ansicht entsprechend Fig. 1 mit einer Produktzuführung gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform,

Fig. 3

schematisch eine erfindungsgemäße Produktionslinie,

Fig. 4

schematisch eine Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Aufschneidevorrichtung,

Fig. 5

schematisch eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäß betreibbaren Fördervorrichtung,

Fig. 6

schematisch eine Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Aufschneidevorrichtung,

Fig. 7

schematisch eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Übergabeeinheit,

Fig. 8

schematisch den Ablauf einer mit der Erfindung möglichen Portionskomplettierung,

Fig. 9 bis 16

vereinfachte Draufsichten auf eine Vorrichtung zum Aufschneiden von Lebensmittelprodukten gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Erfindung, und

Fig. 17 bis 23

vereinfachte Draufsichten auf eine Vorrichtung zum Aufschneiden von Lebensmittelprodukten gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

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

Fig. 1

1 is a schematic plan view of a slicing device according to the invention with a product feed according to an embodiment,

Fig. 2

a view accordingly Fig. 1 with a product feeder according to a further embodiment,

Fig. 3

schematically a production line according to the invention,

Fig. 4

1 is a schematic plan view of a slicing device according to the invention;

Fig. 5

1 is a schematic side view of a conveying device which can be operated according to the invention,

Fig. 6

1 is a schematic plan view of a slicing device according to the invention;

Fig. 7

schematically a perspective view of a transfer unit according to the invention,

Fig. 8

schematically the course of a possible with the invention Portionskomplettierung,

Fig. 9 to 16

simplified plan views of a device for slicing food products according to another embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 17 to 23

simplified plan views of a device for slicing food products according to another embodiment of the invention.

The Fig. 1 and 2 each show schematically a high-performance slicer, which is adapted to simultaneously cut a plurality of food products 11. The slicer has at least one cutting knife, not shown here, which moves in a cutting plane 13. The cutting blade can be, for example, a sickle blade rotating about a blade axis. Alternatively, the slicer can be provided with a circular blade, which rotates about a knife axis and additionally rotates planetary about a central axis extending parallel to the knife axis.

A product feeder 15 serves in each case to supply the products 11 to the cutting blade or the cutting plane 13 individually.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1 Each track of the slicer or product feeder 15 and thus each of the products 11 to be sliced at the same time is associated with a conveying device 17, which may be a so-called product holder, which projects into the rear end of the product resting on a product support 29 of the product feeder 15 11 engages.

For the individual conveyors 17, a common drive 23 is provided, which can move a carrier 25 for the conveyors 17 along a direction parallel to the conveying direction F guide 27, both in the conveying direction F and counter to the conveying direction F, as shown by the double arrow is indicated.

When the common carrier 25 is moved by means of the common drive 23 in the direction of the cutting plane 13, while all the product holder 17 and thus all products 11 are forcibly taken. For cutting the next products, the product holder 17 are moved back to the starting position. Thus, during slicing, the common drive 23 provides a common feed rate for the products 11, but can be individually changed for each product 11 by moving the product holders 17 independently of one another relative to the carrier 25 during slicing as indicated by the double arrows is indicated on the product holders 17.

For each product 11, a fine-tuning or correction of the joint feed rate determined by the common drive 23 can thereby be effected in order to compensate, for example, for individual fluctuations in the product cross-section and / or the product density over the product length such that the product slices or product slices separated from the products 11 Each portion formed therefrom has a desired weight. The described embodiment of the product feeder 15 thus makes it possible to take into account information obtained about the products 11, in particular information about the product interior, in the sense of an individual product feed.

In order to obtain information about the product interior, a common product scanner 19 is provided, which extends transversely to the conveying direction F across all tracks. The product scanner 19 is, in particular, an X-ray device which serves to obtain information about the interior of the products 11 while they are moved in the conveying direction F past the product scanner 19 or below the product scanner 19. Here, the product scanner 19 defines a perpendicular to the conveying direction F scanning plane, through which the products 11 are moved during the scanning process. In this case, information about the product interior is determined on the scanning plane for the scanning plane in order in this way in particular to determine the density distribution of the individual products 11 in the conveying direction F.

The hatched areas on the common product scanner 19 indicate that, in an alternative embodiment, a separate product scanner 19 can be arranged for each track.

The slicing device comprises a control unit 21, which is connected to the cutting blade or the drive for the cutting blade or a blade or cutting head comprising the cutting blade. In addition, the control unit 21 is connected to the product feeder 15 and the product scanner 19. In this way, the control unit 21, which may be part of a higher-level central control device, the individual product supply taking into account obtained by means of the product scanner 19 information about the interior of the products 11 get.

In addition, information about the product contour, ie the cross-sectional profile of the products 11 along the conveying direction F, as is basically known, is also taken into account in the individual product feed. For this purpose, a separate product scanner can be provided, which scans the outer contours of the products 11. Alternatively, such a scanner may be integrated into the product scanner 19.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2 the product feeder 15 is designed such that all products 11 can be supplied completely independently of each other. For each track and thus for each product to be sliced 11 is a turn designed as a product holder conveyor 17 is provided, which acts on the rear end of the product and feeds the product 11 in the conveying direction F of the cutting plane 13. For each track, and thus for each product 11, the feed rate can be individually adjusted and varied independently of the other tracks. It is also possible to temporarily interrupt the product supply in each lane, ie to stop the respective conveyor 17. This makes it possible, based on the product in question, to perform so-called idle cuts in order to achieve that temporarily no slices are separated from the product 11 concerned.

Such gaps are also in the concept of product supply 15 in the embodiment of Fig. 1 possible because there the individual conveyors 17 can be moved independently relative to the common carrier 25. The complete independence of conveyors 17 in the concept of Fig. 2 However, there creates a greater scope for individual product supply.

Otherwise, the embodiment corresponds to the Fig. 2 that of the Fig. 1 , so that reference can be made to the corresponding statements.

Fig. 3 gives an overview of a possible embodiment of a production line according to the invention, which includes a high-performance slicer 115, a conveyor device 129 and a packaging machine 121.

The slicer 115 is able to cut several food products 111 - here three products - simultaneously, with a track provided for each product 111. For each track, the slicer produces 111 portions 113 during slicing of the products. As used herein Terminology may include a portion of one or more separated product slices, ie, a single separated product slices to represent a portion of the invention.

The downstream of the slicer 115 conveyor device 129 ensures that from the incoming portions in the individual tracks 113 total portions 119 are formed, which are then fed to the packaging machine 121 and packaged there. Each total portion 119 thus contains a portion 113 of each of the tracks.

Thus, if food products 111 of different varieties are sliced by means of the slicer 115, each total portion 119 contains a plurality of types of slices, i. the production line produces "mixed packs", as already mentioned at the beginning.

As in Fig. 4 is illustrated, according to the invention, the variety of producible total portions can be further increased, ie the portions 113 produced simultaneously by the multi-lane slicing can not differ from each other in terms of the variety of product slices forming the portions 113.

The cutting plane 117 of the slicer 115, in which moves at least one cutting knife, not shown here, the three products 111 can be supplied individually. In the example shown here, a conveyor 127 is provided for each track and thus for each sliced product 111, which engages the rear product end and feeds the product 111 in the arrow direction of the cutting plane 117. The individual product feed means that in each track, and thus for each product 111, the feed rate can be individually set and varied.

In particular, it is possible in each track to temporarily interrupt the product supply, i. to stop the respective conveyor 127 in order to carry out so-called idle cuts with respect to the product concerned, i. in order to ensure that no slices are temporarily separated from the relevant product 111, as has already been mentioned in the introductory part.

As a result, it is not only possible due to the individual product supply, track individual, e.g. Weight and / or thickness of the respective portion 113 forming product slices or the portion weight arbitrarily specify, but it is also possible to individually select the number of each of the portions 113 forming product slices for each track in the individual tracks.

The latter is in Fig. 4 indicated. The portions 113 formed from the simultaneously sliced products 111 each have two disks in the left-hand track, one disk in the middle track and three disks in the right-hand track, respectively. This result can be achieved by separating one slice for each three successive cutting movements or operations of the cutting knife from the right product during each cutting operation, while the middle product is subjected to two empty cuts and the left product is blank-cut. The right product is cut "fastest", whereas the middle product is "sliced" the slowest, which in Fig. 4 is indicated by the correspondingly different product residual lengths.

The three portions 113 lying next to one another in the tracks are brought together by downstream processes to form a total portion 119, as shown in FIG Fig. 4 indicated by dashed lines.

In Fig. 5 Using the example of a two-lane operation, a possibility for the formation of total portions 119 from two portions 113, also referred to below as individual portions, is illustrated. The individual portions 113 may each consist of one or more product slices, which are not shown here in detail.

In the Fig. 5 illustrated conveying device is also referred to as a stacking device, since the individual portions 113 are stacked in the formation of the total portions 119 each one above the other.

The transportation of the individual portions 113, the total portions 119 and packages 123, which will be described in more detail below, in a conveying direction F1, is effected in the example shown here by conveyors 131, which are designed as endless belt conveyors.

An upper portion 113 is already on an existing example of paper separating layer 125. The laying of the upper portions 113 on the separating layers 125 is carried on an upstream, not shown. By means of a downwardly inclined conveyor belt 131 pointing in the direction of a central conveyor belt 131, the respective upper portions 113 on the separating layer 125 reach a lower portion 113, whereby a total portion 119 is formed, which in turn is connected by means of a downwardly inclined conveyor belt 133 lower conveyor belt 131 transported packaging 123 are inserted.

The conveyor belt 131 transporting the packages 123 can be regarded as part of the packaging machine, not shown here, in which the packages 123 provided with the total portions 119 are finished, in particular closed.

The upper portion 113 and the lower portion 113 come from different tracks of a slicing device, as described above the example of Fig. 4 was explained. The upper portion 113 can be, for example, three slices of cheese, while the lower portion 113 is formed, for example, by two pieces of ham, the lowest slice of cheese being separated from the uppermost slice of sausage by the separating layer 125.

Further, the upper portion 113 and the lower portion 113 may be different from each other in terms of their total weight, the weight of their discs or the thickness of their discs. These parameters can be adjusted by a corresponding control of the product feed of the slicer 115 in basically any manner, as described above.

According to Fig. 6 The slicing device according to the invention, which is a high-speed slicer, comprises a product feeder 221 with a product support 231 for the products not shown here, and a common drive 233 for two single conveyors 219 attached to a common support 237 , which is movable by means of the common drive 233 along a parallel to the conveying direction F2 guide 235 in the conveying direction F2 and counter to the conveying direction F2, as indicated by the double arrow.

The products can each be grasped at their rear end by the relevant conveyor device 219 designed here as a product gripper. When the common carrier 237 is moved by means of the common drive 233 in the direction of a cutting plane 215, all product grippers 219 and thus all products are forcibly taken along. For slicing the next products, the product grippers 219 are moved back to the starting position. During slicing, therefore, the common drive 233 provides a common feed rate for the products, but can be individually corrected for each product by moving the product grippers 219 independently of one another relative to the carrier 237 during slicing, as indicated by the double arrows on the Product grippers 219 is indicated.

For each product, a fine-tuning or correction of the common feed rate determined by the common drive 233 can thereby be effected in order to compensate, for example, individual fluctuations in the product cross-section or product density over the product length so that the product slices separated from the products or from the product slices formed therefrom Portions each having a desired weight.

Alternatively, the product feeder 221 may be configured such that there is a separate feeder for each product, wherein the product feeder may be operated completely independently of each other.

In the illustrated embodiment, two products can be cut simultaneously, ie the slicing device is here designed in two lanes. The number of tracks is basically arbitrary.

In the cutting plane 215 moves at least one unillustrated cutting blade, which is, for example, a rotating about a knife axis sickle blade or a circular blade which rotates about a knife axis and in addition rotates planetary about a central axis.

Downstream of the cutting plane 215 in the conveying direction F2 is a transfer unit 223, which comprises for each track a first conveyor unit 225 designed as a portioning belt and a second conveyor unit 227 designed as a control belt. In addition, a two control bands 227 downstream, two tracks jointly assigned further control band 228 is provided.

As indicated by the double arrows, the portioning belts 225 and the control belts 227 are drivable both in the conveying direction F2 and in the opposite direction, i. Discs, portions or partial portions lying on these bands can be transported both in the conveying direction F2 and counter to the conveying direction F2 as a function of control signals or commands of a control device not shown here.

According to the invention, the transfer unit 223 is thus designed so separated with respect to the two tracks that the two Portionierbänder 225 and the two tax bands 227 can each be operated independently.

As the representation of Fig. 7 can be removed, the transfer unit 223 may have other functions, which are each indicated by the double arrows. The portion belts 225 can be raised and lowered, either independently of the control belts 227 or together with the control belts 227. Such a lowering and raising the Portionierbänder 225 can serve in particular for adjusting the drop path or the height of the separated product slices during a portion formation. Furthermore, the portioning belts 225 may be pivotable, in particular those of the cutting plane 215 (cf. Fig. 6 ) facing free ends of the Portionierbänder 225 each to bring into a position in the unusable product pieces that are incurred in particular when performing trimming cuts at the beginning of a slicing process, can be disposed of.

Both the lowering and lifting as well as the pivoting of each portioning belt 225 can be carried out independently of the other portioning belt 225, i. Also in this regard, a separation of the two tracks can be given.

By way of illustration is in Fig. 7 on each portioning belt 225 a portion 213 is shown, which consists of a so-called shingled arrangement of several separated product slices. During normal slicing operation, these portions 213, once complete, are quickly transferred from the respective portioning belt 227 to the control belt 227. From the control band 227, the portion 213 is then transferred to the common control band 228. Further transport from the common control belt 228 to downstream devices, such as another conveyor belt 229 (see. Fig. 6 ), can be done, for example, as soon as two complete portions 213 are present next to each other on the common control tape 228.

For the portion completion already explained in the introductory part, an incomplete portion can be temporarily "parked" by transferring the incomplete portion from the portioning belt 225 to the first control belt 227. The thus free portioning belt 225 is then available for receiving unusable product pieces resulting from the trim cuts on the subsequent product. These can be disposed of, for example, by folding down and operating the Portionierbands 225 against the conveying direction F2. The portioning belt 225, which in turn is free, can then again receive the incomplete portion parked on the first control belt 227, by returning it to the portioning belt 225 by operating the two belts 225, 227 counter to the conveying direction F2.

As already mentioned, such Portionskomplettierungen in the individual tracks can be done completely independently. Alternatively, a procedure can be chosen, as described below with reference to Fig. 8 is explained in more detail.

In the Fig. 8a to 8f each stroke symbolizes a severed product slice, with a full portion being indicated by five such strokes.

Fig. 8a shows the "normal" slicing operation. As soon as they are complete, portions 213 formed on the portioning ribbons 225 are transferred to the respective downstream control band 227 and then transported away via the further control band 228.

In Fig. 8a a situation is shown in which on the Portionierbändern 225 straight portions are formed, which are currently not yet complete, but only three discs each.

Since one product 211 has a shorter residual length than the other product 211, the slicing operation in one track is finished, while in the other track the slicing of the product 211 still lasts. This is in Fig. 8b shown.

On the portioning belt 225 of the track with the product of shorter residual length, consequently, an incomplete partial portion 217 has been created which comprises only three product slices. The partial portion 217 is not initially transported to the downstream control belt 227 in this example, but remains on the portioning belt 225, which consequently remains temporarily stopped. The complete portion previously located on the first control band 227 has already been transported to the further control band 228.

Fig. 8c shows the situation in which now the product in the other track is completely cut open. The last portion of this product may also be incomplete, ie a partial portion 217 has also been formed in this lane, which in this example comprises only a single product slice.

In the exemplary embodiment explained here, it is provided that the completion of these two partial portions 217 begins simultaneously. For this purpose, according to Fig. 8d the two subportions 217 are transferred from the respective portioning belt 225 to the respective control belt 227, where they are intermediately positioned. Subsequently, both tracks are each loaded with a new product 211 ( Fig. 8e ), and in each case the so-called trimming cuts are carried out at the front ends of the product, wherein the resulting unusable product pieces 239 are received on the portion belts 225. These product pieces 239 For example, they may be disposed of by the portioning belts 225 in the manner mentioned above.

Thereupon, the return of the temporarily parked partial portions 217 takes place according to Fig. 8f the control belts 227 and the portioning belts 225 are moved counter to the conveying direction F2 and thus the partial portions 217 return to their initial position on the portioning belts 225 which have since become free. From the new products prepared by the mentioned trimming cuts 211 product slices can thus complete the partial portions of the previous products. While one portion needs two product slices to complete, the other portion 217 needs to be completed with four more product slices.

Thus, it is not necessary to complete partial portions by hand. In addition, product losses are minimized because partial portions do not need to be disposed of.

According to Fig. 9 a high-performance slicer 311 comprises a product feed, not shown, which is adapted to feed food products 315 in a plurality of juxtaposed parallel tracks 313a, 313b, 313c along a conveying direction F3 a cutting plane S3, in which a rotating and / or rotating cutting blade (not shown ) emotional. The product feeder comprises one or more conveyors configured such that the feeding movement along the conveying direction F3 for each of the tracks 313a, 313b, 313c can be interrupted and resumed independently of the other tracks. As conveyors, for example, driven, engaging the rear end product, gripping claws and / or belt conveyors may be provided. A the cutting knife Subordinate transfer unit 319 ensures that complete product portions 317, which in the illustrated embodiment comprise eight product slices 316, can be transferred to downstream devices, such as a packaging machine, and incomplete partial portions which are present after slicing a product 315 can be completed by product slices 316 of a subsequent product 315. The transfer unit 319 comprises three successive conveyors, namely a portioning conveyor 321 arranged in the immediate vicinity of the cutting plane S3, a control conveyor 323 downstream of the portioning conveyor 321, and an alignment conveyor 325 downstream of the control conveyor 323, wherein the aligning conveyor 325 is designed to be split and for the individual tracks 313a , 313b, 313c is individually controllable.

At the in Fig. 9 In the illustrated operating state, the products 315 of the cutting plane S3 are continuously delivered to all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c, with an unillustrated control device ensuring that complete portions 317 are created on the portioning conveyor 321. The control device is capable of controlling and / or regulating both the conveyors 321, 323, 325 of the transfer unit 319 and the product supply for the individual tracks 313a, 313b, 313c in accordance with predetermined parameters. By means of suitable sensors, all products 315 are measured and / or weighed before the start of the slicing operation. The corresponding data is transmitted to the control device and optionally stored.

As soon as the product 315, for example, is running low on the right-hand track 313c and the remaining product residue in this track is no longer sufficient to form a complete portion 317, the remaining product residues still remain on the other two tracks 313a, 313b are sufficient to form full portions 317, the feeding of the product 315 on the image line 313c on the right is interrupted by correspondingly driving the product feed and the product residue is transferred to a retracted empty position, as shown in FIG Fig. 10 is shown. On the two left-hand tracks 313a, 313b, therefore, complete portions 317 are still generated in the usual way, whereas product slices are no longer separated on the right-hand track 313c. For example, as soon as the product 315 on the middle product track 313b has been cut so far that the remaining product residue is no longer sufficient to form a complete portion 317, the slicing is interrupted also on this track 313b, ie the product feed is stopped and the product 315 becomes transferred to a withdrawn empty cut position.

Fig. 11 FIG. 12 shows an operating state in which the remaining product residues on all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c are so short that no complete portions 317 can be cut open any more. The products on all product tracks 313a, 313b, 313c are thus in the empty position. Out Fig. 11 indicates that the last complete portion 317 has been cut on the left product track 313a. The complete portions 317 are transferred in the usual way to subsequent facilities.

The product residues on the tracks 313a, 313b, 313c are of different lengths, ie the respective incomplete partial portions to be expected are of different sizes. The size of the product residue is independent of the time from which the remaining product residue is no longer sufficient to create a complete portion. Due to differences in the product properties, eg a different cross-sectional profile, it may be that the product residue on that Track in which the blank cut operation was first initiated, is the longest, or the shortest of all the tracks.

In a common product residue exhaustion process, the product residues are now cut on all the tracks 313a, 313b, 313c, with the product residues being cut according to Fig. 12 started with the largest remaining product residue on the middle track 313b. The other tracks 313a, 313c later follow in accordance with the size of their product residue, with control being made such that the slicing of the product remains in all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c simultaneously ends. The last usable product slab 316 is therefore cut simultaneously on all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c, so that the trailing edges 340 of the incomplete partial portions 327 are aligned flush, ie they lie at the same height relative to the conveying direction F3. This condition is in Fig. 13 shown.

The remaining, no longer usable end pieces 329 are withdrawn from the cutting plane S3 and removed, for example, by a valve provided in the product supply flap. Furthermore, the incomplete partial portions 327 are conveyed together by the portioning conveyor 321 in the conveying direction F3 onto the control conveyor 323, as shown in FIG Fig. 14 is shown. New products 315 are now placed on all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c, wherein the non-utilisable gate is cut open in each case and removed from the portioning conveyor 321, which is operated counter to the conveying direction F3 for this purpose. The new products 315 are then preferably returned to the in Fig. 14 transferred shown blank position.

Subsequently, according to Fig. 15 the incomplete partial portions 327 against the conveying direction F3 of the control conveyor 323 back to conveyed to the portioning conveyor 321 and thereby positioned so that by re-separated product slices 316, the shingled portion portions 327 are correctly weitereschescheltelt. Now, all the tracks 313a, 313b, 313c are started to complete the partial portions 327, ie, the products 315 are simultaneously fed from the blanking position S3 from the cutting plane S3. As soon as the first partial portion 327 has been completed, the product 315 on the corresponding track, in this case on the central track 313b, is moved back to the empty-slot position. At the in Fig. 15 In the illustrated operating state, the two right-hand tracks 313b, 313c are already in the idle position, while on the left-hand track 313a the last slice 316 has just been cut off to complete the partial portion. The completed portions 317, which are offset from each other at both the leading edge 330 and the trailing edge 340 due to the different start of the product residue exhausting process along the conveying direction F3, are transferred from the portioning conveyor 321 to the control conveyor 323 and from there to the split registration conveyor 325 moves.

As in Fig. 16 3, the leading edges 330 of the completed portions 317 on the split registration conveyor 325 are aligned, for example by means of individually controllable portion stop bands, such that the leading edges 330 of the completed portions 317 in all the tracks 313a, 313b, 313c are related to the conveying direction F3 the same height. All existing partial portions are now completed into complete portions 317 and aligned correctly with each other. In addition, on the tracks 313a, 313b, 313c again with the continuous operation according to Fig. 9 are begun, in which regular portions 317 are cut open in a regular manner.

An alternative method of slicing food products in multiple lanes will be described with reference to FIGS Fig. 17 to 23 described. The in the Fig. 17 to 23 The illustrated high performance slicer 311 is similar in structure to the first embodiment according to FIG Fig. 9 to 16 However, the split alignment conveyor 325 can be omitted here. Portions 317 'are created which are shingled with only slight misalignment. Fig. 17 again shows a continuous operating state, in which continuously successive complete product portions 317 'created and transferred by a transfer unit 319' to a downstream processing device.

As in the first embodiment, the feed of the product 317 'in, for example, the right track 313c is interrupted if the remaining product residue in that track is no longer sufficient to form a full portion 317' and the remaining product remains in the other two tracks 313a, 313b sufficient to form at least one complete portion 317 '. Complete portions 317 'are then cut on the two left product tracks 313a, 313b, whereas the product 315 on the right product track 313c is moved to the empty-cut position. This condition is in Fig. 18 shown.

For example, as soon as the product residue on the left product track 313a is no longer sufficient to form a complete portion 317 ', the product 315 on this product track 313a is also moved into the empty-cut position. Fig. 19 shows an operating condition in which the remaining product remains on all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c are no longer sufficient to form a full portion 317 'and in which, accordingly, the products 315 on all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c have been transferred to the idle position. How out Fig. 19 As a result, the product 315 of the middle product track 313b was last transferred to the idle position.

According to Fig. 20 now the incomplete partial portions 327 'are cut open, wherein in all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c is started simultaneously with the slicing of the remaining product residues. Accordingly, therefore, the leading edges 330 of the partial portions 327 'on all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c aligned flush, ie they are based on the conveying direction F3 at the same height. Once all the product remains are cut except for the non-usable end pieces 329, the previously formed partial portions 327 'of the portioning conveyor 321 promoted to the control conveyor 323. The end pieces 329 are then removed as described above. Further, new products 315 are loaded and cut into the high performance slicer 311. Once the non-recyclable gate is removed from the portioning conveyor 321 ( Fig. 21 ), the partial portions 327 'are again conveyed back against the conveying direction F by the control conveyor 323 to the portioning conveyor 321. Thereby, the trailing edge 340 of the partial portion 327 'of the right track 313c is returned to a completion position, while the trailing edges 340 of the other - longer - portion portions 327' are thus returned beyond the completion position. Subsequently, the partial portions 327 'are completed starting with the partial portion 327' on the right track 313c, which has the highest number of product slices 316 required for completing. This operating state is in Fig. 22 shown.

The other product tracks 313a, 313b "fly over" during completion, depending on when the trailing edge 340 of the respective partial portion 327 'reaches the completion position. Upon completion of this process, both leading edges 330 and trailing edges 340 are The completed portions 317 'aligned flush. The completed portions 317 'can now be transferred in the usual way and the formation of new complete portions 317' according to the in Fig. 17 shown continuous operating state can be used again.

This alternative is also suitable for portions of flush-stacked slices. The extent to which this alternative is generally suitable for shingled portions depends on the degree to which the particular device allows each to return portions with their trailing edges beyond the completion position without slices falling off.

All of the embodiments of the devices described herein are particularly adapted to be operated according to one or more of the methods described herein. Furthermore, all embodiments of the devices described here as well as all embodiments of the methods described here can each be combined with each other.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

11

product

13

cutting plane

15

product feed

17

Conveyor, product holder

19

Information retrieval device, product scanner, X-ray device

21

control unit

23

common drive

25

carrier

27

guide

29

product support

F

conveying direction

111

product

113

portion

115

Slicer, Slicer

117

cutting plane

119

total dose

121

Downstream facility, packaging machine

123

packaging

125

separating layer

127

Conveyor

129

conveyor

131

promoter

F1

conveying direction

211

product

213

portion

215

cutting plane

217

subportion

219

Conveyor

221

product feed

223

Transfer unit

225

first conveyor unit, portioning belt

227

second conveyor unit, tax band

228

Feed unit, further tax band

229

Downstream facility

231

product support

233

common drive

235

guide

237

carrier

239

product pieces

F2

conveying direction

311

high-performance slicer

313a, 313b, 313c

product tracking

315

product

316

product slice

317.317 '

portion

319, 319 '

Transfer unit

321

Portionierförderer

323

control conveyor

325

Ausrichtförderer

327, 327 '

subportion

329

tail

330

leading edge

340

trailing edge

F3

conveying direction

S3

cutting plane

Claims (14)

1. A method for the simultaneous multiple track slicing of a plurality of food products (11, 111, 211, 315),

   - in which the products (11, 111, 211, 315) are cut by means of a common slicing apparatus (115, 311), in particular a high performance slicer, which has at least one cutting blade which rotates about a blade axis in a cutting plane (13, 117, 215, S3) and/or revolves about a central axis in a planetary motion manner and to which the products (11, 111, 211, 315) are supplied in multiple tracks, and

   - in which blank cuts are carried out in at least one passive track (313a, 313b, 313c) at least at times and/or in which the supply of the respective product (11, 111, 211, 315) is suspended at least at times, while the respective product (11, 111, 211, 315) is sliced in at least one other active track (313a, 313b, 313c),
   characterized in that

   - the supply of the product (11, 111, 211, 315) in a track (313c) is respectively suspended if the product stub remaining is no longer sufficient to form a complete portion (317, 317') in this track (313c) and the product stub remaining in at least one other track (313a, 313b) is still sufficient to form at least one complete portion (317, 317');

   - in that the product stubs are sliced into incomplete part portions (327, 327') once the product stubs of all tracks (313a, 313b, 313c) have reached an amount which is no longer sufficient to form a complete portion (317, 317'), and

   - in that the incomplete part portions (327, 327') are subsequently completed by slices (316) of subsequent products (11, 111, 211, 315).
2. A method in accordance with claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the product (11, 111, 211, 315) is additionally moved away from the cutting plane (13, 117, 215, S3) in the passive track (313a, 313b, 313c), in particular is retracted.
3. A method in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the products (11, 111, 211, 315) are cut into portions (113, 213, 317) each including at least one product slice (316).
4. A method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the products (11, 111, 211, 315) are supplied to the cutting blade in individual tracks, in particular such that, on slicing of the products (11, 111, 211, 315) into portions (113, 213, 317) each including at least one product slice (316), each portion (113, 213, 317) satisfies a predefined condition for the respective track (313a, 313b, 313c), which condition, in particular relates to the weight of the portion (113, 213, 317), to the weight and/or the thickness of the product slices (316) forming the portion (113, 213, 317), and/or to the number of the product slices (316) forming the portion (113, 213, 317).
5. A method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the products (11, 111, 211, 315) are individually supplied to the cutting blade in dependence on information relating to at least the outer contour of the product (11, 111, 211, 315) and/or to the inner structure of the product.
6. A method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that,
   following the slicing of a product (11, 111, 211, 315), incomplete part portions (217, 327) present are respectively completed by slices (316) of a subsequent product (11, 111, 211, 315), wherein in particular each part portion (217, 327) is completed in the track (313a, 313b, 313c) in which the part portion (217, 327) was created and/or the completion of part portions (217, 327) takes place in separate tracks (313a, 313b, 313c).
7. An apparatus (115, 311), in particular a high performance slicer, for the simultaneous slicing of several food products (11, 111, 211, 315), in particular into portions (113, 213, 317) each including a plurality of product slices (316), having
   a product feed (15, 115) which includes a plurality of feed devices (17, 127, 219) arranged in parallel with one another by means of which the products (11, 111, 211, 315) are suppliable in multiple tracks to a cutting plane (13, 117, 215, S3), in which at least one cutting blade moves, in particular in a rotating manner and/or in a revolving manner,
   wherein the product feed (15, 115) is designed such that the supply movement can be suspended for each track (313a, 313b, 313c) independently of the other tracks and can, in particular be restarted, characterized by
   a control device (21),
   which is designed to suspend the supply of the product (11, 111, 211, 315) in a track (313a, 313b, 313c) if the product stub remaining in that track is no longer sufficient to form a complete portion (317, 317') and the product stub remaining in at least one other track is still sufficient to form at least one complete portion (317, 317'), and
   which is designed to supply the product stub to the cutting blade for the slicing once the product stubs of all tracks (313a, 313b, 313c) have reached an amount which is no longer sufficient to form a complete portion (317, 317').
8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7,
   characterized in that
   the product feed (15, 115) is designed to suspend the supply of the respective product (11, 111, 211, 315) in at least one passive track (313a, 313b, 313c) and to supply the respective product (11, 111, 211, 315) in at least one other, active track(313a, 313b, 313c), wherein, in particular the product feed (15, 115) is designed such that a product (11, 111, 211, 315), whose supply has been suspended, is additionally retracted from the cutting plane (13, 117, 215, S3).
9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 7 or claim 8,
   characterized in that
   the control device (21) is designed for a track individual blank cut management, in particular including the product feed (15, 115) and a transfer device (223, 319) for the portion completion arranged downstream of the cutting blade and associated with at least some of the tracks (313a, 313b, 313c).
10. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 7 to 9,
    characterized in that
    the feed devices (17, 127) each have their own drive (23); and/or in that the feed devices (219) have a common drive (233), wherein a settable device for the individual matching of the feed speed is provided for each track.
11. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 7 to 10,
    characterized in that
    the product feed (15, 115) is designed to individually supply the products (11, 111) to the cutting blade in dependence on information which relates to at least the outer contour and/or to the inner structure of the products, in particular such that the product supply takes place in each track independently of information which relates to the products in the other tracks.
12. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 7 to 11,
    characterized in that
    the product feed (15, 115) is designed to individually supply the products (11, 111) to the cutting blade such that each portion (113) satisfies a predefined condition for the respective track, which condition in particular relates to the weight of the portion (113), to the weight and/or thickness of the product slices forming the portion (113), and/ or to the number of the product slices forming the portion (113).
13. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 7 to 12,
    characterized in that
    a transfer device (223) is provided which is arranged downstream of the cutting blade and which is associated with at least some of the tracks, by means of which the completed portions are transferable to devices (229) downstream of the transfer device (223) and incomplete part portions (217) respectively present after slicing of a product (211) can be completed by slices from a subsequent product (211),
    wherein the transfer unit (223) has a separate feed section for each associated track which includes two consecutive feed devices (225, 227).
14. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 7 to 13,
    characterized in that
    a transfer device (223, 319) is provided which is arranged downstream of the cutting blade and which is associated with at least some of the tracks, by means of which completed portions (317, 317') are transferable to subsequent devices (229, 325) and incomplete part portions (327, 327') respectively present after slicing of a product (211) can be completed by product slices (316) from a subsequent product (211, 315); and
    in that a control device (21) is provided,
    which is designed to suspend the supply of the product (211, 315) in a track (313c) if the product stub remaining in that track (313c) is no longer sufficient to form a complete portion (317, 317') and the product stub remaining in at least one other track (313a, 313b) is still sufficient to form at least one complete portion (317, 317'), and which is designed to supply the product stubs to the cutting blade for the cutting once the product stubs of all tracks (313a, 313b, 313c) have reached an amount which is no longer sufficient to form a complete portion (317, 317').

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