EP2564998A1 - Method and device for multi-track slicing of food products - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves supplying food products (3) to a cutting plane (11) in two parallel tracks (9-1-9-4) of a cutting device (1), and cutting the products by a cutting knife, where slices of the products separated from the knife fall on movable delivery tables (17, 19). The product supplied in the track attached to the tables is cut at each time such that maximum slice of straightly cut product impinges on the tables at each time. The tables are moved relative to the falling slices such that partial portions of the products are arranged in a determined position pattern on the tables. An independent claim is also included for a device i.e. high speed-slicer, for multi-track slicing of food products into partial portions.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for slicing several food products, in particular food products of different types, in each at least one product slices comprising partial portions, in which at least two parallel tracks of a slicing each one product supplied to a cutting plane and cut by means of a, in particular circumferentially moving, cutting blade is, wherein the separated from the cutting blade slices of the at least two products fall on a common, movable storage table.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a device, in particular high-performance slicer, for slicing several food products, in particular food products of different types, in each at least one product disc comprising partial portions, comprising a product feeder having at least two parallel tracks, in each track a product track individual a cutting plane can be fed, at least one cutting blade, which is movable in the cutting plane, in particular rotating or revolving, and a movable common storage table downstream of the cutting plane onto which the slices of the at least two products separated by the cutting blade can fall.

Consumers are becoming increasingly demanding. This also applies to the buyers of pre-packaged food slices. Increasingly, consumers wish that slices of different products or of products of different types are packed together. For example, it is desired that different kinds of sausages or different cheeses are contained in a package, so that also sausage and cheese slices together can form a mixed total portion, which is referred to herein as a packaging unit.

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 conventional conveyor technology and packaging machines known per se, such slicers form efficient production lines with which food packages with a plurality of food slices can be produced.

In order to produce "mixed packs" from slices of different products, several slicers are used in the prior art, each of which cut a product type or product type. The individual product streams of the slicers are then merged to produce the blended packages.

By using slicers that can cut several products at the same time, the product throughput can be increased, because at the same time several products can be cut open. In such slicers, however, the production of the mentioned "mixed packs" is complicated, especially if the slices of a mixed pack are to be packaged in a consumer-friendly manner.

The invention has for its object to expand the opportunities for slicing food products, in particular should be possible to produce mixed packages of slices of different food products, especially of different types of products that appeal to the consumer as simple, reliable and cost-effective.

The solution of this object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and in particular by the fact that only one in each of the shared tray associated tracks supplied product is cut at any time, so that at any time a maximum of a slice of just cut Product hits the common storage table.

The invention is therefore based on the idea that two or more tracks of a slicing device are assigned to a common storage table, on which the separated slices of the products supplied in these tracks of the cutting plane are deposited. In this case, only one product is cut at any one time, which is supplied in one of the shared tray table associated tracks. The other products fed in the other assigned track (s) will not be cut at the same time. Since in this way at any one time a maximum of one slice of the product being cut falls on the common tray, the common tray can be moved relative to the falling slice such that the respective slice is at a particular location and / or in a particular manner impinges on the storage table. Thus, the slices may be gradually deposited on the tray in a desired position and in a consumer-responsive manner.

Preferably, a portion is formed on the common storage table, each comprising at least a partial portion of each of the supplied products. Each product which is supplied in one of the track assigned to the common storage table thus always forms at least a partial portion on the delivery table. Since normally products of different types are supplied, the partial portions together form a mixed portion on the table.

Preferably, a multi-disc portion of a product fed in a track is created entirely on the tray before starting to produce a multi-disc portion from a product being fed in another track. Thus, slices are separated from a product supplied in a track as long as until the respective partial portion is completed. Only then will the slicing of the next product begin. As a result, dead times and / or idle cuts, which are caused by the start of the next product, are kept low.

In a preferred development of the invention, the common storage table is moved relative to the falling disks of a partial portion such that the partial portion is arranged in a certain laying pattern on the storage table. The partial portion can therefore be formed, in particular, in a laying pattern on the delivery table, which appeals to the consumer.

Preferably, the laying pattern for the respective partial portion meets at least one predetermined condition. The condition may, for example, relate to the position of the partial portion on the delivery table. The condition may also relate to the manner of arranging each slice of the partial portion.

For example, it can be specified that each slice of the partial portion should come to lie on its own or folded upright on the delivery table. In addition, the condition may relate to the manner in which the discs of the partial portion are arranged relative to one another, so that, for example, it may be predetermined that the discs should come to lie on the table next to one another or shingled.

Preferably, the common storage table is moved in a period in which it is not cut open, such that a partial portion to be subsequently formed comes to rest in a specific position relative to a partial portion already formed on the storage table. The partial portions can thus be arranged in a desired position relative to each other on the common storage table.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the common storage table is rotated about an axis of rotation oriented perpendicular to the delivery table, so that the slices forming a partial portion come to lie partially circular on the delivery table. As a result, the respective partial portion can be created particularly easily in a part-circular laying pattern on the storage table.

In particular, a first partial portion comprising the separated slices of a product fed in one track is made temporally before a second partial portion comprising the separated slices of a product fed in another track, wherein the common tray in which between the preparation of the two partial portions lying period is such that the pitch formed by the discs of the first partial portion of the slices of the second partial portion is continued. Several partial portions can thus be arranged in a simple manner in a partial circle, for example in a semicircle.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the slicing device has at least one further track, in which a further product can be fed to the cutting plane and cut open by means of the cutting blade, the separated slices of the further product falling onto a further, second delivery table which is independent of the latter first tray table is movable and on which the portioning is done in the same manner as on the first tray table.

In the slicing device can thus be provided one or more tracks that are not associated with the first tray, but the second tray. In doing so, the products fed in the tracks associated with the second tray table are cut in the appropriate manner as described above with reference to the products fed in the tracks associated with the first tray table. In the tracks supplied to the second delivery table, therefore, only one product is cut at any one time. In tracks that are assigned to different filing tables, but can also be cut open at the same time.

It is particularly advantageous if partial portions are created on the second delivery table in time parallel to partial portions on the first delivery table, since in this way the slicing process can be shortened overall.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the portions formed on the two delivery tables are combined to form a packaging unit. The portions can thus be packaged together.

Preferably, the second delivery table is moved relative to the first delivery table, in particular rotated by a certain angle, to align the portion on the second delivery table relative to the portion on the first delivery table. As a result, a more pleasing appearance can be achieved for the packaging unit formed by the two portions.

In particular, as stated above, each partial portion in the packaging unit can have a predetermined laying pattern, so that overall a packaging unit can be realized that has a consumer-pleasing appearance.

Each partial portion can fulfill a condition prescribed for the respective track, which relates in particular to the weight of the partial portion, the weight and / or the thickness of the panes forming the partial portion, and / or the number of panes forming the partial portion.

The invention also relates to a device, in particular high-performance slicer, for slicing several food products, in particular food products of different types, in each at least one product disc comprising partial portions, comprising a product feeder having at least two parallel tracks, wherein in each track a product track individual one Can be fed to the cutting plane, at least one cutting blade, which is movable in the cutting plane, in particular rotating or revolving, and the cutting plane downstream, movable common tray on which the separated from the cutting blade slices of at least two products can fall, the device to is designed to cut at any time only one in each of the common tray associated tracks supplied product, so that at most a maximum of one separated slice of the product being sliced hits the common tray.

Preferably, the common storage table is coupled to a controllable motor drive, whereby the storage table is movable relative to the falling slices of a partial portion such that the partial portion is arranged in a certain laying pattern on the storage table.

The storage table can be moved in a period in which it is not cut open, so that a partial portion to be formed subsequently comes to rest in a specific position relative to a partial portion already formed on the delivery table.

Preferably, the storage table is designed as a turntable which is rotatable about a vertical, passing centrally through the turntable axis of rotation and / or transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tracks.

The product feeder may comprise at least one further track in which another product may be fed to the cutting plane on a track-by-track basis and the slices of the product fed in the at least one further track separated by the cutting blade fall onto a second delivery table in the same way as the first delivery table and is movable independently of the first tray table.

In particular, the device is designed to carry out one or more of the steps of the method according to the invention.

As used herein, the term "variety" is to be understood broadly. So not only sausage and cheese, for example, or different types of meat, sausage or cheese should be different varieties in the sense of each other form the invention. Even products with "the same content", which differ from one another in terms of at least one parameter that is relevant from the consumer's point of view, should be considered as products of different varieties. 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. On the other hand, given that no two food products are strictly identical, the term 'variety' should not be understood as being broad enough to include differences between products that either the consumer does not perceive at all or that are completely irrelevant to the consumer, 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.

Fig. 1

eine Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße Aufschneidevorrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine weitere Draufsicht auf die erfindungsgemäße Aufschneidevorrichtung von Fig. 1, und

Fig. 3

eine Draufsicht auf Ablagetische der Vorrichtung von Fig. 1 und auf eine der Aufschneidevorrichtung nachgeordnete Verpackungseinrichtung.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show, in each case in a schematic representation,

Fig. 1

a top view of a slicing device according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a further plan view of the slicing of the invention of Fig. 1 , and

Fig. 3

a plan view of storage tables of the device of Fig. 1 and on a packaging device downstream of the slicing device.

The illustrated device 1 is intended for multi-lane slicing of several food products 3 and comprises a product feeder 5 with a product support 7 on which the products 3 in - in the example shown - four adjacent tracks 9 ₁ , 9 ₂ , 9 ₃ and 9 ₄ a cutting plane 11th can be supplied. In the cutting plane 11, a cutting knife, not shown, is arranged, can be separated by the discs of the products 3.

The product feeder 5 comprises four product grippers 13, which are arranged on a carriage 15, which can be moved along the conveying direction I of the products 3. In each case, a product gripper 13 engages in the rear end of a product 3, viewed in the conveying direction I.

By means of the carriage 15 and the product grippers 13 arranged thereon, the products 3 can be fed to the cutting plane 11 in the conveying direction I. The product support 7 may also have a circulating conveyor, not shown, on which the products 3 rest and through which the products 3 can be conveyed. In this case, the carriage 15 and the product gripper 13 are not in the actual sense for product promotion. Rather, they are moved with the subsidized by the conveyor belt products 3.

Each product gripper 13 is individually adjustable and can in particular also be moved counter to the conveying direction I. Thus, each product 3 can be conveyed individually against the conveying direction I by the respective product gripper 13 engaging in the rear end of the product 3. In the tracks 9 ₁ to 9 ₄ , the products 3 can thus track-individually the cutting plane 11 perform and, if necessary, "pull away" from the cutting plane 11.

The device 1 has a first storage table 17 and a second storage table 19, which are arranged downstream of the cutting plane 11. In this case, the first storage table 17 is assigned a first track 9 ₁ and a second track 9 ₂ . Discs separated from products 3 conveyed in these tracks fall on the first tray table 17. The second tray table 19 is associated with a third track 9 ₃ and a fourth track 9 ₄ so that slices derived from the products fed into these tracks 3 are separated, can fall on the second tray 19.

The two storage tables 17, 19 are transversely movable to the conveying direction I (see, transverse direction II). In addition, each storage table 17, 19 about a centrally through the respective table extending, vertical axis of rotation 21 is rotatable.

The device 1 is designed to carry out a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention. The operation of the device 1 will be explained below.

According to the above statements, the first storage table 17 is a common storage table for the first track 9 ₁ and the second track 9 ₂ . The second storage table 19 is a common storage table for the third track 9 ₃ and the fourth track 9 ₄ . In this case - based on the first and second lane 9 ₁ , 9 ₂ - only one product 3 only cut in each case. Thus, the product 3 is cut in the first track 9 ₁ , while the product 3 in the second track 9 _{2 is} not cut open (and vice versa). Accordingly, based on the third and fourth tracks 9 ₃ , 9 ₄ - also only one product 3 is cut open.

In particular, the product 3 in the first track 9 _{1 is} fed to the cutting plane 11, while the product 3 in the second track 9 ₂ is "held" in front of the cutting plane 11. This can be realized, for example, in that the product gripper 13, which engages in the rear end of the product 3 conveyed in the second track 9 ₂ , pulls the product 3 away from the cutting plane 11, ie conveys it counter to the conveying direction I. Parallel to the product 3 in the first track 9 ₁ , the product 3 in the third track 9 _{3 of} the cutting plane 11 is fed while the product 3 in the fourth track 9 _{4 is} retained by the cutting plane 11.

First of all, therefore, only the products 3 in the first track 9 ₁ and the third track 9 _{3 are} cut open. The separated from the product 3 in the first track 9 ₁ slices fall on the first tray table 17 and form there a partial portion 23. In this case, the first tray table 17 was moved before cutting along the transverse direction II so that the first tray table 17 in a certain way relative to the first track 9 _{1 is} aligned, for example., So that the center of the first tray table 17 is arranged in the conveying direction I behind the product 3.

In the corresponding manner, the second delivery table 19 has been positioned relative to the third track 9 ₃ prior to slicing and the slices separated from the product 3 in the third track 9 ₃ form a partial portion 25 on the second delivery table 19. The delivery tables 17, 19 rotated during the slicing of the products 3 in each case in the direction of rotation III, so that the separated slices forming the respective partial portion 23, 25, partially circular shape on the respective storage table 17, 19 come to rest (see. Fig. 1 ).

After the partial portions 23, 25 are completed, the two storage table 17, 19 are moved in the transverse direction II. In this case, the first tray table 17 is aligned relative to the second track 9 ₂ and the second tray table 19 is aligned relative to the fourth track 9 ₄ .

Subsequently, the products 3 are supplied in the second track 9 ₂ and in the fourth track 9 _{4 of} the cutting plane. In this case, a partial portion 27 is formed on the first storage table 17 from the separated slices of product 3 fed via the second track 9 ₂ . On the second delivery table 19, a partial portion 29 is formed from the separated slices of product ₄ fed via the fourth track 9 ₄ .

How out Fig. 2 it can be seen, each tray table 17, 19 was aligned before the preparation of the respective partial portions 27, 29 to the respective track 9 ₂ , 9 ₄ , that the pitch circle formed by the discs of the respective partial portion 27, 29 continues the pitch circle of the Slices of each previously created partial portion 23, 25 is formed. Overall, the partial portions 23, 25, 25, 27 on the respective storage table 17, 19 form an approximately semicircular portion (see. Fig. 2 ).

The two portions are combined to form a packaging unit, wherein first the second tray table 19 is rotated by 180 ° (see. Fig. 3 ). Subsequently, the portions of a the stacking tables 17, 19 downstream packaging device 31 are supplied, in which the above-mentioned packaging unit is formed in a circular shape of the two portions.

As mentioned, the device 1 and the described method are examples for explaining the invention. Another example device (not shown) may only have a movable tray table to which two or more tracks are assigned and in which the cutting operation is performed as described above with respect to the first and second tracks 9 ₁ , 9 ₂ and the first tray table 17. In another exemplary device, the tray tables are not formed as a turntable, but as in the longitudinal direction I and in the transverse direction II adjustable xy tables.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

contraption

3

Food product

5

product feed

7

product support

9 ₁

first track

9 ₂

second lane

9 ₃

third track

9 ₄

fourth track

11

cutting plane

13

product gripper

15

carriage

17

first storage table

19

second storage table

21

axis of rotation

23

subportion

25

subportion

27

subportion

29

subportion

31

packaging device

I

conveying direction

II

transversely

III

direction of rotation

Claims (15)

Method for multi-lane slicing of a plurality of food products (3), in particular food products of different types, partial portions (23, 25, 27, 29) comprising at least one product slice, in which
a product (3) is fed to a cutting plane (11) in at least two parallel tracks (9 ₁ , 9 ₂ , 9 ₃ , 9 ₄ ) of a slicing device (1) and is cut open by means of a cutting blade, in particular moving circumferentially Cutting blades separated slices of at least two products (3) on a common, movable tray table (17, 19),
characterized in that
only one in each of the common tray table (17, 19) associated tracks (9 ₁ , 9 ₂ , 9 ₃ , 9 ₄ ) supplied product (3) is cut open at any time, so that at any time a maximum of the straight cut product (3) on the common storage table (17, 19) impinges. Method according to claim 1,
characterized in that
on the common storage table (17, 19) a portion is formed, each comprising at least a partial portion (23, 25, 27, 29) of each of the supplied products (3). Method according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that
a partial portion (23, 25, 27, 29) consisting of several discs is produced completely from a product (3) supplied in a track (9 ₁ , 9 ₂ , 9 ₃ , 9 ₄ ) on the delivery table (17, 19), before starting with the production of a multi-slices portion (23, 25, 27, 29) from a product in another track (9 ₁ , 9 ₂ , 9 ₃ , 9 ₄ ) supplied product (3). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the common delivery table (17, 19) is moved relative to the falling discs of a partial portion (23, 25, 27, 29) in such a way that the partial portion (23, 25, 27, 29) in a certain laying pattern on the delivery table (17, 19) is arranged,
wherein preferably the laying pattern for the respective partial portion (23, 25, 27, 29) fulfills at least one predetermined condition, in particular the position of the partial portion (23, 25, 27, 29) on the delivery table and / or the manner of arrangement each slice of the partial portion (23, 25, 27, 29) and / or the manner of arranging the discs of the partial portion (23, 25, 27, 29) relative to each other. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the common storage table (17, 19) is moved in a period in which it is not cut open so that a partial portion (23, 25, 27, 29) to be formed subsequently in a certain position relative to an already on the storage table (17 , 19) formed portion (23, 25, 27, 29) comes to rest. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the common delivery table (17, 19) is rotated about a rotation axis (21) oriented perpendicular to the delivery table (17, 19) so that the discs forming a partial portion (23, 25, 27, 29) are partially circular on the delivery table (17, 19 ) come to rest. Method according to claim 6,
characterized in that
a first partial portion (23, 25), which comprises the separated slices of a product (3) fed in a track (9 ₁ , 9 ₃ ), is produced in time before a second partial portion (27, 29), which separates the slices of a sliced in a product (3) supplied to another track (9 ₂ , 9 ₄ ), wherein the common storage table (17, 19) is moved in the period between the preparation of the two partial portions (23, 25, 27, 29) such that the pitch circle formed by the discs of the first partial portion (23, 25) is continued by the discs of the second partial portion (27, 29). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the slicing device (1) has at least one further track (9 ₃ , 9 ₄ ) in which a further product (3) can be fed to the cutting plane (11) and cut open by means of the cutting blade, the separated slices of the further product (3) fall on a further, second storage table (19) which is movable independently of the first storage table (17) and on which the portion formation takes place in the same manner as on the first delivery table (17). Method according to claim 8,
characterized in that
Partial portions (25, 29) on the second tray table (19) temporally parallel to partial portions (23, 27) on the first tray table (17) are created. Method according to claim 8 or 9,
characterized in that
the portions formed on the two depositing tables (17, 19) are brought together to form a packaging unit, and / or that the second depositing table (19) moves relative to the first depositing table (17), in particular rotated by a certain angle, in order to form the portion on the align second tray table (19) relative to the portion on the first tray table (17). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
each partial portion (23, 25, 27, 29) fulfills a condition prescribed for the respective track (9 ₁ , 9 ₂ , 9 ₃ , 9 ₄ ), in particular the weight of the partial portion (23, 25, 27, 29), Weight and / or the thickness of the partial portion (23, 25, 27, 29) forming discs, and / or the number of the partial portion (23, 25, 27, 29) forming discs concerns. Device, in particular high-performance slicer, for multi-lane slicing of several food products (3), in particular food products of different types, in each at least one product slice comprising partial portions (23, 25, 27, 29) comprising - A product feeder (5) having at least two parallel tracks (9 ₁ , 9 ₂ , 9 ₃ , 9 ₄ ), wherein in each track (9 ₁ , 9 ₂ , 9 ₃ , 9 ₄ ) a product (3) can be fed to a cutting plane (11) on a track-specific basis, - At least one cutting blade which, in particular rotating or rotating, in the cutting plane (11) is movable, and - One of the cutting plane (11) downstream, movable common storage table (17, 19) on which the separated from the cutting blade slices of at least two products (3) can fall, characterized in that
the device (1) is designed to cut open only at any one time only one product (3) supplied in one of the tracks (9 ₁ , 9 ₂ , 9 ₃ , 9 ₄ ) associated with the common storage table (17, 19), thus that at any one time a maximum of a separated slice of the product just cut (3) on the common tray table (17, 19) impinges. Device according to claim 12,
characterized,
in that the common delivery table (17, 19) is coupled to a controllable motor drive, whereby the delivery table (17, 19) is movable relative to the falling discs of a partial portion (23, 25, 27, 29) such that the partial portion (23, 25, 27, 29) is arranged in a certain laying pattern on the delivery table (17, 19), and / or
in that the storage table (17, 19) can be moved in a period in which it is not cut open such that a partial portion (27, 29) to be formed subsequently in a certain position relative to an already formed on the storage table (17, 19) Partial portion (23, 25) comes to rest. Device according to claim 12 or 13,
characterized in that
the storage table (17, 19) is designed as a turntable which is rotatable about a vertical, centrally through the turntable rotating axis (21) and / or transversely to the conveying direction (I) of the products (3). Device according to one of claims 12 to 14,
characterized,
in that the product feed (5) comprises at least one further track (9 ₃ , 9 ₄ ) in which a further product (3) can be fed to the cutting plane on a track-specific basis and the discs of the cutting blade cut off in the at least one further track (9 ₃ , 9 ₄ ) supplied product (3) on a second tray table (19), which is movable in the same manner as the first tray table (17) and independently of the first tray table (17).

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