EP2724830A1 - Method and device for cutting food products - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves feeding a product (11) in a conveying direction (T) of a cutting plane (17) by a product feeder (13), in which a cutting blade (19), particularly a circular- or orbital knife, performs cutting process in a cutting operation, in which the product slices (21) or product portions are separated. The cutting blade executes a freewheeling movement in the cutting operation after completion of a cutting process. An independent claim is included for a slicing device with an actuator.

Description

The invention relates to a method for slicing food products by means of a slicing device, in particular high-performance slicer, in which by means of a product feed at least one product in a conveying direction of a cutting plane is supplied, in the cutting operation in a cutting blade, in particular a circular or orbital knife, cutting operations in which product slices or product pieces are separated.

The invention also relates to a device, in particular a high-performance slicer, for slicing food products with a product feed which feeds at least one product in a conveying direction to a cutting plane in which a cutting knife, in particular a circular or orbital knife, performs cutting operations in a cutting operation. in which product slices or product pieces are separated, and with an actuator for the cutting blade, which is designed to disengage the cutting blade out of the cutting plane and engage back into the cutting plane.

Such methods and devices are generally known and serve to slice food products, such as sausage, meat and cheese, at high speed. Typical cutting speeds are between several hundred to several thousand cuts per minute. Modern high-performance slicers differ among other things in the design of the cutting blade and in the Type of rotary drive for the cutting blade. So-called sickle or spiral blades rotate about an axis of rotation, also referred to here as a knife axis, wherein this blade axis itself does not carry out any additional movement. In slicers with circular or orbital knives, on the other hand, it is provided that the circular blade rotating about a knife axis circulate in a planetary manner in addition to this self-rotation about a further axis spaced apart from the knife axis (here also referred to as a rotation axis). Which knife type or which type of drive is to be preferred depends on the respective application. Generally, it can be said that higher cutting speeds can be achieved with only rotating sickle knives, whereas rotating and / or additionally planetary orbiting circular or orbital knives can be used more universally without sacrificing cutting quality.

The above-mentioned high cutting speeds make it - and this is basically independent of the type of knife and the drive - required that at a portionwise slicing of products so-called idle cuts are performed in which the knife continues to move, ie its cutting movement performs, however not cut into the product, but "in the void", so that temporarily no slices are separated from the product and these "cutting breaks" can be used to transport away a portion formed with the previously separated slices, for example a slice stack or shingled slices. The time passing between two consecutively separated slices does not suffice for a proper cutting performance or cutting speed for a proper removal of the slice portions. The length of these "cutting breaks" and the number of idle cuts per "cutting break" depend on the particular application.

Such a blank cut operation is required in practice from a certain limit cutting speed or limit number of revolution of the knife, which in practice is typically between about 400 to 600 revolutions per minute.

Even if the supply of the product is interrupted for such a blank cutting operation, a problem known in practice in connection with the performance of blanks is that, in most cases, it is not enough to simply stop the supply of the product temporarily Disconnecting discs to prevent. In particular, in the case of products with a soft consistency, it happens regularly that relaxation effects occur after the product supply has stopped, as a result of which the front end of the product passes beyond the cutting plane and thus into the area of action of the cutting blade. The result is an undesirable separation of so-called product snippets or product chips. Apart from that, such a chopping formation inevitably occurs regardless of the product consistency whenever the products are continuously fed during the slicing operation, i.e., in the case of slicing. even with products with a firm consistency, in which therefore the above-mentioned relaxation effects do not occur, it comes with a continuous product supply to a Schnipselbildung.

The phenomena described above and the measures developed for eliminating the described problems are sufficiently well known to the person skilled in the art, for which reason they will not be discussed in detail.

A common measure is to disengage the cutting blade out of the cutting plane for the blank cutting operation and after Carry out the required number of blank cuts back into the cutting plane.

A continuous product feed, as in the cutting of (relatively thin) slices (slice thickness is typically a few millimeters) - in contrast to the so-called "piece cutting" (thickness of the pieces is typically more than 10 millimeters) - is usually performed in practice has regardless of the above-mentioned Leerschnittbetrieb certain effects result, which will be discussed in more detail below and in the context of the description of the figures.

Now, another problem arises in the operation of slicers, which occurs in particular when using circular or orbital knives. For a better understanding of this problem, it must be made clear that for each revolution of the knife, ie for each revolution of a circular or orbital knife around the axis of rotation, a distinction must be made between an active time and a passive time. During the active time, the blade of the knife is engaged with the product, i. During the active time, the cutting edge moves through the product, separating a slice from the product. This active time is referred to here as a cutting process. During the passive period, the blade of the knife is outside the product, i. In this passive time, the knife effectively performs a "pull-out" movement, after which the blade of the knife again engages with the front end of the product in order to separate the next slice from the product.

While above the individual phases were described within a full revolution of the knife in terms of time, can - assuming a temporally constant angular velocity of the circulating Messers - analogous to a description in geometric terms and be divided every full turn of the knife into several, together 360 ° comprehensive angle ranges. The above-mentioned active time then corresponds to an active angle, while the passive time corresponds to a passive angle.

If, in this connection, specific time periods or periods of time are mentioned, then this also means, in each case, synonymous with specific angles or angular ranges, and vice versa, if it is assumed that the rotational speed of the rotating blade is constant over time.

The above-explained operating phase of alternating active and passive times or active and passive angles, which is to be distinguished from the previously discussed blank-cut operation, is also referred to herein as cutting operation. In a portionwise slicing thus corresponds to the cutting operation of a time period or an angular range within which or a portion of n successively separated slices is formed, each revolution of the knife from an active time or an active angle (cutting), in or a disc is separated from the product, and a passive time or a passive angle is, in which or which the knife for the next cutting process "ausholt". Between two portioning takes place in each case the above-described blank cutting operation, in which the cutting blade is outside the cutting plane.

For the sake of completeness, it should also be mentioned that it is also necessary to distinguish between two periods of time during the passive period: in a first phase after the cutting process, the blade of the blade has passed through the product and has severed a disk, However, the knife is still in the product area, ie, in front of the front surface of the product, relative to the cutting plane. In a subsequent second phase, which ends only when the cutting edge again comes into engagement with the product to separate the next slice, the knife is located outside the product area.

The problem addressed during the cutting operation is that, during the above-mentioned first phase of the passive time, ie immediately after the cutting operation, the rear side of the knife facing the front surface of the product is still in contact with the front surface of the product. However, due to the product feed, the product has already reached the cutting plane and is moved further in the conveying direction (at least in the continuous product feed in practice), so that the product is pressed against the rear side of the blade during the passive time, in particular against the area of the knife edge. As a result, an increased pressure is exerted on the front surface of the product, which is indeed a surface of the next product slices to be separated. This in turn leads to an increased temperature at the product surface. In particular for certain critical products in this regard, this can lead to so-called fat discharges and striations of grease at the edge of the product or at the edges of the product slices. For other products, contact with the knife results in undesirable roughening of the product surface. Especially with sticky products, this situation leads to the emergence of a relatively large amount of heat, which in turn has protein deposits, especially at the back of the knife result. Especially critical in this respect are cheese products.

In general, therefore, one can say that when slicing food products, in particular slicers using circular or orbital knives, the surface of the product is exposed to stress which leads to undesirable phenomena, namely unsalable or at least unsightly product slices or product pieces.

This problem is in DE 41 16 902 A1 mentioned and is solved according to this document by an inclination of a planetary rotating knife, such that the axis about which the knife performs the self-rotation, and the axis of rotation of a knife carrier to which the knife is eccentrically mounted to produce the planetary orbital motion, not parallel to each other.

The object of the invention is to provide an in particular structurally simple way to avoid as much as possible impairment of the product surface when slicing food products, in particular by means of high-speed slicers.

The solution of this object is achieved by the features of the independent claims.

In the method according to the invention, the cutting blade performs a freewheeling motion in the cutting operation after completion of a cutting operation, in which the cutting knife performs a disengagement from the cutting plane and before the next cutting operation an engagement movement back into the cutting plane.

In the apparatus according to the invention a control device is provided which can control the actuator of the cutting blade to a freewheeling operation such that in the cutting operation, the cutting blade after Completion of a cutting operation out of the cutting plane and pushes out before the next cutting process back into the cutting plane.

The invention takes advantage of the fact that outside the actual cutting operations, ie during the passive times or passive angle, the cutting blade or the cutting edge does not have to be in the cutting plane, since the passive time of each blade rotation is precisely characterized by the fact that the Knife edge is out of engagement with the product. In other words, it can be said that according to the invention the outward movement of the knife takes place outside the cutting plane.

It has surprisingly been found that even with modern high-speed slicers, the passive times are sufficiently long to provide disengagement and subsequent engagement for the cutting blade without compromising cutting performance and thus product throughput. The invention is particularly advantageous in connection with slicers which use circular or orbital knives, since on the one hand straight such knives lead to the above-explained "stress phenomena" on the product surface and on the other hand the typical cutting speeds with circular or orbital knives are not so great like slicers working with sickle or spiral knives.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are also set forth in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

Thus, it is preferably provided that in the cutting operation, the cutting blade performs a freewheel movement after each cutting operation. However, this is not mandatory: depending on the construction and For reasons of control technology or of the respective application, a freewheeling movement can also take place, for example, only after every second or third cutting operation or in general only after one or more very specific cutting processes, for example within one portion. For example, it can be specified in a targeted manner for which slice or slices of a serving an unimpaired product surface is to be ensured. This slice may be, for example, the topmost slice of a product stack visible in a package. An unimpaired product surface of the topmost slice of a product stack may also result from a blank cut operation. Basically, however, it is at least in principle also conceivable to carry out no cuts and nevertheless at any later time after the slicing of the product in question, whatever form portions, so that impaired slices could fall in the eye of the consumer, but by the inventive freewheeling principle is prevented.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that a freewheeling movement substantially immediately follows a cutting operation and / or transitions into a cutting operation. Hereby, the entire passive time is used for the freewheel movement, i. the knife is in contact with the product only during the cutting process (active time), as required for cutting slices.

Preferably, the engagement movement of the knife begins after the knife has completely left the product area, ie the knife and the product - viewed in a projection on the cutting plane - no longer overlap each other. The return of the knife in the cutting plane but may also take place with a certain lead, ie the knife can start already, its maximum disengagement position leave before the knife is completely out of the product area.

According to a further embodiment it is provided that the cutting blade, in particular in a blank cutting operation for portionwise cutting, after several cutting operations instead of a freewheeling movement performs at least one blank cut, for which the cutting knife disengaged from the cutting plane and after the cutting blade back into the cutting plane becomes. Accordingly, it is possible to combine the freewheeling operation according to the invention with a blank-cut operation.

It is preferably provided that the Ausrückweg the cutting blade for idle cuts is greater than in the freewheeling operation. It has been found that it is not absolutely necessary to disengage the cutting blade for a freewheel movement as far as desired or required for the performance of blank sections. In practice, the usual maximum Ausrückwege for the implementation of blanks amount to at least three to four millimeters and thus more than any conventional pane thickness. For the freewheeling operation on the other hand - it has been shown - the maximum Ausrückweg the cutting blade need not be so large. It is sufficient, in particular, if the maximum release travel is less than the disk thickness, for example 0.2 to 0.6 times the respective thickness of the product disks to be cut off. For example, with a slice thickness of 2 mm, the maximum release travel is only between 0.4 mm and 1.2 mm.

Accordingly, according to one embodiment, the Ausrückweg the knife, in particular the maximum Ausrückweg, depending selected from the respective thickness of the product slices to be separated.

In a further embodiment it can be provided that for the freewheeling operation the Ausrückweg of the cutting blade and / or a movement profile for the cutting blade is calculated from predetermined parameters or be, in particular automatically.

The parameters may include the thickness of the product slices to be sliced and / or at least one angular position of the cutting knife which the cutting knife occupies at one time during one revolution, in particular upon entry into the product (ie at the beginning of the cutting operation), upon exiting the product ( ie at the end of the cutting process) and / or when leaving the product area.

In particular, the minimum required release travel is calculated. Furthermore, the movement profile in particular includes the minimum required accelerations of the cutting blade.

By means of such an adjustment of the freewheeling operation, in particular automatically, the movement of the cutting blade and thus the cutting result are optimized overall in a manner which is particularly gentle on the mechanical devices of the device.

It is particularly preferred if the cutting blade is disengaged and engaged by means which is activated both for carrying out free-wheeling movements and for carrying out idle cuts. If a slicing device is basically designed to carry out blank cuts, the designated Means are used simultaneously for carrying out the freewheeling movements according to the invention by a serving to disengage and engage the cutting blade actuator is driven accordingly.

Blanket drives are relatively complex and technically highly sophisticated units, also referred to in practice as "blank heads". It has surprisingly been found that such units can also be controlled so that in addition the freewheel movements according to the invention can be carried out.

In particular, the cutting knife is a circular or orbital knife which, in particular in addition to a self-rotation about a knife axis, orbits planetary about a circulation axis. The arrangement preferably takes place in such a way that the revolving axis runs perpendicular to the cutting plane and / or parallel to the conveying direction of the product. The problem mentioned at the outset consists in currently known sickle or spiral blades that rotate only about a knife axis, usually not, because the edge of such a knife due to the fundamentally different way of generating the cutting movement after the cutting process dives down to some extent down and not moved back through the product area. Nevertheless, the freewheeling principle according to the invention can also prove advantageous in conjunction with sickle or spiral blades.

For disengagement and / or engagement, the cutting blade in particular performs a translational movement, wherein preferably the cutting blade is disengaged and engaged perpendicular to the cutting plane and / or parallel to the conveying direction of the product.

Such a movement of the cutting blade is not mandatory. In principle, it is also possible to pivot the cutting blade for disengagement and / or engagement. Although in practice purely translational movements parallel to or inclined to the blade or axis or to the conveying direction of the product for structural reasons are usually preferred, for the invention in principle the way the movement of the cutting blade for disengagement and / or indenting, because it is important to keep the knife running outside the cutting plane during the passive period to avoid contact with the front surface of the product or at least mitigate the adverse effects of such contact.

According to one embodiment, which is used in particular when slicing products into (thin) slices, the product is continuously fed in the cutting operation, preferably with an at least approximately constant conveying speed. It is provided in particular that the product is also supplied during the cutting operations.

Basically, however, a so-called intermittent product feed is conceivable in which the product briefly comes to a standstill during the cutting operation as soon as the front end of the product projects beyond the cutting plane by a measure corresponding to the desired slice thickness and at that time the knife still retains its "outward movement" has not finished, ie the front end of the product has to wait in a sense on the cutting blade or its cutting edge. In particular, in such an operating mode, the product is thus supplied to the freewheeling movement of the cutting blade only during one part, namely an initial part.

According to the invention, provision is made in particular for the disengagement speed of the cutting blade to be at least temporarily greater than the conveying speed of the product. This may be a preferred approach insofar as contact between the blade and the front surface of the product can not occur at any time during the passive period. However, improvements over the prior art can already be achieved if contact between the knife and the front surface of the product is at least temporarily permitted, but the release movement of the knife and the advancing movement of the product are adjusted to one another such that less pressure is applied to the front surface of the product is exerted as remaining in the cutting plane knife.

In other words, improvements over the prior art also occur (although possibly only to a lesser extent) when the disengaging speed of the knife is at least initially less than the conveying speed of the product.

Not only can the advantages of the invention be useful in slicing products into relatively thin slices, but the method of the present invention can also be used to sever comparatively thick slices or pieces. In particular, in such applications can be inventively provided that the product is not supplied during a cutting operation or only at a reduced conveying speed, which is smaller than the conveying speed outside the cutting process. For example, if the product is resting during the cutting process, the cutter is disengaged from the cutting plane upon completion of the cutting operation. At the same time or with a basically arbitrary predeterminable temporal Delay the product feed is activated, ie the product sets in the conveying direction in motion, in particular, the conveying speed is less than the release speed of the knife. Even during the passive period, but only when the knife has exited the product area, the conveying speed of the product is increased, and with this increased conveying speed, the product is moved until it protrudes beyond the cutting plane according to the desired slice thickness ,

The above-mentioned problematic of impaired product surfaces is in non-continuously supplied products, as is the case in particular in the above-mentioned piece cutting, of minor importance or at least less pronounced than in a continuous product supply, as used in particular when cutting relatively thin slices for use comes. Nevertheless, the inventive concept is also advantageous for applications such as piece cutting in which the product rests during the cutting process: While until then the product could only be set in motion again when the knife had completely left the product area, it is thanks to Invention possible to start the product supply already again when the cutting process is completed, but the knife is still in the product area, since the knife because of his disengagement before the moving in a certain way "back".

In other words, in the case of an intermittent product feed, the invention enables a much earlier resumption of product feed, and thus an overall higher cutting speed, ie, increased product throughput. The phase between the end of the cutting process and leaving the product area, ie with The invention achieves time savings, can correspond to an angular range of 70 ° to 110 ° and thus at least, for example, about 25% of a full 360 ° circulation of the knife.

As already mentioned, the product area mentioned above is the area which, geometrically speaking, is obtained when the product is cut with the cutting plane. The knife is therefore then completely leaked from this product area when - viewed in the opposite direction, so seen from the front of the cutting blade - the front surface of the product is completely exposed, so no longer (not even partially) is covered by the cutting blade.

This exemplary embodiment shows that it is also possible to distinguish between two phases within the passive time, namely the phase in which the blade is still in the product range and the phase following in which the product is completely exposed. This distinction can be made with regard to the product feed and in particular the choice of conveyor speeds. Such a distinction may in particular - as explained above - be advantageous when slicing relatively thick slices or product pieces, whereby in principle such a distinction can also be made when slicing products into comparatively thin slices.

It is basically known from the prior art to cut several juxtaposed and jointly (depending on or independently) supplied products simultaneously with a single cutting knife. The above statements apply accordingly to such a multi-track cutting. The movement and speed profiles of the knife in the conveying direction, ie with regard to the freewheeling movement, as well as the movement and speed profiles of the product are suitably adjusted according to the size, the number and the relative arrangement of the products.

Accordingly, according to an embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a plurality of products are cut open at the same time and a cutting operation is completed, even if a slice or a piece has been separated from the last product. In this case, the "last" product is to be understood as meaning the product from which a slice or a piece is finally separated during a circulation of the knife.

In the device according to the invention can be provided in particular that the freewheeling operation is selectively activated or deactivated.

Depending on the particular application, in particular depending on the product to be sliced or the respective conveying speed of the product, it may also be possible to dispense with a freewheeling operation according to the invention, at least without substantial impairment of the product surface. So that the corresponding slicing device can also be used without freewheeling operation, it is advantageous to design the control device of the slicing device so that the freewheeling operation can be switched on or off as required.

Preferably, the actuator for the cutting blade by means of the control device can be controlled as needed to a Leerschnittbetrieb instead of the freewheeling operation in which the cutting blade out of the cutting plane out, at least performs a blank cut and then engages back into the cutting plane. The slicing device Consequently, it requires only a single unit in order to carry out the freewheel movements according to the invention both during the cutting operation and also to be able to carry out a blank cutting operation.

The Ausrückweg and / or the disengagement of the cutting blade may preferably be variable depending on the particular application. This applies in particular both for the freewheeling operation as well as for an optionally provided Leerschnittbetrieb. In particular, the Ausrückweg or the disengagement speed depending on the product to be sliced themselves and / or the respective conveying speed of the product are adjusted so that contact between the knife and product surface during the passive times avoided or at least mitigated its consequences.

In a further preferred embodiment, the actuator of the cutting blade can also be used to perform a cutting gap adjustment. The cutting gap is the axial distance between the cutting plane defined by the cutting edge or cutting bar and the plane defined by the knife edge. To understand the invention, although important for the vast majority of practical applications cutting gap does not need to be considered. In practice, it is usually necessary to set a non-zero cutting gap. The actual size of the cutting gap depends on a number of factors that are well known to those skilled in the art. The cutting edge or cutting edge is the knife end of the product feed or the product support on which the product to be cut rests during cutting. The knife interacts with the cutting edge or cutting bar during cutting in a well-known manner.

In a preferred embodiment of the slicing device, in addition to the actuator which brings about disengagement and engagement of the knife, a rotary drive or rotary drive is provided which ensures a rotational and / or rotational movement of the cutting blade.

The invention is particularly directed to those in high-speed slicers usually realized concepts in which the required for the separation of slices or pieces relative movement between the knife and product by the movement (eg planetary orbiting circular orbital knife) and / or by the shape (eg only a self-rotating export sickle or spiral knife) of the knife is generated. This does not include the principle used in particular for small machines in butcher shops or meat counters in supermarkets, in which the product or a product carriage or carrier is moved back and forth parallel to the cutting plane of a merely rotating circular knife.

In order to optimize the cutting result at least co-determining settings of the device and at the same time to stress the mechanical devices of the device as little as possible, may further be provided a control device which is adapted for the freewheeling operation the Ausrückweg the cutting blade, in particular the minimum required Ausrückweg, and / or one, in particular the minimum required accelerations of the cutting blade comprehensive motion profile for the cutting blade from predetermined parameters to calculate, in particular from the thickness of the separated product slices and / or from at least one angular position of the cutting blade, especially when entering the product, at the exit from the product and / or when leaving the product area. This calculation is preferably carried out automatically.

Fig. 1

schematisch das Funktionsprinzip eines Slicers, dessen Messer aus der Schneidebene heraus ausgerückt und wieder zurück in die Schneidebene eingerückt werden kann,

Fig. 2a - 2c und Fig. 3a - 3c

jeweils schematisch bestimmte Zeitpunkte während eines Umlaufs des Messers zur Erläuerung der der Erfindung zugrunde liegenden Problematik,

Fig. 4a - 4c

schematisch unterschiedliche Ansichten zur Erläuterung der der Erfindung zugrunde liegenden Problematik und Lösung, und

Fig. 5

ein Beispiel für ein erfindungsgemäßes Bewegungsprofil eines Messers eines Hochgeschwindigkeits-Slicers.

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

Fig. 1

schematically the functional principle of a slicer whose knife can be disengaged from the cutting plane and engaged back into the cutting plane,

Fig. 2a - 2c and Fig. 3a - 3c

in each case schematically determined points in time during one revolution of the knife to explain the problem underlying the invention,

Fig. 4a - 4c

schematically different views to explain the problem underlying the invention and solution, and

Fig. 5

an example of a movement profile according to the invention of a knife of a high-speed slicer.

Fig. 1 shows in a schematic side view of a high-performance slicer, which serves to cut food products 11 such as meat, sausage, ham or cheese into slices. During the cutting process, the product 11 rests on a product support 25 and is moved by means of a product feed 13 along a product feed direction T in the direction of a cutting plane 17. The product feed direction T is perpendicular to the cutting plane 17. Basically the angle between the product feed direction and the cutting plane also be different from 90 °.

From the product feeder 13 are in Fig. 1 only the already mentioned product support 25 and a so-called product holder 27 shown, which engages with claws or grippers in the rear end of the product 11 and driven by not shown drive means in and against the Produktzuführrichtung T, as indicated by the double arrow. In general, the structure and mode of operation of the product feeder 13 can be arbitrary.

During a cutting operation, the cutting edge of a cutting blade 19 lies in the cutting plane 17, which is defined by a cutting edge or cutting edge 29, also referred to as a counter blade, which forms the front end of the product support 25. In practice, the cutting edge 29 is usually of a separate, interchangeable component, e.g. made of plastic or steel, which is not shown here for reasons of simplicity.

The cutting blade 19 is, in particular, a so-called circular or orbital knife, which rotates about its own knife axis D and, in addition, as a whole revolves planetary about a revolving axis, not shown here, thus providing the relative movement between knife 19 required for the separation of disks and produce product 11. In principle, the cutting blade 19 may also be a so-called sickle or spiral blade which does not rotate in a planetary manner, but only rotates about the blade axis D. Here it is then the shape of the knife that produces the relative movement between knife and product required for the separation of slices. The drive for the cutting blade 19 is in Fig. 1 for the sake of simplicity not shown.

To move the cutting blade 19 - more precisely its cutting edge - out of the cutting plane 17, an adjustment or an actuator is provided, which is not shown and designed to the cutting blade 19 in the axial direction, ie parallel to or along the knife axis D. , to move. This is indicated by the double arrow in Fig. 1 indicated. For example, in connection with the implementation of blank sections, as explained above, with disengaged knife 19 (in Fig. 1 indicated by a dashed line), so at a distance from the front product end knife 19, a snippet formation avoided.

At a portionwise slicing of the product 11, as in Fig. 1 is shown, the separated product slices 21 portions 23, which in Fig. 1 are shown as a disk stack. Once a portion 23 is completed, this portion 23 is transported in a direction A. Thus, for the removal of the finished slice portions 23 is enough time available, the above-mentioned empty cuts are carried out until the beginning of the formation of the next portion 23, including on the one hand the product feed referred to as product supply (here the product holder 27) stopped and on the other hand, the cutting knife 19th disengaged, ie by means of the aforementioned adjusting or the actuator in the in Fig. 1 dashed position shown is moved.

According to the invention, it is now provided that the knife 19 is also disengaged from the cutting plane 17 during a cutting operation, ie during the formation of a portion 23, during each revolution after the separation of a disk 21, ie after each cutting operation. The Knife 19 is engaged back into the cutting plane 17 before the blade of the knife 19 returns to the product area, ie before the blade with its cutting edge again cuts into the meanwhile further supplied product 11 in order to separate the next disc 21 from the product 11.

The Fig. 2a - 2c and the Fig. 3a - 3c show different relative positions of a circular blade 19 relative to three side by side resting on a product support 25 aufzuschneidenden products 11, the circular blade 19 performs a planetary orbital motion U about a central axis M and additionally a self-rotation about a knife axis D from.

In Fig. 2a and 3a the cutting process begins. The cutting edge 31 of the knife 19 penetrates the first (left) product 11 at a point A. Previously, the continuously fed products 11 have each moved with their front end on the cutting plane 17 addition.

The front surfaces of the products 11 extend obliquely to the cutting plane 17, since even during the preceding cutting operation, that is, while the cutting edge 31 has moved through the products 11, the products 11 have been advanced. In other words, the products 11 are cut obliquely to the cutting plane 17 due to their continuous feed. At the beginning of the next cutting operation according to Fig. 2a and 3a are the products 11 each at its top by a respective desired slice thickness corresponding measure beyond the cutting plane 17 before. This measure corresponds to the feed path that the products 11 cover during one revolution of the knife 19. The extent to which the products 11 protrude here on their underside beyond the cutting plane 17, corresponds to the feed path, the products 11 since the end of the previous cutting process, So have since the re-emergence of the cutting edge 31 from the products 11, have covered.

Strictly speaking, these and the following consideration apply only to one of the products 11, since the products 11 are cut through in succession by the cutting edge 31. These differences between the products 11 among each other should play no role in the explanation given here.

After a rotation angle of about 90 ° the cutting process is finished ( Fig. 2b and 3b ), ie the cutting edge 31 leaves the last (right-hand) product 11 at the point B. Now, the free-wheeling movement according to the invention begins, ie the knife 19 is disengaged from the cutting plane 17.

Before the knife 19 according to Fig. 2c and 3c at the point C leaves the product area, it has - unlike a "down-dipping" sickle or spiral knife - moved upwards and therefore in particular with its cutting area through the product area. Due to the previously made disengagement but this remains inconsequential, ie the products 11 facing the rear of the knife is in the approximately 90 ° amount angle range Fig. 2b / Fig. 3b and Fig. 2c / Fig. 3c spaced from the front surfaces of the products 11.

Since the front product ends move beyond the cutting plane 17 due to the continuous feed of the product from the beginning of the cutting operation, they would be particularly at their tops especially the cutting area of a knife 11 not disengaged according to the prior art, which is in the angular range between Fig. 2b / Fig. 3b and Fig. 2c / Fig. 3c moved upwards through the product area, so to speak "in the way", ie the front surfaces of the products 11 would be pressed against the back of the knife, resulting in the aforementioned disadvantages.

These disadvantages are avoided by the freewheel concept according to the invention.

In which the angular position according Fig. 2c and 3c subsequent angular range, which is about 180 °, the knife 19 is again engaged back into the cutting plane 17, in such a timely manner that it is at the latest back in the cutting plane 17 with its cutting edge 31, if the angular position according to Fig. 2a and 3a is reached, so before the next cutting begins.

In Fig. 4a - 4c For example, the geometric situation is illustrated in another way using the example of a simultaneous slicing of three products 11 resting side by side on the product support 25.

Fig. 4a shows the time at which, based on the orbital movement U of the blade 19 whose cutting edge 31, the last product 11 - Fig. 4a So the rightmost product 11 - just leaves. At this time, therefore, one slice has been separated from each product 11, ie, within the considered circulation of the knife 19, the actual cutting process is just completed.

The Fig. 4b and 4c each show the same later time at which the cutting blade 19 - which here is a circular or orbital knife, which in addition to a self-rotation around a non-illustrated orbital planetary rotation - has moved on (here against clockwise). The knife 19 or the cutting edge 31 of the knife 19 is in this case still in the product area.

Fig. 4b shows the conditions according to the prior art: The knife 19 is located with its cutting edge 31 continues in the cutting plane 17. The back of the blade 19 thus touches the front surface of the product 11, in particular in the region of the cutting edge 31, which corresponding contact areas K directed arrows in Fig. 4b is indicated. If, in a continuous feed operation, the product 11 continues to advance during this passive time subsequent to the cutting operation, then the product 11 is pressed with its front surface against the back of the knife 19, thereby exerting an increased pressure on the front surface of the product 11 leads to the disadvantages explained above, namely to unsaleable or at least unsightly disc surfaces.

Fig. 4c shows, however, the conditions according to the invention: During the subsequent to the cutting operation passive time, the knife 19 performs a freewheeling movement according to the invention, in which the knife 19 is disengaged with its cutting edge 31 out of the cutting plane 17 out. Consequently, here between the front surface of the product 11 and the back of the blade 19, a distance d exists, which in Fig. 4c is arranged by the arrows.

Preferably, the Ausrückweg and the disengagement of the cutting blade 19 are chosen so that even with a continuous and thus during the passive time product feed is always a distance between the back of the blade 19 and the front surface of the product 11 is present and thus any contact between the back of the knife and Product front surface is avoided.

Fig. 5 shows a possible movement profile for the knife according to the invention. Plotted is the Ausrückweg s on the number of separated from a product slices.

Shown is a portionwise slicing of a product, in which portions of n slices are successively formed, wherein within each portion formation at each revolution U of the knife a slice is separated. Each revolution U of the knife means a planetary orbit around the axis of rotation when the knife is a circular or orbital knife, covering an angular range of 360 °.

Each circulating movement U comprises a cutting operation S (active time) and a passive time in which the knife carries out a freewheeling movement F according to the invention.

During the cutting process, the knife is with its cutting edge in the cutting plane, ie the knife is not disengaged and thus applies s = 0. The subsequent to each cutting process S freewheeling movement F takes place in each case with a through the small curves in Fig. 5 indicated speed profile and a maximum release travel from here s = 1 mm. Each freewheeling movement F is immediately followed by a cutting process S and passes directly into the next cutting process S, ie the entire passive time is used here for a freewheeling movement F.

Basically, the freewheeling movement F also take a lesser proportion of the passive life, so that the knife again with its cutting edge is in the cutting plane before the cutting edge returns to the product area, ie the product comes into engagement.

The knife or its cutting edge is in any case back in time in the cutting plane before the cutting edge cuts into the product to separate the next slice.

Preferably, the engagement movement begins, i. the return of the knife into the cutting plane after the knife has left the product area, and depending on the circumstances, the knife may begin earlier to leave its maximum disengaged position.

After the removal of the nth product slice, ie after the formation of a complete portion of n slices, a blank slice operation L takes place in which the knife is also disengaged from the cutting plane, performs one or more empty cuts and is subsequently engaged back into the cutting plane ,

In the example of Fig. 5 the knife for the blank cut operation L is disengaged over a greater distance than when the freewheel motions F are carried out. Purely by way of example, a maximum release travel for the blank cut operation L of s = 2 mm is shown here.

Depending on the particular application and the design or control of the actuator for the knife, the in Fig. 5 only shown for illustration Ausrückwege and speed profiles for the knife are also chosen differently.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

11

product

13

product feed

17

cutting plane

19

cutting blade

21

product slice

23

portion

25

product support

27

product holder

29

cutting edge

31

cutting edge

K

contact area

U

orbital motion

d

distance

T

conveying direction

S

cutting process

F

Freewheeling motion

L

Empty editing

s

declutching

D

blade axis

A

removal direction

M

central axis

Claims (15)

Method for slicing food products (11) by means of a slicing apparatus, in particular a high-performance slicer, in which - By means of a product feed (13) at least one product (11) in a conveying direction (T) of a cutting plane (17) is supplied, in which in a cutting operation, a cutting blade (19), in particular a circular or orbital knife, cutting operations (S) performs in which product slices (21) or product pieces are separated, and - The cutting blade (19) in the cutting operation after completion of a cutting operation (S) performs a freewheeling movement (F), wherein the cutting blade (19) a disengagement from the cutting plane (17) out and before the start of the next cutting operation (S) an engaging movement again back into the cutting plane (17) performs. Method according to claim 1,
characterized,
(S) carries out that in the cutting operation the cutting blade (19) after each cutting operation a freewheeling movement (F), and / or that a freewheeling movement (F) substantially immediately to a cutting operation (S) connects and / or in a cutting operation (S) merges , Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
in that the cutting knife (19), in particular in a blank cutting operation (L) for portionwise cutting, after several cutting operations (S) instead of a freewheeling movement (F) performs at least one blank cut, for which the cutting knife (19) is disengaged from the cutting plane (17) and after the cutting knife (19) is again engaged in the cutting plane (17). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that in the freewheeling operation the Ausrückweg (s) of the cutting blade (19) is selected as a function of the respective thickness of the separated product slices (21) and in particular about 0.2 to 0.6 times the thickness of the separated product slices (21) is, and / or
that the Ausrückweg (s) of the cutting blade (19) for idle cuts is greater than in the freewheeling operation. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that for the freewheeling operation of Ausrückweg (s) of the cutting blade (19), in particular the minimum required Ausrückweg (s), and /, in particular the minimum required accelerations of the cutting blade (19) comprehensive, motion profile for the cutting blade (19) from predetermined Parameters is or will be calculated, in particular from the thickness of the product slices (21) to be separated and / or from at least one angular position of the cutting blade (19) in particular when entering the product (11) when exiting the product (11) and / or exiting the product area. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
in that the cutting blade (19) is disengaged and engaged by a device which is actuated both for carrying out freewheeling movements (F) and for carrying out empty cuts, and or in that the cutting knife (19) is a circular or orbital knife which, in particular in addition to a self-rotation about a knife axis (D), a planetary axis revolves around a revolving axis, wherein preferably the revolving axis perpendicular to the cutting plane (17) and / or parallel to the conveying direction (T) of the product (11). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the cutting knife (19) performs a translational movement for disengagement and / or engagement, wherein preferably the cutting knife (19) is disengaged and engaged perpendicular to the cutting plane (17) and / or parallel to the conveying direction (T) of the product (11), and / or that the cutting blade (19) is pivoted for disengagement and / or engagement. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the product (11) in the cutting operation, in particular during a cutting operation (S) is continuously fed, preferably with an at least approximately constant transport speed, and / or that the product (11) at least during a part, preferably an initial part, to which free-wheeling movement (F) of the cutting blade (19) is supplied, and / or that the disengagement speed of the cutting blade (19) is at least temporarily greater than the conveying speed of the product (11), and / or Product (11), especially for separating thick slices or pieces, during a cutting operation (S) is not supplied or at a reduced conveying speed, which is smaller than the conveying speed outside the cutting process (S). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that a plurality of products (11) are cut open at the same time and a cutting process (S) is completed even if a disk (21) or a piece has been separated from the last product (11). Device, in particular high-performance slicer, for slicing food products (11), in particular for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims,
with a product feed (13) which feeds at least one product (11) in a conveying direction (T) to a cutting plane (17) in which a cutting knife (19), in particular a circular or orbital knife, performs cutting operations (S) in a cutting operation in which product slices (21) or product pieces are separated,
with an actuator for the cutting blade (19), which is designed to disengage the cutting blade (19) from the cutting plane (17) out and back into the cutting plane (17) engage, and
with a control device that turns the actuator to a freewheeling operation in such a way that, in the cutting operation, the cutting blade (19) disengages from the cutting plane (17) after completion of a cutting operation (S) and returns to the cutting plane (17) before the beginning of the next cutting operation (S). Device according to claim 10,
characterized,
that the freewheeling operation can be selectively activated or deactivated. Device according to claim 10 or 11,
characterized,
in that the actuating drive can be actuated by means of the control device to a blank cutting operation (L) instead of the freewheeling operation, in which the cutting blade (19) disengages from the cutting plane (17), performs at least one blank cut and pushes back into the cutting plane (17). Device according to one of claims 10 to 12,
characterized,
in that the release travel (s) and / or the disengagement speed of the cutting blade (19) depend on the particular application, in particular as a function of the product (11) to be sliced and / or of the freewheeling operation (L) the respective conveying speed of the product (11), are variable. Device according to one of claims 10 to 13,
characterized,
that the, in particular rotating, cutting blade (19) is movable by means of the actuator to a cutting gap setting, and / or that a rotary drive is provided for a rotational and / or rotational movement of the cutting blade (19) in addition to the actuator. Device according to one of claims 10 to 14,
characterized,
in that a control device is provided, which is designed for freewheeling operation the Ausrückweg (s) of the cutting blade (19), in particular the minimum required Ausrückweg (s), and / or one, in particular the minimum required accelerations of the cutting blade (19) comprehensive To calculate movement profile for the cutting blade (19) from predetermined parameters, in particular from the thickness of the product slices (21) to be separated and / or from at least one angular position of the cutting blade (19), in particular when entering the product (11), when exiting the product (11) and / or leaving the product area.

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