EP2736686B1 - Blade for splitting goods for processing using ultrasound energy and device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a knife for splitting, in particular for cutting or sputtering process material using ultrasound energy and a device with at least one such knife.

In many industrial applications, especially in the food industry, products of the intended dimensions must be provided. For example, portions of meat, sausage or cheese should be provided as individual pieces or divided into slices. For this purpose, cutting devices, e.g. Drives provided with rotating cutting discs, which are performed at high clock rates against the products to perform the necessary cuts. Such devices are expensive to manufacture, in operation and in maintenance. Due to the rotation of the cutting discs, which have to be reground regularly, there is a massive impact on the material, which dissolves and ejects particles, resulting in contamination of the device.

Furthermore, the cutting discs and the parameters for their operation are each adapted to the product to be processed, whereby the application is limited or an individual control is provided. For example, if soft bread is to be cut, then high speeds are required so that it is not compressed when applying the cut. In addition, the rotating cutting discs together with the drive devices take up much space, so that in terms of the means used, including the required premises, low efficiency results.

Furthermore, special requirements for the cutting device result in products with large dimensions. If necessary, the cutting disc must be guided along a path to perform the desired cut in the required length.

Cutting devices are also known from the prior art, in which a knife is connected via an energy converter with a vibration generator which emits an electrical alternating voltage with a frequency in the ultrasonic range. The energy converter, which typically includes piezoelectric elements, converts electrical energy into mechanical energy that causes vibration of the blade.

At one in the DE-A-1561733 described cutting device, a vibration device is screwed on the back of a relatively small knife, after which the blade is vibrated in the application of sound waves.

The DE 10314444 A1 describes a device for cutting a product comprising an axially biased cutting blade connected to a piezoelectric actuator unit which generates longitudinal vibrations of the cutting blade. Further, a vibration generator for generating transverse vibrations is coupled to the cutting blade. In this device, therefore, at least two vibration generators are provided in order to achieve the desired effect of the cutting blade. In order for the desired effect to occur, the vibration generators are also to be positioned accordingly, which requires a corresponding amount of space and the application possibilities of the cutting blade can be reduced.

Another intended for surgical applications knife with a vibrating device is from the WO2008148139A1 known. This knife has mechanical vibration amplitudes of 0.0001mm - 1mm.

Larger knives require correspondingly larger and more elaborate vibration devices.

Furthermore, in industrial processes, for example in the pharmaceutical industry or the food industry, there is often the need to dispense materials in powder form evenly distributed to a customer. For example, the material should be supplied to a solid product or a liquid, wherein a lump formation is to be avoided. Furthermore, often different powdery substances are to be mixed evenly, which often succeeds by the use of mixing plants and agitators only with great effort and long processing time.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide a knife, with the splitting, in particular the cutting or atomizing, a process material particularly successful in industrial applications using ultrasonic energy.

In particular, a knife is provided in which for the coupling of the ultrasonic energy not two vibration generators are required to be mounted at different locations of the blade such that the first vibration generator generates longitudinal vibrations and the second vibration generator transversal vibrations.

Furthermore, a knife is to be specified, which is almost arbitrary in the application of ultrasonic energy to products Consistency optimal cutting properties and allows a precise distribution of products.

Furthermore, a knife is to be specified, which can be used for products of any manufacturing process and has optimal properties even for larger and longer products over the entire cutting line.

Furthermore, when using the knife in a device according to the invention, a significantly higher throughput of processed products should be achievable.

The knife should also be advantageous for uniform distribution and mixing of powdery materials. About the knife powdered process material is to be delivered evenly to another process material or mixed with this, without any otherwise necessary mixture must be carried out in a liquid.

For the operation of one or more knives according to the invention, an advantageous device is furthermore to be specified.

This object is achieved with a knife and a device which have the features specified in claim 1 or claim 9. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in further claims.

The knife, which serves for the splitting, in particular the cutting or the uniform atomization and / or uniform mixing of materials and products using ultrasound energy, comprises a blade with at least one blade wing which tapers towards the front of a blade and with a back of the blade on the back is connected, which has opposing larger side surfaces and at free ends smaller end faces.

According to the invention a mounting surface is provided on the back of the blade or an extremity formed thereon, on which a first end piece of at least one arcuate, preferably U-shaped coupling element is welded, the second end piece has a connecting element, preferably a threaded bore, which with one of Supply of ultrasonic energy serving energy converter is connectable.

The distance of the mounting surface from the cutting edge is chosen so that cutting operations are not hindered. Preferably, the mounting surface is located at a position where the blade does not yet taper towards the cutting edge. Particularly advantageously, the mounting surface is located on a flat side surface of the blade back or the limb formed thereon. Due to the advantageous coupling, the ultrasound energy will also advantageously be transmitted to the blade body via the limb integrally connected to the blade back.

The blade can therefore be arbitrarily shaped and adapted by the extremity to a desired application. For example, the blade may form a hollow cylinder, which is provided on one side or on both sides with a cutting edge. The body may merely form the blade or be additionally provided in one piece with at least one arbitrarily shaped limb, which is welded to the coupling element. The blade preferably comprises a blade back, on which only one blade side a blade wing or on the two sides facing away from each other blade wings are provided and on which the first end piece is welded on a side surface.

The application of ultrasonic energy, for example, with an operating frequency of 35 kHz gives the knife designed according to the invention surprising properties. The Ultrasonic energy is coupled into the blade across the large side surfaces of the blade spine transverse to the at least one cutting direction of the blade. A first end piece of the coupling element preferably runs perpendicular to the blade. The action of the ultrasonic energy therefore does not result in a vibratory movement in the cutting direction, as in the case of the known knives. Instead, elastic waves result within and / or on the surface of the blade, which intensify towards the cutting edge. Suitable waves result in a curved or curved configuration of the coupling elements, which are preferably designed U-shaped.

Due to the coupling of the ultrasonic energy according to the invention, ideal waveforms result without the need for two vibration generators to be mounted at different points of the blade in order to separately couple longitudinal vibrations and transverse vibrations into the blade. The knife can therefore be used in a wider range of applications, since no second vibration generator disturbing appears. By avoiding a second vibration generator also reduces the cost of manufacturing the knife.

It is advantageous to mount a shorter first end of the coupling element on one side of the blade and to guide a longer second end of the coupling element by means of a bow around the blade back or through an opening in the blade back on the other side of the blade. In preferred embodiments, the two end pieces of the coupling element extend parallel.

The coupling element is for example a bent rod made of steel with a round profile or a polygonal profile and a length preferably in the range of 5 cm to 30 cm. The Diameter or the edge length of the rod is preferably in the range of 8mm to 16mm.

Coupling the ultrasonic energy through the curved coupler perpendicularly into the blade results in a favorable pattern of mechanical waves propagating across the blade. The coupling of the ultrasonic energy into the blade back according to the invention achieves not only an optimal distribution of the energy within the blade back and a significant reinforcement of the mechanical waves in the area of the blades. At the same time, the optimum distribution of energy also prevents a point overloading of the blade, which could lead to the destruction of the blade. Ultrasonic energy can therefore be advantageously introduced into the blade at the operating frequency at which it absorbs maximum power. Due to the rapid distribution of the mechanical waves within the blade back local heating is avoided on the one hand and on the other hand, an optimal effect of the cutting achieved.

Preferably, a frequency-modulated signal is supplied to the energy converter connected to the blade, which preferably has a frequency deviation in a range of 1% -10% of the operating frequency and preferably a modulation frequency in the range of 50 Hz-1000 Hz. Frequency modulation ensures that the blade is always operated in the optimum working range, regardless of external thermal or mechanical influences.

The blade back has an increased material thickness typically in the range of 3mm - 10mm. For longer or shorter knives or when supplying increased power, the material thickness is adjusted accordingly. Especially It is advantageous that the advantageous effect can be achieved even with knives virtually any length, in which ultrasonic energy is preferably supplied at uniform intervals of for example 30 cm - 90cm via coupling elements. Knives according to the invention can therefore be used for any desired applications. For example, knives can be used in the paper industry to cut paper webs of maximum width. In the majority of applications, especially in the food industry, knife lengths of 0.5m to 1.5m are used. However, knife lengths of several meters, for example up to 8 meters and more, can be used.

The ultrasonic energy coupled into the blade causes no noticeable vibrations, but recursive material expansions with material displacements in the nanometer range as well as material vibrations, which have an astonishing effect on the processed process material. In addition to longitudinal waves, strong transverse waves occur in the area of the cutting edge which run transversely to the cutting direction. Due to the finer waves and vibrations results in a separation effect which is far more intense than the separation effect, which occurs when force or vibration. The knife can penetrate into the finest tissue structures and break them. Due to the occurring combination of mechanical waves, such as in Brian M. Lempriere, Ultrasound and Acoustic Waves, Academic Press, London 2002 , an optimum effect is achieved. The cutting edge is subjected to longitudinal strains and transverse movements that break up the structures without further damaging them. The machined products not only result in precise cuts, but also in optimal cut surfaces.

By means of mechanical longitudinal waves and transverse waves, soft or hard process material is separated in the area of the blade, without having to exert a force. As a result, even very soft process material is not subject to deformation during machining and can therefore be precisely cut. For example, soft bread can be cut into slices of minimal thickness. By avoiding a force, the cutting edge of the blade is also protected, so that it must be sharpened again after a relatively long period of operation.

The knife according to the invention can also have a large length, so that a plurality of products transported on a conveyor belt can be processed. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the knife has a double blade so that one operation can be carried out with each movement of the blade, i.e., during the raising and lowering of the blade. In this way, the passage of the processed products can be doubled.

In preferred embodiments, the cutting edge of the one or both blade wings is provided with a wave shape or a toothing, which still has a more intensive effect and processes the process material practically in two steps. In the first step, the waves or teeth intervene in the process material and divide this partially, after which the remaining part is separated in a second step. The waveform also causes the exposed waves of the blade can swing even more intense, so the effect of the inventive measures is enhanced.

In particularly preferred embodiments, the upper side of the blade, optionally only one of the upper sides of the blade wings, is provided with a wave shape that is perpendicular or forms transverse to the cutting edge troughs or gutters. This design of the blade causes a further improved distribution of the ultrasonic energy.

The provided with a waveform blade can be used particularly advantageous for the transport and the uniform delivery of a powdered process material. In this embodiment of the blade, the process material is distributed evenly over the top of the blade and is transported along the grooves to the cutting edge, where it is atomized and lowered as a uniform fog. If two knives according to the invention are arranged one below the other or next to one another, the powder mist of each process material mixes in an ideal manner and form a virtually homogeneous mix with a degree of mixing which otherwise can only be achieved after long stirring in a liquid.

If each powdered process material is dispensed to the associated knife with a certain dosage, so an optimally mixed mix can be achieved with optional specified product proportions.

The distance of the troughs or grooves on the working surface of the blade is preferably selected as a function of the wavelength of the ultrasonic waves. Preferably, distances of the grooves in the range of 5mm - 15mm and an amplitude of the waves of the waveform in the range of 0.5mm to 4mm are chosen.

The top of the blade serving to transport the process material preferably forms a plane. The underside of the blade has, in the region of the blade back, a zone running parallel to the upper side and, in the region of the first and / or second blade wing, a plane inclined towards the associated cutting edge.

In devices according to the invention, the blade is connected via the at least one coupling element and one energy converter mounted thereon to a generator which, preferably controlled by a programmable control unit, emits an electrical alternating voltage in the frequency range of the ultrasound, preferably in the range between 30 kHz and 40 kHz ,

Fig. 1a

ein erstes erfindungsgemässes Messer 1A mit einer Doppelklinge 10, die einen ersten und einen zweiten sich je zu einer zugehörigen Schneide hin verjüngenden Klingenflügel 101, 102 aufweist, die einen dazwischen liegenden Klingenrücken 103 einschliessen, der eine erhöhte Materialdicke aufweist und an den zwei U-förmig ausgebildete Kopplungselemente 181, 182 angeschweisst sind;

Fig. 1b

eines der mit einem Energiewandler 81 versehenen Kopplungselemente 181 von Figur 1a, welches von einem Antriebsarm 51 einer Antriebsvorrichtung 5 mittels eines Montageelements 52 gehalten ist;

Fig. 1c

von unten gezeigt, ein Endstück des erfindungsgemässen Messers 1A von Figur 1a mit dem auf die Unterseite 103U des Klingenrückens 103 geschweissten Kopplungselement 181;

Fig. 2a

von oben gezeigt, einen Teil eines zweiten vorzugsweise ausgestalteten Messers 1B mit einer Klinge 10, deren Schneiden 1011, 1021 je mit einer Wellenform versehen sind und dessen Oberseite 10O mit in Schnittrichtung verlaufenden Rinnen 104 versehen sind, die durch eine quer zur Schnittrichtung verlaufende Wellenform gebildet werden;

Fig. 2b

den Teil des Messers 1B von Figur 2a von oben gesehen;

Fig. 2c

den Teil des Messers 1B von Figur 2a von der Seite gesehen;

Fig. 3a

ein Endstück eines dritten erfindungsgemässen Messers 1C, welches einen Klingenrücken 103 mit nur einen Klingenflügel 101 aufweist, dessen Schneide 1011 verzahnt ist;

Fig. 3b

einen Schnitt durch die Klinge 10 des Messers 1c von Figur 3a und 3c;

Fig. 3c

das dritte erfindungsgemässe im Messer 1C mit zwei Kopplungselementen 181, 182, die auf einander gegenüberliegenden Seiten 103U, 1030 des Klingenrückens 103 angekoppelt sind;

Fig. 4a

von oben gezeigt, ein viertes erfindungsgemässes Messer 1D in dreieckförmiger Ausgestaltung mit einem Klingenrücken 103, durch den hindurch ein Endstück 1821 eines Kopplungselements 181 hindurch geführt ist, und mit sich nach aussen bis zu einer Spitze verjüngenden Klingenflügeln 101, 102;

Fig. 4b

das vierte Messer 1D von Figur 4a von unten gesehen mit dem Kopplungselement 181, dessen erstes Endstück mit der Unterseite 103U des Klingenrückens 103 verschweisst ist;

Fig. 4c

die Verwendung des vierten Messers 1D zur Abgabe eines pulverförmigen Prozessguts an ein Produkt 70;

Fig. 5a

ein fünftes erfindungsgemässes Messer 1E in der Ausgestaltung eines nach unten vollständig geöffneten Topfes mit einem reduzierten Klingenrücken 103 und einem in sich geschlossenen Klingenflügel 101, der eine Zylinderwand bildet;

Fig. 5b

einen Schnitt durch das fünfte Messer 1E von Figur 5a;

Fig. 6

eine mit dem ersten Messer 1A von Figur 1a ausgerüstete erste erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung 100A mittels der zwei beidseits des Messers 1A transportierte Produktgruppen 7A und 7B bearbeitet werden können;

Fig. 7

eine zweite erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung 100B, mit einem ersten Messer 1A gemäss Figur 1a, zwei zweiten Messern 1B gemäss Figur 2a und einem dritten Messer 1C gemäss Figur 3c, anhand derer pulverförmige Materialien 611, 612, 613 gleichmässig verteilt, gleichmässig gemischt und in Produkte 7 eingearbeitet werden, in die mittels des dritten Messers 1C Schnitte eingefügt werden; und

Fig. 8

die Kombination der Messer 1A 1B und 1C von Figur 7 in räumlicher Darstellung.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings. Showing:

Fig. 1a

a first knife 1A according to the invention with a double blade 10 which has first and second blade wings 101, 102 each tapering towards an associated cutting edge, enclosing an intermediate blade spine 103 having an increased material thickness and at the two U-shaped trained coupling elements 181, 182 are welded;

Fig. 1b

one of the provided with an energy converter 81 coupling elements 181 of FIG. 1a which is held by a drive arm 51 of a drive device 5 by means of a mounting member 52;

Fig. 1c

shown from below, an end piece of the inventive knife 1A of FIG. 1a with the coupling member 181 welded to the underside 103U of the blade back 103;

Fig. 2a

shown from above, a part of a second preferably configured knife 1B with a blade 10, the cutting edges 1011, 1021 are each provided with a waveform and its top 10O are provided with in the cutting direction grooves 104 formed by a transverse to the cutting direction waveform become;

Fig. 2b

the part of the knife 1B of FIG. 2a seen from above;

Fig. 2c

the part of the knife 1B of FIG. 2a seen from the side;

Fig. 3a

an end piece of a third knife 1C according to the invention, which has a blade back 103 with only one blade wing 101, whose cutting edge 1011 is toothed;

Fig. 3b

a section through the blade 10 of the blade 1c of FIGS. 3a and 3c ;

Fig. 3c

the third invention in the knife 1C with two coupling elements 181, 182, which are coupled on opposite sides 103U, 1030 of the blade back 103;

Fig. 4a

shown from above, a fourth knife according to the invention 1D in a triangular configuration with a blade back 103 through which an end piece 1821 of a coupling element 181 is guided, and with outwardly tapered to a tip blade wings 101, 102;

Fig. 4b

the fourth knife 1D of FIG. 4a seen from below with the coupling element 181, the first end piece with the bottom 103 U of the blade back 103 is welded;

Fig. 4c

the use of the fourth blade 1D for delivering a pulverulent process product to a product 70;

Fig. 5a

a fifth inventive knife 1E in the embodiment of a downwardly completely open pot with a reduced Blade back 103 and a self-contained blade wing 101 which forms a cylinder wall;

Fig. 5b

a section through the fifth knife 1E of FIG. 5a ;

Fig. 6

one with the first knife 1A of FIG. 1a equipped first apparatus 100A according to the invention can be processed by means of the two product groups 7A and 7B transported on both sides of the knife 1A;

Fig. 7

a second inventive device 100B, with a first knife 1A according to FIG. 1a , two second knives 1B according to FIG. 2a and a third knife 1C according to Figure 3c from which powdered materials 611, 612, 613 are uniformly distributed, uniformly mixed and incorporated into products 7 into which cuts are made by means of the third knife 1C; and

Fig. 8

the combination of the knives 1A 1B and 1C of FIG. 7 in spatial representation.

FIG. 1a shows the upper side of a first knife 1A according to the invention, which comprises a double blade 10, which has a first and a second blade vane 101, 102 each tapering to an associated cutting edge 1011, 1021. Like this in the FIGS. 1a and 1c 14, the blade wings 101, 102 include an intermediate blade spine 103, which has an increased material thickness and is integrated into the blade 10 as a narrow cuboid. The upper sides 101O, 101U of the blade wings 101, 102 form a flat surface with the upper side 103O of the blade back 103 in this preferred embodiment, while the lower sides 101U, 102U of the Blade wings 101, 102 with respect to the bottom 103 U of the blade back 103 to the cutting edges 1011, 1021 are inclined.

At both ends of the underside 103U of the blade back 103, a U-shaped coupling element 181, 182 is welded to a first end piece 1811 on a mounting surface 105, which is aligned perpendicular to the underside 103U of the blade back 103 and thus perpendicular to the cutting direction of the blade 1A. The mounting surface 105 shown by hatching is thus that part of the surface of the underside 103U of the blade back 103 to which the end piece 1811 of the coupling element 181 is welded. The coupling elements 181, 182 welded onto the underside 10U of the blade 10 run outward in an opposite direction with an arcuate intermediate piece 1813 along the axis of the blade back 103. The arcuate intermediate piece 183 extends in an arc of 180 °, so that the shorter first and the longer second end piece 1811, 1812 of the coupling element 181 are aligned parallel to each other.

FIG. 1b shows that at the exposed second end pieces 1812, 1822 of the coupling elements 181, 182 connecting elements 18121, such as threaded holes, are provided, which are connectable to a connecting element 811, such as a screw, an energy converter 81, is supplied via the ultrasonic energy.

The knife 10 is forged from metal and preferably coated with a metal layer. The coupling elements 181, 182, which have the form of a bracket, are for example formed from a rod having a square profile. By welding the coupling elements 181, 182 with the blade back 103 results in an optimal coupling of the ultrasonic energy. Furthermore results in a Stable connection, which allows to use the coupling of ultrasonic energy coupling elements 181, 182 for the mechanical coupling to a drive device 5. Like this in the Figures 1b and 6 is shown, the second end piece 1812 of the coupling element 181 is preferably connected to a vertically movable drive arm 51 of a drive device 5 by means of a mounting part 52.

FIG. 2a shows a part of a knife 1B in a further preferred embodiment with two blade wings 101, 102, the cutting edges 1011, 1021 have a waveform. The waveform results in exposed wave segments that can vibrate more easily than a cutting edge along a line. In the coupling of ultrasonic energy, the shaft segments of the cutting edges 1011, 1021 can therefore oscillate more easily and with greater amplitudes, which is why the blade 10 can more easily penetrate into a process material.

It has been found that the knife 1B is not only suitable for cutting, but also excellent for the atomization of a powdery process material. Powdered process material, which is transported over the inclined blade 10, is atomized at the cutting edges 1011, 1021 or divided into the smallest particles and thrown away from the laterally oscillating shaft segments.

In order to achieve a uniform distribution of the pulverulent process material, it is ensured that the ultrasonic energy is distributed uniformly over the blade 10. For this purpose, a wave pattern is preferably provided on the upper side 10O of the blade 10, which forms ribs and grooves 104, which preferably correspond to the wave form of the cutting edges 1011, 1021. The powdery process material can spread evenly over the wave pattern and along the preferably from the first to the second cutting edge 1011, 1021 extending grooves 104 to the first or second cutting edge 1011; Hiking in 1021.

FIG. 2b shows the connection point 18111 via which the first end piece 1811 of the first coupling element 181 is connected flat or to the mounting surface 105 on the underside 103U of the blade back 103. Due to the configuration of the coupling elements 181, 182 and the advantageous coupling to the blade 10, the surprising properties of the blade 1, which is suitable for splitting, ie cutting and sputtering, of virtually any process material result.

Figure 2c shows the upper side 10O of the blade 10, which is provided with a wave pattern whose troughs 104 are aligned perpendicular to the cutting edges 1011, 1012.

FIG. 3a shows a further inventive knife 1C with a blade 10, which has a blade back 103 and only one blade wing 101 formed thereon.

The cutting edge 1011 of the blade wing 101 is provided with a toothing, which in the sectional view of FIG. 3b is shown enlarged. Figure 3c shows the entire knife 1C, which has two coupling elements 181, 182, which are welded on different sides 103U and 103O of the blade back 103.

With the knife 1C, it is possible to dissolve a solid block of a process material and transfer it into powder form. For this purpose, the blade 1C subjected to ultrasonic energy is guided against the solid block of the process material and the powder is removed in layers.

Furthermore, it is possible with the knife 1C to mix various powdery substances in a container optimally. For this purpose, the knife 1C in the middle of the container introduced and subjected to ultrasonic energy, after which at least two types of powdered process material can be mixed evenly regardless of the specific weight of each variety.

FIG. 4a shows a fourth inventive knife 1D in triangular configuration. The knife 1D has a blade spine 103, through which an end piece of a coupling element 181 is guided and which is provided with blade wings 101, 102 which taper outwards to a point. On the blade wings 101, 102 waveforms are provided which form parallel to the blade back 103 extending grooves 104.

FIG. 4b shows the bottom of the fourth knife 1D.

Figure 4c shows the use of the fourth knife 1D for dispensing a powdery, optionally crystalline process material, such as sugar or salt, to a product 70. The knife 1D is guided with the lower edge over the product 70, while the powdered process material distributed evenly over the grooves 104 this is delivered. Due to the even distribution of the powdery process material, an optimal effect can be achieved with minimal amounts. Undesirable local concentrations of powdered process material, which could lead to flavor irritation, are avoided. At the same time, the entire surface is covered uniformly, so that the desired effect is achieved homogeneously over the entire surface. The knife 1D according to the invention therefore permits an efficient and economical use of the available process material. It is shown that the mounting surface 105 is arranged on the underside of the blade back 103.

FIG. 5a shows a fifth inventive knife 1E in the embodiment of a downwardly completely open Pot with a self-contained blade 10 with a hollow cylindrical blade back 103, on the underside of the blade wing 101 is provided with the circular cutting edge, and at the top thereof integrally connected to the blade back 103 extremity in the form of a flange 1030. The flange member 1030 has a mounting surface 105 to which the first end piece 1811 of the coupling member 181 is welded. The flange member 1030 formed a part or a limb of the pawl back 103, wherein the optimal coupling of the ultrasonic energy succeeds, although the flange 1030 is inclined relative to the hollow-cylindrical blade back 103. By means of a suitable shaping and alignment of the flange element 1030, it is possible to position the coupling element 181 at a position at which it does not interfere, but advantageously appears for assembly purposes.

With the in the FIGS. 5a and 5b Knife 1E shown succeeds in dividing a larger solid process material and possibly evenly mixed with another process material. FIG. 5b with the shows a section through the fifth knife 1E of FIG. 5a ,

FIG. 6 shows one with the first knife 1A of FIG. 1a equipped first inventive device 100A, by means of the two on both sides of the blade 1A transported product groups 7A and 7B can be processed alternately. Like this in FIG. 1b is shown, the knife 1A is held on both sides by means of an arm 51 of a drive device 5, by means of which in the longitudinal axis horizontal and the transverse axis with the blade wings 101, 102 vertically aligned knife 1A can be moved down and up. When the knife 1A shuts down, in a process step A the first product group 7A and at the start of the knife 1A becomes in a second process step B edited the second product group 7B. With this device 100A, the productivity of the process can be doubled. It is particularly advantageous that no significant forces must be expended for the movement of the blade 1A, which is why the operations can be performed with high precision even when simultaneously processing a variety of products.

FIG. 7 shows a second inventive device 100B, with a first knife 1A according to FIG. 1a and two second knives 1B according to FIG. 2a , by means of which each powdered process material 611, 612, 613 can be evenly distributed and mixed uniformly. The resulting mix is incorporated into products 7, into which by means of a third knife 1C according to Figure 3c Cuts are inserted.

The powdered process material 611, 621, 631 is dispensed from dispensers 61, 62 and 63 to said knives 1A and 1B and atomized by them to a common mixing zone, in which an optimally mixed powder mist results, either taken in containers or, as in US Pat FIG. 7 shown, a product 7 is supplied.

In FIG. 7 It is further shown that soft products 7, 7 'can be provided with deep cuts without resulting in deformation of the product, as is common in conventional devices.

FIG. 8 shows the combination of the knives 1A 1B and 1C of FIG. 7 in spatial representation. It can be seen that the device 100B, which makes it possible to optimally mix and process different process items, takes up only little space. The individual blades 1A, 1B and 1C can be controlled by holding devices and drive devices held on the coupling elements 181, 182 and optionally moved.

To control in the FIGS. 6 and 7 a control computer 9 is provided, which controls the drive device 5 and preferably also a generator 8, are emitted from the electrical signals to energy converter 81, which are connected to the coupling elements 181, 182 of the blades 1A, 1B, ... , The individual knives 1A, 1B,... Are preferably individually as a function of the knife properties and the properties of the processed process material 611; 621; 631 or 7A, 7B driven. The frequency of the emitted signals is preferably chosen such that the maximum energy is transmitted. Preferably, frequency modulated signals are used as described above.

Claims (15)

1. Cutter for dividing, such as cutting or atomising, a processed product by using ultrasound energy, with a blade (10) that comprises at least one blade wing (101), which narrows at the front side towards a cutting edge (1011), and that is connected at the rear side to a blade back (103), which comprises larger side surfaces (103U, 103O) opposing one another and smaller front surfaces (103F) at the exposed ends, characterised in that a mounting surface (105) is provided on the blade back (103) or an extremity (1030) formed thereon, on which mounting surface (105) a first end piece (1811) of at least one curved, preferably U-shaped, coupling element (181; 182) is welded, whose second end piece (1812) has a connecting member (18121), preferably a threaded bore, that is connectable to an energy converter, which serves for supplying ultrasound energy.
2. Cutter according to claim 1, characterised in that the at least one coupling element (181; 182), which on one side (10U; 10O) is welded to the blade (10), consists of a bar with a round profile or a polygonal profile, which preferably extends with the second end piece (1812), if appropriate, through an opening (1031) provided in the blade back (103), to the other side (10O; 10U) of the blade (10), wherein the first end piece (1811) extends perpendicularly to the side surfaces (103U, 103O) of the blade back (103).
3. Cutter according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the blade (10) comprises a blade back (103), on which on only one side a blade wing (101) is provided or on which on both sides blade wings (101, 102) are provided that are directed into opposite directions and on which the first end piece (1811) of the coupling element (181; 182) is welded on a side surface (103U, 103O).
4. Cutter according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that at each end of the blade back (103), on the one or the other side surface (103U, 103O), a coupling element (181; 182) is provided each and/or that along the blade back (103), on the one or the other side surface (103U, 103O) in a distance of 30 cm - 90 cm a coupling element (181; 182; ...) each is provided each.
5. Cutter according to one of the claims 1 - 4, characterised in that the cutting edge (1011, 1021) of the at least one blade wing (101, 102) exhibits a waveshape or a toothwork and/or that the upper side (10O) of the blade (10), which serves for the transport of material, or at least one of the upper sides (1011, 1021) of the blade wings (101; 102) exhibits a waveshape, which forms wave hollows or grooves (104) extending perpendicularly or transverse to the cutting edge (1011).
6. Cutter according to claim 5, characterised in that the distance of the wave hollows or grooves (104), which preferably is selected depending on the wavelength of the ultrasound waves, lies in the range from 5 mm to 15 mm and/or that the amplitude of the waves lies in the range from 0,5 mm to 4 mm.
7. Cutter according to one of the claims 1 - 6, characterised in that the blade (10) comprises a plane upper side (10O) and a lower side (10U) with the lower side (103U) of the blade back (103) aligned in parallel to the upper side (103O) of the blade back (103) and with the therto inclined lower side (101U, 102U) of the first and, if provided, second blade wing (101, 102).
8. Cutter according to claim 7, characterised in that the upper side (103O) and the lower side (103U) of the blade back (103) extend in parallel to one another and/or exhibit a mutual distance in the range from 3 mm to 12 mm, which is selected preferably with regard to the length of the blade (10), which preferably is selected in the range from 0,5 m to 8 m.
9. Device with a cutter according to one of the claims 1 - 8, characterised in that the cutter (1A; 1B; 1C; 1D; 1E) is connected via the at least one coupling element (181; 182) and an energy converter (81; 82) mounted thereto each to a generator (8), which provides an electrical AC voltage in the frequency range of the ultrasound, preferably in the range between 30 kHz and 40 kHz.
10. Device according to claim 9, characterised in that the generator (8) is suitable for the adjustment and supply of a signal,

    a) whose operating frequency is selectable such, that the maximum power is transferred to the cutter (1A; 1B; 1C; 1D; 1E), and/or

    b) that is frequency modulated with a frequency deviation in a range from 1 % to 10 % of the operating frequency and is selected with a modulation frequency preferably in the range from 50Hz to 1000Hz.
11. Device according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that a drive device (5) with drivable or turnable drive arms (51) is provided, which hold the cutter (1A; 1B) that is provided with two cutting edges (1011, 1021) preferably at the coupling elements (181, 182), so that the cutter (1A; 1B) can be deflected in both cutting directions, in order to process in a first process step (A) a first processed product (7A) and in a second process step (B) a second processed product (B).
12. Device according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that one or a plurality of supply devices (61; 62; 63) are provided, from which each powdery processed product (611; 621; 631) can be supplied to the blade side (10O) of a related cutter (1A; 1B; 1C; 1D), that is directed upwards and that preferably comprise grooves (104) and a wave-shaped or toothed cutting edge (1011) and that is inclined into the delivery direction, so that the powdery processed product (611; 621; 631) can be supplied evenly distributed to a receiver, such as a finished product (7).
13. Device according to claim 12, characterised in that a plurality of supply devices (61; 62; 63) is provided, from which each a powdery processed product (611; 621; 631) can be supplied to a blade side (10O) that is directed upwards of a related cutter (1A; 1B; 1C; 1D), from which it can be delivered to a common mixing area.
14. Device according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that a further cutter (1C) is provided, with which cuts can be worked into a solid product (7), into which the powdery processed products (611; 621; 631) can fall.
15. Device according to claim 12, 13 or 14, characterised in that a band-conveyor (4) is provided, with which products (7) to be processed or containers can be transported to the position of delivery of the powdery processed products, such as the mixture (611; 621; 631).

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