EP2781322A1 - Device for cutting a process material - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has cutting tools (11A-11D) that are provided in form of blade. Each cutting tool is connected to drive device (12) and ultrasonic generator (13) via coupling element and energy converter. The ultrasonic generator is configured to supply ultrasonic energy for rotating the cutting tool so as to cut the product (8) to be processed.

Description

The invention relates to a device for cutting a process material, in particular of foods such as meat, cheese, vegetables, bread or pasta.

In many industrial applications, especially in the food industry, products of the intended dimensions must be provided. Often bread, meat products, in particular sausages, or cheese are divided into pieces and packed. For this purpose, cutting devices, e.g. Provided devices with rotating round 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, a massive effect on the process material takes place, so that particles are released and thrown away, 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. If, for example, soft bread is to be cut, then high speeds are required so that it is not compressed when applying a cut. However, if products with different properties are to be processed at the same time, an individual adaptation is hardly possible.

Often process material is also passed through an extruder and periodically cut at its output by means of a cutting device to obtain a long goods, such as spaghetti rods. The blades of these cutting devices must normally be replaced within a short time intervals and re-ground, resulting in a considerable effort.

In addition, cutting devices with rotating cutting disks together with the drive devices take up a great deal of space, so that with regard to the means used, including the required premises, a low efficiency results. Furthermore, special requirements for the cutting unit 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.

With increasing precision when processing a product usually also increases the processing time. Since the throughput rate has process during the cutting of food, the producer usually dispenses with an ideal cutting process. If necessary, the clippings must be weighed before packaging in a further operation.

From the publication EP2551077A1 a cutting device is known in which a knife is connected via a coupling element and an energy converter with an ultrasonic generator. The knife is held on both sides and is moved upwards and downwards perpendicular to its orientation in order to cut a process material. This advantageous cutting device with the associated drive device is designed relatively complex and still takes a relatively large amount of space. The drive device by means of which the knife is to be moved in two directions, upwards and downwards, requires a relatively high control effort. If particularly high clock cycles are to be realized, the demands on the drive and control device increase disproportionately. Note also the energy requirements of these devices, especially when high clock cycles are realized.

It should also be noted that the cutting tools can not perform any cutting work during the return movement, which is why only 50% of the cutting cycle can be used.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide an improved device for cutting process material, in particular food.

In particular, a cutting device is to be specified, which can be of compact construction and takes up only a small amount of space, so that it can be advantageously integrated into any production processes and production processes.

By means of the inventive cutting device high clock cycles should be feasible, with an extra effort for the drive and control device to be avoided in increasing the clock cycles. Furthermore, it is preferable to be able to carry out cutting work for more than 50% of a clock cycle.

The cutting device should be able to be operated with high efficiency and in particular in the range of high clock cycles with low power consumption.

The cutting device should be simple and can be maintained with little effort. On the blade or on the blade of the cutting device no signs of wear should occur even after prolonged use.

The process material should be able to be cut with high precision and high clock rates. The cut products, especially food slices, should be even Have cut surfaces and uniform thicknesses. The precision should be maintained even when the strength properties of the supplied food or parallel feed units changed.

By means of the cutting device and a process material, which is in the form of a long product to be cut precisely.

The inventive cutting device should also be used advantageously in conjunction with extruders, which deliver a process material, in particular food, which is to be cut into individual parts.

This object is achieved with a cutting device having the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in further claims.

The device, which serves to cut a process product, in particular a food, comprises at least one cutting tool in the form of a blade, which is connected on the one hand to a drive device and on the other hand via a coupling element and an energy converter with an ultrasonic generator.

According to the invention, the coupling element and the energy converter, if appropriate also the ultrasound generator, are held rotatably, so that the blade which can be acted upon by ultrasound energy is rotatable.

The coupling of the ultrasonic energy allows the blade to cut the process material with little energy and virtually no effort. The surface waves occurring on the blade separate the structure of the process material, before the blade penetrates deeper into the process material. This allows a rapid penetration of the blade, without deformations occur in the process material. Compared to rotating disks, which rotate at high speeds and are thus guided against the process material, the rotating knife results in a gentle cut which separates but does not damage the process material. The speed of rotation of the blade is much lower than the rotational speed of the circular cutting discs and corresponds to the speed with which the latter are guided against the process material.

Instead of moving the blade back and forth to cut the process material, it is rotated in a plane that is perpendicular to the drive axis. Therefore, the blade does not have to be braked and accelerated again, but can be continuously rotated in the same direction without energy losses. The control of the working cycles of the knife can thus be done in a simple manner by controlling a drive motor. The maximum operating frequency is therefore not determined by the drive device, but by the maximum cutting speed with which the blade can be passed through the process material. Since this maximum cutting speed is very high in the inventive application of ultrasonic energy, very high clock cycles can be achieved.

The application of ultrasonic energy, for example, with an operating frequency of 35 kHz gives the inventively designed knife particularly advantageous properties. The ultrasonic energy is preferably coupled via the large side surfaces of the blade back transverse to the cutting direction of the blade in the blade. A blade facing the end of the coupling element is preferably perpendicular to the blade. Upon application of the ultrasonic energy, 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 element, which is preferably designed U-shaped.

The blade can only be provided with a cutting edge on one side or on opposite sides. The cutting device is designed such that the blade can be rotated in both directions. This doubles the amount of time a blade can be operated before it has to be re-ground. Also possible is the use of two or more blades, which are held by means of separate or interconnected coupling elements.

The coupling element is preferably held by a drive shaft or rotor shaft. Preferably, the drive shaft facing end portion of the coupling element is aligned coaxially with the drive shaft. Preferably, the coupling element is integrated in the drive shaft. For this purpose, the drive shaft may be formed as a hollow shaft having an opening which is suitable for receiving the coupling element. The coupling element may be fixed within the hollow shaft by sliding blocks, adhesive or the like.

The drive shaft is mounted on at least one bearing element and connected directly or indirectly via drive elements, such as gears and timing belt, with a drive unit, such as an electric motor.

The drive shaft further carries the energy converter or the energy converter and the ultrasonic generator. Basically only required that the connected to the coupling element energy converter, such as a piezo element, is rotated together with the drive shaft. Only in preferred embodiments of the ultrasonic generator is also connected to the drive shaft and rotatably supported.

Energy and / or control signals can be fed to the energy converter and / or the ultrasound generator or to a control unit connected thereto and likewise held rotatably via an electrical coupling unit. Control signals can also be transmitted via a radio interface, for example according to the Bluetooth method. Also possible is the optical transmission of control signals.

For example, electrical energy and / or electrical control signals are transmitted by galvanic coupling or by inductive coupling. The galvanic coupling takes place for example via rotating contact rings, which are connected to the drive shaft, and stationary sliding contacts. The inductive coupling takes place by means of coils, via which alternating voltages are inductively transferable.

In particularly preferred embodiments, the cutting device comprises a power generator, by means of whose rotor side a supply voltage is generated. For this purpose, preferably stationary arranged permanent magnets are provided whose magnetic fields induce voltages in coils which are rotated with the drive shaft. In this embodiment, it is sufficient to mechanically turn the drive shaft in order to provide a supply voltage for the operation of the ultrasonic generator. Thus, the supply voltage is permanently available, the drive shaft is preferably also coupled to a power storage. Furthermore, preferably at least one Power supply unit provided by means of DC voltages in AC voltages or AC voltages in DC voltages can be converted as needed.

The drive shaft and optionally the ultrasonic generator are preferably arranged within a housing, which may have two or more housing parts and from which the rotatably held coupling element protrudes.

The inventive cutting device can be coupled with any devices to cut a process material. For example, the cutting device is arranged at the end of a conveyor chain, on which a process material is to be cut into individual parts. Particularly advantageously, the inventive cutting device can also be arranged at the outlet of an extruder, so that the extruded material can optionally be divided into shorter or longer elements. A single cutting device can serve several extruders or conveyors.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung zum Schneiden eines Prozessguts 8, umfassend eine Schneidevorrichtung 1 mit vier Schneidewerkzeugen 11A, ..., 11D, mittels denen das Prozessgut 8, welches in Form von Stangen 8A, ..., 8L auf einem Fördertisch 93 zugeführt wird, in Scheiben 89 geschnitten wird;

Fig. 2

die Schneidevorrichtung 1 von Figur 1, mit zwei Antriebseinheiten 12A, 12B mittels denen die Schneidewerkzeuge 11A, ..., 11D in linearen Bewegungen nach unten und wieder nach oben verschiebbar sind;

Fig. 3a

eine erfindungsgemässe Schneidevorrichtung 1 mit wenigstens einem drehbar gehalten Schneidewerkzeug in Form einer Klinge 11, die einerseits mit einer Antriebsvorrichtung und andererseits über ein Kopplungselement 15 und einen Energiewandler 14 mit einem Ultraschallgenerator 13 verbunden ist;

Fig. 3b

die Schneidevorrichtung 1 von Figur 3a von vorn;

Fig. 4

die Schneidevorrichtung 1 von Figur 3a in räumlicher Darstellung von vorn;

Fig. 5

die Schneidevorrichtung 1 von Figur 3a in räumlicher Darstellung von hinten; und

Fig. 6

die Schneidevorrichtung 1 von Figur 3a in einer weiteren vorzugsweisen Ausgestaltung mit direkter Ankopplung der Klinge 11 an eine Antriebseinheit 12 bzw. einen Elektromotor.

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

Fig. 1

an inventive device for cutting a process material 8, comprising a cutting device 1 with four cutting tools 11A, ..., 11D, by means of which the process material 8, which is supplied in the form of rods 8A, ..., 8L on a conveyor table 93, in Slices 89 is cut;

Fig. 2

the cutting device 1 of FIG. 1 with two drive units 12A, 12B by means of which the cutting tools 11A, ..., 11D are displaceable in linear movements downwards and upwards again;

Fig. 3a

an inventive cutting device 1 with at least one rotatably held cutting tool in the form of a blade 11, which is connected on the one hand with a drive device and on the other hand via a coupling element 15 and an energy converter 14 with an ultrasonic generator 13;

Fig. 3b

the cutting device 1 of FIG. 3a from the beginning;

Fig. 4

the cutting device 1 of FIG. 3a in a spatial representation from the front;

Fig. 5

the cutting device 1 of FIG. 3a in spatial representation from behind; and

Fig. 6

the cutting device 1 of FIG. 3a in a further preferred embodiment with direct coupling of the blade 11 to a drive unit 12 or an electric motor.

FIG. 1 shows a device which is suitable for cutting a process material 8, in particular a food. The apparatus comprises a cutting device 1 with four cutting tools 11A, ..., 11D, a pushing unit 95 with a pushing tool 94, two driving devices 12A, 12B for driving the cutting tools 11A, ..., 11D, and a conveying table 3, on which the ACS can be deposited well 8 and pushed by the pushing tool 94 towards the cutting tools 11A, ..., 11D. The cutting device 1 is held by a mounting structure 5.

The food 8 is fed in parallel to the four cutting tools 11A, ..., 11D in twelve cylindrical or bar-shaped units 8A, ..., 8L, so that three each of the food units 8A, ..., 8L of one of the cutting tools 11A; ...; 11D cut simultaneously. On the front side, the parallel-fed food units 8A, ..., 8L are held in a desired position by a hold-down while the cut is carried out.

The cutting unit 1 comprises the four cutting tools 11A; ...; 11D, which are each connected to an ultrasonic generator 13 and can be vertically lowered by the driving devices 12A, 12B and raised again to cut food slices 89 from the food units 8. The food slices 89 fall on a conveyor belt 92 of a receiving conveyor 9, which has a drive motor 91.

Furthermore, a control unit 6 is provided which can control the cutting device 1, the conveying devices and the ultrasound generators 13. The control unit 6 is connected to the cutting device 1 via a first control line 61, a second control line 62 to the conveying devices, a third control line 63 to the ultrasonic generators 13 and a fourth control line 69 to the removal conveyor 9. The control unit 6 can be supplied via a keyboard 60 and by measuring devices 68, such as measurement formers and sensors, information by means of which the cutting process and the conveying process can be controlled. For example, information about the positions of the food units 8 is determined by means of first sensors 68. By means of second sensors 67 further process variables can be determined. Preferably, the temperature and consistency of the foodstuffs are measured and, depending on this, the ultrasonic frequency, the cutting speed and the pushing speed are set. For controlling all processes, in particular the cutting processes and conveying processes, an application program is provided.

FIG. 2 shows the dismantled cutting device 1 of FIG. 1 comprising two identically constructed cutting modules held by a mounting plate which is part of the mounting structure 5 of the device. Each of the cutting modules comprises a drive unit 12A; 12B and a bearing device 128A connected to the mounting structure 5; 128B, which allows a respective first and second bearing block 129A, 129B to lower and raise vertically. At each storage block 129A; 129B are each two ultrasonic generators 13A, 13B and 13C, 13D arranged, which are each connected via a coupling element 15 with a cutting tool 11A, 11B, 11C or 11D.

The cutting tools 11A, ..., 11D each comprise a blade, at the back of which the arcuate coupling elements 15 are welded, whereby the ultrasonic energy can be coupled into the blades.

With these cutting tools 11A, ..., 11D, the food units 8A, ..., 8L can be cut with virtually no effort. During the cutting process, therefore, virtually no forces act on the food, which is why maximum precision is achieved.

Disadvantageous in the FIG. 2 isolated cutting device 1, however, is the voluminous structure. The drive units 12A; 12B are pillared to realize the linear drive of the cutting tools 11A, ..., 11D. The linear cutting movements require a corresponding control and a corresponding drive. During the return movement of the cutting tools 11A, ..., 11D they can not perform any cutting work, which is why the cutting cycle can only be used to 50%.

FIG. 3a shows a cutting device 1 according to the invention from the side. FIG. 3b shows the same cutting device 1 from the front.

The cutting device 1 comprises a cutting tool in the form of a rotatably mounted blade 11, which is connected via a coupling element 15 and an energy converter 14 with an ultrasonic generator 13. The coupling element 15 is held by a rotor shaft or drive shaft 18, which is rotatably mounted within a housing 7 by means of bearing elements 180. The coupling element 15, which for example has a rectangular profile, is aligned with an end 151 coaxial with the drive shaft 18 and extends in an arc of 180 °. The second end 152 of the coupling element 15 is connected to the blade back of the blade 11, preferably welded, and extends perpendicular thereto. The first and the second end piece 151, 152 are formed in the length such that the blade 11 is freely rotatable in the front of the housing 7 in a plane which is aligned perpendicular to the drive axis x or to the drive shaft 18.

The blade 11 can therefore be rotated in the plane with the blade 11 making a cut within a circle segment. Basically, the blade 11 during the entire rotation process material 8, 81, 82, 83 detect, which, for example, on the conveyor of FIG. 1 fed or from the in FIG. 3a shown extruder 90 is ejected. The extruder 90 is shown above the cutting device 1. Further extruders 90 can be arranged below and to the side of the cutting device 1. The cutting device 1 can be arranged at the level of the extruder 90 or between a plurality of extruders 90 and also in front of the extruder or extruder 90 and be directed against it.

The rotational speed of the drive shaft 18 may be selected such that cut pieces 810 are cut to a desired length. Since the blade 11 is always rotated in the same direction, only little energy must be supplied, are compensated by means of the friction losses, which are caused in particular by the cutting process.

If the blade 11 on both sides with cutting 111, 112 (see FIG. 5 ), so the blade 11 is rotated in the one and then for a second period of operation in the other direction, for example, so that both edges 111, 112 are worn evenly, or until the first and then the second cutting edge 111; 112 is worn out. Of course, cutting operations can also be performed in both directions, for which purpose the blade 11 is moved back and forth, for example in the manner of a windshield wiper.

The drive shaft 18 may be directly or indirectly coupled to a drive unit 12, such as an electric motor. In the embodiment of FIG. 3a the drive shaft 18 is provided with a gear 121, which is driven by a toothed belt 122, which is guided out of the housing 7 out to a drive unit.

In the embodiment shown, both the ultrasound generator 13 and the associated energy converter 14, which is connected to the coupling element 15, are connected to the drive shaft 18.

Electrical energy is supplied to the cutting device 1 via a multi-core cable 160 (see FIG FIG. 5 ), which is held by a holder 166 and connected to sliding contacts 161, which abut slip rings 162, which sit coaxially on the drive shaft 18. Control signals are output via the cable 160 to further sliding contacts 163, the abut another slip rings 164. The sliding contacts 161, 163 and the slip rings 162, 164 form an electrical coupling device 16, which is arranged within a housing part 73.

Electrical energy can also be supplied to the cutting device 1 in another way or even generated by it itself, by converting mechanical energy supplied by the drive unit 12 into electrical energy. For example, electrical energy can be supplied inductively via coils 1600. Alternatively, permanent magnets 1601 may be arranged inside the housing 7, the magnetic fields of which are detected by coils 1600 which are held by the drive shaft 18. Voltages induced in the coils 1600 are supplied to a power supply unit which can convert and / or rectify the supplied voltages. In this way, power for the operation of the ultrasonic generator 13 can be provided. Alternatively, electrical signals in the frequency range of the ultrasound can be supplied by galvanic or inductive coupling directly to the energy converter 14, which converts electrical vibrations into mechanical vibrations.

The ultrasonic generator 13 or the energy converter 14 may also be connected to semiconductor circuits, such as amplifiers, and / or a control unit 130. Therefore, the rotating blade 11 can be supplied with ultrasonic energy exactly like a stationary blade. Also with regard to the control, there are no restrictions. In preferred embodiments, control signals can be transmitted wirelessly via a radio interface 600 to the control unit 130. Status messages of the cutting device 1 can also be transmitted from the control unit 130 back to a central control unit 6.

FIG. 3a shows a particularly advantageous coupling to the blade 11. The coupling of ultrasonic energy to the blade 11, however, can also be done in other ways. The FIGS. 3a and 3b show that the coupling element 15 is held within the drive shaft 18, which in turn is mounted in a bearing device 180. In FIG. 3a It is shown that two storage devices 180 are provided, between which the ultrasonic generator 13 is held. The ultrasonic generator 13 is seated in the form of a ring on the drive shaft 18, for example. The gear 121 and the slip rings 162 and 164 are seated on the end piece of the drive shaft 18 protruding into the housing part 73. In principle, it is also possible to move the ultrasonic generator 13 into this area ,

FIG. 4 shows the cutting device 1 of FIG. 3a in a spatial representation from the front. It can be seen that the first end 151 of the coupling element 15 is guided into the drive shaft 18, which is optionally held only by a single bearing device 180. On the other hand, the slightly shorter second end 152 of the coupling element 15 is guided perpendicular to the front surface of the blade back 110 and connected thereto, preferably welded. The first and second end pieces 151, 152 are connected to each other by a U-shaped part 153 of the coupling element 15. The coupling element has a square cross-section in this embodiment. On the back of the cutting device 1, the electrical connection lines 160 are shown, which are held in a holder 166.

Instead of the cutting devices 1, in the in the FIGS. 1 and 2 Therefore, according to the invention cutting devices 1 are used, which are controlled by the local control unit 6. It can be seen that the overall height of the system thereby significantly reduced.

FIG. 4 also shows mounting elements 78, by means of which the housing part 73 is connected to the housing parts 71 and 72, which in turn are interconnected by mounting screws 79.

FIG. 5 shows the cutting device 1 of FIG. 3a in spatial representation from behind. In this illustration, the sliding contacts 161, 163, slip rings 162, 164 and the gear 121 are clearly visible, which can be driven by a toothed belt 122. Next is in FIG. 5 shown that the blade 11 has two opposing cutting edges 111, 112 and therefore can be rotated advantageously in both directions.

FIG. 6 shows the cutting device 1 of FIG. 3a in a preferred embodiment with direct coupling of the blade 11 to a drive unit 12 or an electric motor which is integrated in the housing 7. The motor shaft of the electric motor 12 is aligned coaxially with the drive shaft 18 and preferably forms a unit therewith. The drive shaft 18 preferably forms the rotor of an electric generator with coils 1600 coupled thereto. The housing 7 with permanent magnets 1601, however, forms the stator of the generator. Upon rotation of the rotor, the magnetic fields of the permanent magnets 1601 act on the coils 1600. The alternating magnetic fields occurring within the coils 1600 induce voltages and currents that are processed in a power supply unit 1650. For example, the induced AC voltages are rectified. The transformed energy can be in one Accumulator be stored so that the required for the operation of the ultrasonic generator supply voltage is always available. With commissioning of the drive unit 12, it is thus possible to operate the rotating cutting device 1 autonomously. As already mentioned, control signals 61 can also be transmitted by radio from a central control unit 6 to the cutting device 1 and back.

In FIG. 6 Furthermore, another embodiment of the blade 11 and the coupling element 15 is shown, which forms an arc of a quarter circle. The cutting edges 111, 112 of the blade 11 are aligned axially parallel to the drive axis x and describe a cylinder wall during the cutting cycle.

Claims (15)

Device (1) for cutting a process material, in particular a food (8), with at least one cutting tool in the form of a blade (11), which on the one hand with a drive device (12) and on the other hand via a coupling element (15) and an energy converter (14 ) is connected to an ultrasonic generator (13), characterized in that the coupling element (15) and the energy converter (14), optionally also the ultrasonic generator (13), are rotatably supported, so that the ultrasound energy acted upon blade (11) is rotatable , Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the blade (11) has on one side or on both sides a cutting edge (111; 112). Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the blade (11) of the coupling element (15) is held such that it is rotatable in a plane which is perpendicular to the drive axis (x) of a drive shaft (18). Device (1) according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the coupling element (15) is designed arcuate and preferably bent by 180 ° and preferably connected to the front side or back with the blade body (110) the blade back. Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the blade body (110) facing the end of the coupling element (15) is perpendicular to the blade body (110). Device (10) according to any one of claims 3-5, characterized in that the coupling element (15) in the drive shaft (18), optionally a hollow shaft, is integrated or forms part of it and / or that the drive shaft (18) in at least a bearing device (180) mounted and directly or indirectly via drive elements (121, 122), such as gears and timing belt, with a drive unit (12) is connected. Device (1) according to Claim 6, characterized in that the drive shaft (18) holds the energy converter (14) or the energy converter (14) and the ultrasound generator (13) and the coupling element (15) connected to the energy converter (14). Device (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the ultrasonic generator (13) or the energy converter (14) energy and / or control signals via an electrical coupling unit (16) can be fed. Device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the ultrasonic generator (13) or the energy converter (14) comprises a control unit (130), the commands for controlling the ultrasonic generator (13) or the energy converter (14) can be fed. Device (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the electrical coupling unit (16) comprises elements (161, 162, 163, 164) for galvanic coupling and / or elements (1600) for inductive coupling. Device (1) according to one of claims 1-10, characterized in that the cutting device 1 a Power generator comprises, by means of which a supply voltage is generated on the rotor side, for which purpose preferably permanently arranged permanent magnets (1601) are provided whose magnetic fields induce voltages in coils (1600) which are rotatable with the drive shaft (18). Device (1) according to any one of claims 1-11, characterized in that the drive shaft (18) and optionally the ultrasonic generator (13) within a preferably two-part housing (7) are arranged, from which the coupling element (15) protrudes. Device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the housing 7 is connected directly or indirectly, in such a way with a conveyor device (9) or an extruder (90), by means of which process material in the range of action of the at least one blade (11) can be conveyed , Device (1) according to any one of claims 1-13, characterized in that the blade (11) is rotatable in one or the other direction. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1-14, characterized in that the blade (11) is rotatable with selectable frequency continuously and / or in preferably selectable intervals.

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