EP2807003A2

EP2807003A2 - Bread slicing machine having an advancing device

Info

Publication number: EP2807003A2
Application number: EP13701993.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Reinald Weiss
Original assignee: R Weiss Verpackungstechnik GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: R Weiss Verpackungstechnik GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2012-01-24
Filing date: 2013-01-24
Publication date: 2014-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 2033-01-24
Also published as: DE102012100588A1; WO2013110687A3; US20140366696A1; US9895820B2; WO2013110687A2; EP2807003B1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for cutting bread (B) into slices (S), comprising at least one circular blade (14) which rotates in a cutting plane (13) and is guided between a feed section (3) feeding the bread (B) to be sliced to the blade (14) and a removal section (4) receiving the cut slices of bread (S), and further comprising at least one advancing device (21) advancing the bread (B) from the feed section (3) towards the knife (14). The above apparatus is characterized in that the advancing device (21) is designed such that, between two cutting instances, it advances the uncut bread (B) and then withdraws it such that the actually exposed front end of the uncut bread (B) is advanced across the cutting plane (13) by an advance path (v) greater than the predetermined slice thickness (d) and is then withdrawn counter to the direction of advance (P) of the bread.

Description

Slicer for bread with feed device

The invention relates to a device for cutting bread according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such machines are known. They are mostly used in bakeries to offer customers freshly cut bread. A known type of bread slicing machine works with a circular blade, which circulates circularly by means of an eccentric and in this case emerges from a cutting gap in each case cuts off a slice of the slowly continuously or clocked forward pushed bread and then dips back into the cutting gap. The sliced bread can be taken out of the machine and placed on a so-called tongue to put a bag over the disc package.

A disadvantage of these known bread slicing machines is that the uniform removal of the sliced bread slices away from the knife is not optimally guaranteed. A known solution proposes to provide an inclined plane in the discharge section, on which the cut slices slide away from the knife. However, such removal is not reliable to the extent desired.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bread slicer according to the preamble of claim 1, which has better Abtransporteigenschaften for sliced bread slices.

This object is achieved in a bread slicer of the type mentioned by the features of the two independent claims. The advantages of the invention according to its first aspect are to be seen in particular in the fact that the pushing device which pushes the bread to be cut to the knife and presses the last sliced bread slice through the currently exposed bread end face by the distance of the thickness of the next slice to be cut in the Abführabschnitt, is additionally designed to press the last sliced bread slice even further into the discharge section to prevent backflow on the knife. Depending on the need (bread length, type of bread, etc.), this additional pushing distance can be different lengths. Following this additional feed, the bread to be cut is drawn again in the direction of the feed section, until only one bread section of the thickness to be cut is in the discharge section and then the next cut can be carried out. The bread can be withdrawn by the feed according to the invention by an additional distance by more than this distance and then pushed back a little bit forward so that then a slice of the desired thickness d is cut off. This may benefit a more uniform thickness d of the slices cut in succession.

The pusher accordingly performs - controlled by an electronic control - an oscillating motion by first travels a feed path v in the feed direction, which is composed of the slice thickness d and the additional path x (the additional thrust path), and the subsequent, in the opposite Direction traveled distance of the size x or a slightly larger distance x + s with subsequent feed to the distance s. Thus, the net feed path corresponds to the disk thickness d, so that in this positioning of the bread a disk of thickness d can be cut off.

The invention thus makes it possible for the pushing device to push the uncut bread over the cutting plane between two cutting operations in such a way that it at least produces the last sliced slice of bread. preferably all previously sliced bread slices in bread advance direction pushes. In the context of this invention, the cutting plane of the knife is used as a reference for the pushing distances, since the circular blade does not form a precise reference because of its finite dimensions.

A further development of the invention is characterized in that the two cutting operations in which the pushing device only moves the cut surface of the bread back before and then again follow one another. This ensures a steady feed of the disc package after each cutting operation. Alternatively, the additional feed, i. in addition to the feed to the slice thickness d, triggered, but for example only after every second cut. Other variations, even within the cutting of a bread are possible. For example, it may be provided that during the cutting of the second half of the half, the additional pushing movement is carried out more frequently than during the cutting of the first half of the half, since more thrust has to be applied the more slices have already been cut off.

The additional thrust travel x is advantageously at least 2 mm, preferably at least 4 mm, preferably at least 6 mm. In other words, the total feed path v, measured from the cutting plane of the knife, is at least 2 mm plus the predetermined slice thickness d or preferably at least 4 mm plus the slice thickness d etc. Here, the desired additional stroke and the distance traveled by and return required time and possibly to take into account the inertia of the thruster. Larger unnecessary distances should be avoided.

The advantages according to the second aspect of the invention are, in particular, that with the help of the pusher a disc compaction can be carried out in the discharge section in order not to remove the bread from Hand in Abführabschnitt to push together or to prepare for lifting by means of a lifting table from the Abführabschnitt.

The pushing distance at the end of the entire cutting process beyond the cutting plane can be several centimeters depending on the bread length and design of the device. The pushing distance t can be automatically calculated in advance by determining the bread length in the device by means of appropriate measuring means (optical, stop sensors such as buttons, etc.) and calculating the distance t from the measurement results and following the cutting.

Particularly preferably, the thrust device according to the invention on fixing means to fix the bread at the knife distal end and advance the bread against the knife. The fixing means preferably comprise a downwardly and upwardly pivotable claw, which is inserted before the start of the cutting process at the knife-distal end of the bread and after the end of the

Cutting process is released from the last disc.

The fixing means are preferably arranged on a displaceable arm, which in turn is advantageously displaceable along a rail in and against the bread feed direction. This embodiment is easy to implement; a stepper motor with reversal of direction can be used without further ado.

According to a preferred development of the invention, an essentially vertically extending, rigid wall, preferably stationary with respect to the floor, protrudes on the edge of the bottom of the discharge section facing the knife. The upper edge of the wall runs along the bread slice width at the same height or below the bread support surface of the bottom of the Zuführabschnitts. The rising from the bottom of Abführabschnitts wall prevents the lower disc area of the last cut and now on the wall adjoining bread slice - ie before advancing of the loaf at the beginning of the next cut - is pushed back by the previously cut slices against the knife. The subsequent push through the loaf of bread then carries the disk pack away from the wall so that a clean cut and remove process is achieved. The subsequently cut disc then has enough space to be separated unmolested from the previously cut from the loaf of bread. The additional feed of the thrust device according to the invention supports this process and helps to avoid backflow between the disk pack and the wall.

Advantageously, the rigid wall is formed integrally with the bottom of the discharge section. It is preferred in this case if the rigid wall forms an upwardly bent portion of the bottom of the discharge section. The thickness of the wall is preferably less than that of a bread slice having a normal thickness of 8-12 mm. The wall thickness is advantageously less than 5 mm, preferably less than 3 mm, so that the cut disc does not fall on the top wall, but in the space between the previously cut disc and the wall. Furthermore, it has proved to be advantageous if the wall has a height of 5 mm to 20 mm, while the height difference between the surfaces of the two floors is between 5 mm and 25 mm. In this case, the height difference between the bottom of the feed section and the bottom of the discharge section is measured.

Advantageously, the device according to the invention has an end stop for the first-cut disc in the discharge section, which is mitverfahren so that this disc is always applied to the end stop. The end stop is moved in accordance with the Brottransporttakt, wherein the distance of the end stop per stroke is preferably slightly greater than the distance that travels the bread (net) per bar. This takes into account the greater extent of the disc package in the thrust direction compared to the uncut state. The invention also relates to a method for cutting and transporting bread in a bread-cutting device, this device having the aforementioned features. According to the method of the invention, after cutting one slice at a time, the bread is advanced by more than the slice thickness to further push the slice (s) already cut into the discharge section. Subsequently, the uncut bread is withdrawn again until it protrudes into the Abführabschnitt only one slice thickness. Then the knife can cut off the corresponding disc. According to the second aspect of the invention, the remaining bread to be cut is pushed far enough over the cutting plane until the bread slice package is pushed together between an end stop on the knife-distant side and the said remaining bread such that it is subsequently removed manually from the device or from a lifting table above can be driven.

According to an aspect of the invention to be regarded as independent, the claw is only pulled out of the last disc when the disc package is pressed together. In this case, the end of the bread rests against the adjacent slice of bread with such high friction that it is not carried along by the claw. This thus allows easy automatic release of the claw from the last slice of bread. Alternatively or additionally - and also representing a separate invention aspect - the bread is not just with a claw or similar. held, but also on its upper side circumferentially, preferably held transversely to the thrust direction of the bread.

Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized by the features of the subclaims.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to figures. Show it: Figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a cutting device according to the invention, schematically illustrated;

Figure 2 is a schematic end view of the embodiment

according to the figure 1 in the cutting operation;

Figure 3 is a schematic front view of a detail of the cutting device, showing the cutting of a slice of bread;

Figure 4 is a schematic front view as in Figure 3, showing the tray of sliced bread slice;

Figure 5 is a schematic front view as in Figures 3 and 4, showing the feed of all cut slices of bread, and

Figure 6 is a schematic front view as in Figures 3-5, the

Returning the bread showing.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a cutting device 1 according to the invention. 1 shows schematically a plan view of the device 1 with a housing 2, in which in particular a feed section 3 and a discharge section 4 are provided and which can be closed by a hood 17. The feed section 3 comprises a preferably made of stainless steel base 8 with a flat receiving surface on which the bread B to be cut is placed.

Furthermore, in the feed section 3, a claw 22, which can be pivoted up and down, is coupled with three tines on a push arm 23, which runs perpendicular to the push direction (see arrow P) of the bread B (see also further details in FIGS. 6). By manual or automatic lowering The claw 22 is pressed into the end of the loaf B facing it. The push arm 23 and with it the claw 22 are motor driven (motor not shown) along a in the direction of thrust (arrow P) extending, linear rail 24 movable to push the bread B in the direction of a circular blade 14. Before inserting a new bread, the push arm 23 is moved back to its original position (the two movements are indicated by the double arrow in Figure 1). In Figure 1, three different positions of the push arm 23 are shown: In solid lines, the initial position is shown, while a middle and the end position after completion of the cutting process are shown in dashed lines.

The claw 22, the push arm 23, the rail 24 and the feed motor (not shown) are parts of a pusher 21 for transporting the bread B from the feed section 3 to the knife 14. Further details of the pusher 21 are shown in more detail in Figs , The claw 22 rests in a cuboid claw housing 25 (omitted in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity) which has openings (not visible in the side view) on its side facing the bread B for each prong of the claw 22. The tines pass through these openings when the bread is gripped before the start of cutting (see double arrow in FIG. The claw 22 is further connected to a shaft 26 (also not shown in Figure 1), which is parallel to the push arm 23 and by means of a motor, not shown, the claw 22 is able to pivot, connected. The gripping end detected by the claw 22 is partially penetrating a lower recess of the claw housing 25 in the claw housing 25, whereby it is even better fixed. Also, the upper edge of the recess holds the so fixed fixed end of the bread when the claw 22 is pulled out of the bread end after completion of the cutting process.

The circular blade 14 moves in a vertical cutting plane 13 and, when circulating, moves out of a gap 16 which separates the feeding section 3 from the cutting edge 13. section 4 separates, out and in again. The cutting plane

13 is used herein as the reference location for the pushing distances of the claw 22 and the bread B to be described, since the circular blade 14 of course has finite dimensions, including a mostly non-linear cutting bevel, and thus does not represent an exact reference.

As can be seen from the schematic representation according to FIG. 2, in which many parts have not been shown for the sake of better clarity, the circular blade 14 is mounted eccentrically about a shaft 15 and is driven by a motor 19 controlled by a control 20. By way of example, FIG. 2 shows three different positions of the circular blade

14, two of them with dashed lines. In particular, it can be seen how the circular knife 14 is able to cut the bread B into slices. The exact eccentric mechanism is not shown; However, the skilled person is familiar with corresponding constructions. In the present case, they are not essential to the invention.

The discharge section 4 comprises in the illustrated embodiment a bottom 5, which is preferably made of stainless steel and as well as the floor

8 is inclined relative to a horizontal plane to the machine front side 1 a (see Figure 2, not shown in Figure 1). Toward the operator side or machine front side 1 a, a side support 9 for the bread slices S projects in the region of the front edge of the base 5. In the present case, the side support 9 is inclined with respect to a vertical plane towards the front side 1 a (see FIG. Support surface 5 and side support 9 are in this case substantially perpendicular to each other. Likewise, the feed section 3 has a corresponding side support 10, which runs in the same plane as the side support

9 (see Figures 1 and 2).

FIGS. 1-2 also show a pneumatic cylinder 18 with which the hood 17 can be opened and closed. The pneumatic cylinder 18 is presently connected to the controller 20 (details not shown), for example, to open the hood 17 when the cutting operation is completed. When the knife 14 is running, however, the hood 17 can not be opened.

Shown is also an end stop 28 for the first cut slice of bread, which is positioned at the beginning of the cutting process close to the knife 14 and by means of a direction P to the vertical, driven by a motor (not shown) arm 37 along a direction P extending rail 38 is moved together with the claw 22 in the same direction by the respective nearly the same or a slightly larger way and in the same direction. The first cut slice S falls against the end stop 28, which thus ensures the cohesion of the disc package. In the figure 1, the end stop 28 is shown at the end of the cutting process. The double arrow in the discharge section 3 signals that the end stop is moved close to the knife 14 before the first cutting.

According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the bottom 5 is bent towards the blade 14 upwards, so that a wall 6 is formed, which runs parallel to the circular blade 14 and - when slicing - from this a horizontal distance of at most a few millimeters (s Figures 3 and 4). The height of the wall 6 is presently about 5- 20 mm. The wall thickness is - when integrally with the bottom 5 - depending on the choice of the stainless steel sheet of the bottom 5 preferably about 2-3 mm. The upper edge 7 of the wall 6 is located either at the level of Brotauflagefläche the bottom 8 or below. In the latter case, a horizontal gap may be formed between the upper wall edge 7 and the underside of the bottom 8, which are laterally opposed to each other, i. in the horizontal direction, are arranged offset.

The rigid and firmly connected to the bottom 5 wall 6 prevents the last cut slice S is urged in the direction of the gap 16. This is not necessarily the case, but can, if occurring, interfere with the operation of the cutting device sensitive. The disc S is pressed in such a case against the wall 6 and can be supported laterally here. Thus, this slice S can not get in the direction of the loaf B nor in the cutting gap 16. It is thus guaranteed a safe and fast cutting sequence. The length of the wall seen in the cutting direction is expediently at least as large as the largest breadths that are to be cut with the device according to the invention. But this is not mandatory; even shorter lengths can serve the same purpose.

According to the invention, the pusher 21 is designed such that on the one hand the loaf B between two - not necessarily consecutive - advance and retract cutting processes (first aspect of the invention) and on the other hand after cutting the whole bread B, the cut slices S in the Abführabschnitt 4 can push together (second aspect of the invention).

Figures 3-6 show four different snapshots during a cutting cycle. In the figure 3 is shown how the circular blade 14 - controlled by the controller 20 - just a slice S from the loaf B cuts. The knife 14 emerges from the gap 16 and penetrates from the top into the bread loaf B. The disc S inclines slightly to the discharge section 4 and then falls in the gap of length z, which is formed by the previously cut slice S and the wall 6. There is the last cut disc S, by the cutting and the dropping possibly slightly inclined, on the floor 5 (Figure 4).

According to the invention, the pushing device 21 now pushes the loaf B a distance v in the direction of the discharge section 4 (see arrow V in FIG. The knife 14 is meanwhile submerged in the gap 16 again. The feed distance v is greater by the distance x than the predetermined slice thickness d (see FIG. Here are the already cut slices S also advanced in the direction of V, in an ideal system also around the distance x, which is usually several millimeters (for example, 8-12 mm). Since the disc package naturally has a greater length than in the uncut state, only the pushing distance v of the bread can be precisely defined. It is essential, however, that between the last sliced slice S and the uncut bread B, a gap arises which is sufficiently larger than the machine predetermined slice thickness d, which was entered by a user or set in the machine.

The large feed to the distance v is used to ensure a safe, unconditional ejection of the subsequent disc S, without any other means of transport (inclined plane in thrust direction, additional vibrators in the discharge area, other active devices for wheel transport, etc.) would be necessary - but can be present. The bottom 5 can extend horizontally, in particular in the direction of thrust V, as shown in FIGS. 3-6.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, it is also necessary for the wall 6 to be bridged by a disk S which has just been cut off so that it can fall into the intermediate space of the length z (see FIG. The additional feed path x is thus in the present case, suitably greater than the thickness of the wall 6 plus the distance of this wall 6 of the knife 14, which can be 3-4 mm in total. In this way it can be ensured that the slices S are transported away safely and quickly, including avoiding jamming of sliced bread slices last in the gap 16.

In order to be able to cut off the next slice S from the loaf B, the loaf B is withdrawn by the distance x with the aid of the pushing device 21 (see arrow R in FIG. 6), so that the bread B only has the slice thickness d over the cutting plane 13 protrudes. Now a slice S of such thickness d are cut off, as shown in Figure 3. This completes a cutting cycle.

On the other hand, the known cutting devices push the bread B only by the predetermined slice thickness d, in order then to cut off the next slice S. There are often appropriate tools necessary to create enough space for the next disc.

FIG. 1 shows the second aspect of the invention. FIG. 1 shows in its left half in dashed lines the complete disk package. The inventively designed cutting device 21 pushes the last, still held by the claw 22 last disc on the cutting plane 13 against the other slices S until the disc pack is compacted between the end stop 28 and the last einkrten disc, so no significant gaps between the individual discs S are present. The push distance t, which is covered by the arm 23 and the claw 22 (also shown in dashed lines), can be several centimeters, but also smaller. The pushing distance t may have been automatically calculated in advance, in particular by automatically measuring the length of the bread to be cut in the device by means of corresponding sensors and calculating the pushing distance t on the basis of the measuring results.

Not only the pusher 21 but also the end stop 28 can be moved as the disks S are pushed together, both in the opposite direction of the movement of the claw 22 or in the same direction as the claw 22. In the latter case, the claw must of course to go a long way. It is essential that, at the end of the pushing process, the disks S are pushed together compactly and then - after preferably automatic, controlled opening of the hood 17 - conveniently as a whole, ie without even the disks having to push together from the discharge section 4 are removable. Alternatively, a lifting table is provided, which lifts the disk package out of the discharge section 4, so that the operator does not have to bend into the discharge section 4. The compaction described above also serves in this case for positioning the disk package so that no disks of a loose disk package fall from the lifting table back into the discharge section.

Also, in the compacted state of the disk package, the claw 22 can be pulled out of the last disk S, without this disk is entrained, since this remains due to the friction in the disk package. This mechanism also works in the event that no pivotable claw is used, but, for example, a horizontally movable claw or fork. In addition, the recess in the claw housing 25 prevents the bread end being taken by the claw 22 when it is pulled out.

The above-described processes, both for the oscillating pushing - feed by distance v, retraction by distance x (or retraction by a distance x + s and then again feed by the distance s) - as well as the feed at the end of the entire cutting process are preferably adopted by the controller 20. Other control concepts, in particular those with decentralized controls, are readily possible.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. Modifications within the scope of the claims are possible at any time. So it is z. B. not absolutely necessary to realize the additional thrust to the feed path x after each cut. By way of example, only after every second or third cut can the pusher 21 effect the additional feed x. Further modifications of the additional feeds with regard to the times of thrust and stroke lengths in relation to the cutting times, the stroke length are easily in the frame this invention. Thus, for example, it is possible that the pusher 21 realizes a non-constant additional feed x, ie the feed path v varies, for example as a function of the remaining amount of bread to be cut. For example, the path x may become larger as the remaining length of the bread decreases. Also, according to the invention designed push means 21 additional transport means for the bread and / or slices in the invention possible, both passive and active means of transport in question (the inclined plane shown in Figure 2 is a passive means of transport).

LIST OF REFERENCES

cutter

a front of the device

b Back of the device

casing

feeding

discharge section

Bottom of the discharge section

wall

Top edge of the wall

Bottom of the feed section

side support

0 side support

3 cutting plane

4 circular knives

5 wave

6 gap

7 hood

8 lifting cylinders

9 engine

0 control

1 push device

2 movable claw

3 arm

4 rail

25 claw case

26 wave

28 end stop

37 arm

38 rail

B bread

S bread slices

Claims

Patent claims

1 . Device for slicing bread (B) into slices of bread (S), comprising at least one circular blade (14) revolving in a cutting plane (13), between a feed section (3) for feeding the bread (B) to be cut to the knife (14) and a discharge section (4) for receiving sliced slices (S), and at least one pushing device (21) for pushing the bread (B) from the feeding section (3) to the knife (14), characterized in that the pushing device ( 21) is designed such that it advances the uncut bread (B) between two cutting operations first and then retracts that the currently exposed bread end face of the uncut bread (B) by a feed path (v), which is greater than the predetermined slice thickness ( d) is advanced over the cutting plane (13) and then withdrawn again against the bread feed direction (P).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Pusher (21) is designed such that between two cutting operations, the uncut bread (B) over the cutting plane (13) pushes that this at least the last sliced bread slice (S), preferably all previously sliced bread slices (S) in the bread advancing direction ( P) pushes.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two cutting operations, between which the pusher (21) the bread (B) only before and then moved back, follow one another.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pushing device (21), the feed and withdrawal movement between two non-consecutive

Can perform cutting operations.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feed path (v), measured from the cutting plane (13) of the blade (14), at least 2 mm, preferably at least 4 mm, preferably at least 6 mm, in each case in addition to the predetermined Slice thickness (d), is.

6. Apparatus for slicing bread (B) into slices of bread (S), in particular according to one of the preceding claims, with at least one circular knife (14) revolving in a cutting plane (13) between a feed section (3) for feeding the sliced bread Bread (B) to the knife (14) and an Abführabschnitt (4) for receiving the sliced bread slices (S) is guided, and at least one pushing means (21) for pushing the bread (B) from the feed section (3) to the knife (14 ), characterized in that the pushing device (21) is designed such that it is able to drive the last slice of bread (S) of the cut bread (B) about a pushing distance (t) over the cutting plane (13) and with this slice of bread (S ) presses the previously cut discs (S) against a blade-distal end stop (28) to obtain a compact disc package in the discharge portion (4).

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the pushing distance (t) is adjustable or controllable such that it is several centimeters.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pushing device (21) fixing means (22), preferably in the form of a downwardly and upwardly pivotable claw (22), which are fixable before the beginning of the cutting operation at the knife distal end of the bread (B) and after the end of the cutting process of the last disc (S) are detachably formed.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing means (22) on a displaceable arm (23) are arranged, which is preferably displaceable along a rail (24) in and against the bread feed direction (P).

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the bottom (5) of the Abführabschnitts (4) to the knife (14) towards a substantially vertically extending rigid wall (6) connects, the upper edge (7) along the Bread cut width at the same level or below the Brotauflagefläche the bottom (8) of the feed section (3).

1 1. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the wall (6) is formed integrally with the bottom (5) of the Abführabschnitts (4), preferably as an upwardly cranked portion of the bottom (5) of the Abführabschnitts (4).

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an end stop (28) for the first cut disc (S) in Abführabschnitt (4) is provided with each advancing means of the thrust device (21) by a distance which in the Mm range, more is displaced than the slice thickness (d).

13. A method for cutting and transporting bread (B) in a bread slicing apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims.