EP2899001B1 - Forming of entire portions - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for forming total portions, which comprise at least product slices which are separated from a plurality of food products, in particular food products of different types, wherein the total portions each comprise a plurality of individual portions, each of which is formed from at least one product slice ,

The production of so-called multi-variety food packaging by means of one or more Hochleistungsslicer is basically known. The demands placed on the manufacturers of such packages, in particular with regard to the variety of variants and the cost pressure, are becoming increasingly greater. It is not only important to provide the facilities required for a large number of different products, in particular the slicing and conveying technology. Great importance is also attached to the simplest and quickest possible set-up of an existing networked machine system, especially if the production has to be converted to a different multi-sort package. This not only costs time for complex systems but also requires a lot of knowledge and experience on the part of the operators. In other words, it is not only the plant itself, but also its operation, which leads to a significant increase in costs, if the manufacturer wants to be able to produce a large variety of different multi-variety packages batchwise.

Out EP 1 762 346 A1 It is known to "create" in a simple manner by means of a touchscreen multiple slices comprehensive portions, which by means of a single slicers are automatically generated based on the portion design created on the touch screen. This solution only makes it possible to vary a portion produced from a single product type with regard to the arrangement of the individual product slices with one another.
From the EP-A-2 614 939 a device is known for forming total portions, which comprise at least product slices which are separated from a plurality of food products, in particular food products of different types, wherein the total portions each comprise a plurality of individual portions, each of which is formed from at least one product slice, with a machine device a plurality of cutting units, in particular high-performance slicers each having at least one product feed, with which at least one product to be sliced is fed to a cutting plane in which at least one cutting blade, in particular rotating and / or rotating, moves, and a depositing device, the at least one movable between the cutting devices storage area on which a total portion is formed by means of slicing separated product slices, a Systemst euerung that communicates with the machine units associated with individual controls, and wherein the system controller is configured to specify from a provided configuration data set a machine data set and to control the machine device based on the predetermined machine data set so that the total amount of the predetermined total portion are formed by on the storage area the storage device successively individual portions formed by different cutting devices, in particular overlapping, are stored.

The object of the invention is to enable the generation of total portions of the aforementioned type with a large variety of variants in a simple and cost-effective manner.

The solution of this object is achieved by the features of the device claim 1 and by the features of the method claim 10. The device according to the invention is designed in particular for carrying out the method according to the invention. The inventive method is carried out in particular with a device according to the invention.

The device according to the invention comprises a machine device with a plurality of machine units, to each of which an individual control is assigned, a configuration device with a display device and one with the display device communicating evaluation device, as well as a system controller that communicates with the individual controls of the machine units as well as the configuration device.

The machine units comprise a plurality of slicing devices and a depositing device which comprises at least one storage area which can be moved between the slicing devices, on which a total portion of product slices separated by means of the slicing devices is formed. The slicing devices are in each case in particular high-performance slicers, each of which has a product feed, with which at least one product to be sliced is fed to a cutting plane in which a cutting blade, in particular rotating and / or rotating, moves.

According to the invention, a total portion of a plurality of different individual portions can be created in each case by means of the display device. The evaluation device is designed to provide a configuration data set determined by a predetermined, in particular a created, total portion. The system controller is designed to predefine a machine data record from a provided configuration data set and to control the machine device in such a way that overall portions are formed which correspond to the predetermined, especially the created, total portion by successively selecting from different storage locations on the storage area of the storage device Cutting devices formed individual portions, in particular overlapping, are stored.

The invention makes it possible for a user, initially by means of the display device, to create a respective desired total portion, which comprises a plurality of individual portions, graphically in accordance with the respective requirements. The device can then - especially fully automatically - ensure that the individual machine devices are controlled so that it produces the previously created total portion.

Consequently, the invention not only allows the control of a single slicer on the basis of a previously created portion, as in the aforementioned EP 1 762 346 A1 is described. Rather, with the invention, a complete system of networked machines can be controlled on the basis of a total product, not only a plurality of slicing devices are required for its production, but these cutters must also be approached in a defined manner by means of the storage area for the entire product. Thus, the invention goes far beyond a mere multiplication of EP 1 762 346 A1 known principle addition.

Moreover, the invention is not limited to the production of total portions comprising only a plurality of individual portions of one or more separated product slices, i. the total portions do not need to consist exclusively of separated product slices. In other words, the total portion to be formed may also include those products which are not separate product slices or portions of such slices. Such products are also referred to below as Beigabeprodukte. These add-on products may be foodstuffs such as grated cheese or spices, e.g. are packed in bags that can be placed on the storage area by means of suitable transport, dosing or handling or robot technology. Other possible add-on products are e.g. pasty substances, such as mustard, ketchup, remoulade, sauces or marinades, which form the product slices or the individual portions formed by the product slices - e.g. again packaged in portions - are added and thus can also form part of a total portion in the context of the invention. The add-on products can in principle also be added loosely or openly, for example by be filled by means of a suitable dispensing or dosing into corresponding wells of a product tray or placed directly on one or more of the individual slices consisting of slices.

If in the following a "total portion" is mentioned, then this is also an "entire product" referred to in the following total product to understand that in addition to each consisting of one or more product slices single portions may include one or more Beigabeprodukte, where but it is not mandatory for a total portion to include such an add-on product.

Consequently, the machine device according to the invention can also comprise those machine units which are not one of the slicing devices or the depositing device. According to a possible embodiment of the device can accordingly be provided that the machine device additionally comprises at least one output device, which is also controlled by the system control on the basis of the predetermined machine data set and with the storage area at least one Beigabeprodukt can be added.

In this case, the user can then use the display device to create the entire portion not only from the individual portions, but also from one or more Beigabeprodukten, the evaluation specifies a also these Beigabeprodukte taken into account configuration record and the system control from this configuration data set specifies a machine data set, which also Output devices are controlled in such a way that the total portion, which also includes the add-on products, is produced by depositing the add-on products in addition to the individual portions corresponding to the previously prepared total portion.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the machine data set for the machine units comprises in each case configuration data, setting data and / or operating data dependent on the total created portion, which specify a configuration, setting or operating mode of the relevant machine unit required for the formation of the total portion. The machine data set thus ensures that the machine units required for a respective total portion are in particular automatically configured, adjusted and / or operated such that the machine device produces the respective desired complete product.

In one possible embodiment, it is provided that product slices, individual portions and a total portion can be represented realistically or symbolically on the display device and the display device has a configuration function by means of which a user can graphically create the total portion on the display device from a plurality of product slices, in particular by creating the individual portions from the product slices and by creating the total portion from the individual portions.

In this case, the display device or the configuration function can grant the user a fundamentally arbitrary design scope. For example, a specific number of individual portions comprising one or more slices may be predetermined so that the user only has the possibility of forming a total portion with these predetermined individual portions. Alternatively, the user can also be given the opportunity to create his own specific or arbitrary individual portions and use them to create basically any total portions on the basis of which then the control of the machine device takes place. Alternatively or additionally, a design latitude granted to the user may be limited by the respectively existing machine device and / or by an instantaneous configuration and / or adjustment of the machine device. In simple terms, the invention makes it possible for the machine device to offer the user from the outset only what is possible with the machine device. This offering may thus include issuing hints or recommendations directed to the user as to how to change the machine equipment by certain modification and / or adjustment measures in order to produce certain desired total portions. The corresponding information can in particular be automatically generated and displayed by means of the display device. An operator can thus directly see and either release the change effort or the effort required for the rebuilding and / or setting, or the operator can select a different total portion or create and then request a reprint or output for this new compilation.

The creation of individual portions from one or more product slices and the compilation of total portions from one or more individual portions and optionally one or more adding products can in principle be carried out as described in US Pat EP 1 762 346 A1 is explained in connection with the formation of portions of several product slices. In particular, for this purpose, the display device may include a touch screen on which the user can move realistic or symbolically represented discs or individual portions with the finger or an input device. With regard to this possible functionality of the device according to the invention is hereby expressly based on the content of EP 1 762 346 A1 directed.

Furthermore, it can be provided according to the invention that the evaluation device is designed to predetermine, in particular to calculate, the configuration data record from the positions of the product slices forming the created total portion and / or individual portions on the display device. This ultimately achieves that the evaluation device, the system control and the individual machine units of the machine device jointly implement what the user sees on the display device.

It can be provided according to the invention that a configuration range for the total portion can also be displayed on the display device, in particular in the form of a storage area associated with the total portion to be formed, preferably a product tray, which is e.g. is designed as a shell, tray or so-called tray.

In the storage area on which the total portion is formed by means of the machine units, it can be in particular separate carriers or recordings act in which the total portions each remain and need only be sealed or packaged. Unless stored directly in a product tray, the configuration area corresponds in particular to a reserved storage area on a conveyor, for example a conveyor belt, from which the entire portion is transferred to a packaging machine, for example, after completion of the storage operation. Thus, the storage area can only be a defined section on a conveyor of the storage device, for example a section on an endless conveyor belt or on a movable carrier, from which the total portion still has to be removed.

So that the user can coordinate the total portion to be created on the respectively desired or available storage area, for example on a product shell specified by the customer, in terms of shape and size, it is possible according to an embodiment of the invention, at least the relevant for the total portion outlines of a represent such product shell on the display device. Within these limits, the user can order the individual portions and, where appropriate, the added products on the basis of predetermined criteria or individually in terms of an appealing product presentation.

Furthermore, it can be provided according to the invention that a configuration area can also be displayed on the display device for each individual portion, in particular in each case in the form of a storage area assigned to the individual portion to be formed.

Correspondingly, according to the invention, a configuration area can also be displayed on the display device for optionally provided addition products.

The formatting areas for individual portions and addition products may overlap and / or partially interlock. Thus, the filing sequence or the overlap in the sense of an arrangement for "foreground" and "background" can be determined.

The presentation of one or more configuration regions for the total portion or the individual portions and / or addition products not only enables the user to adapt the creation of the total portion of the form and size of the available storage area. In addition, it can be provided that the evaluation device is designed to take into account the position of the created total portion relative to the configuration area when specifying the configuration data record. Since the machine units are controlled on the basis of the machine data set and the machine data set is specified by the configuration data set, the representation of one or more configuration ranges when creating the total portion can also ensure that the individual portions and optionally the add-on products are not only correctly positioned relative to each other, but also be stored in each case at the correct position on the shelf. In other words, the configuration areas not only help the user to design the overall portion, but the configuration areas also ensure positionally accurate storage of the total portion, for example on a product trays successively approaching the individual slicing devices and possibly one or more output devices.

In particular, it can be provided that the configuration areas define those limits within which the relevant machine units are technically capable of positioning the respective individual portions or added products on the storage area. In other words, a configuration range may, for example, represent the range and / or the range of action of an inserter or robot as it is attached to the relevant machine unit is given as intended relative to this machine unit positioned storage area.

A particular advantage of the invention is generally that the "machine side" on the one hand and the "design side" on the other hand can be related to each other so that a reliable, efficient and safe operation of the machine device ensures and the time required, the error rate of portion design and the Machine setup effort to implement the design can be minimized.

In this case, according to the invention, the system controller can be designed to provide a status data set representing the respective machine state. The configuration device or the system controller may be configured to relate the total portions that can be created by means of the display device and the total portions which can be formed by means of the machine device on the basis of this status data set.

One possible application is, for example, to allow the user to create only those total portions for which the machine device is currently being designed. In one possible variant, this means the provision of a variation range only on the basis of automatically possible adjustments or settings without manual intervention by a user in the sense of mechanical conversions. In another variant, for example, in the sense of a next stage, a range of variation based on the normal machine utilization can be made possible. This can include, for example, a change from a single-track slicing to a multi-sliced slicing at one or more slicers.

Another application is, for example, to allow the user to create any total portions, but to give him appropriate advice or recommendations for rebuilding or changing the settings of the machine device, if the current state of the machine device, the generation of a specific, the user just at the Display device does not allow at least without further measures.

It may further be provided according to the invention that the configuring device is designed to adapt the total portions and / or individual portions to the machine state, in particular to the respective configurations and / or settings of the machine units, by means of the status data set.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the configuration device is designed to display on the display device the individual individual portions and / or total portions that are possible on the basis of the respective machine state by means of the status data set. It is also possible that from a memory suitable existing configurations are presented as a selection, which can then be processed and stored faster.

Furthermore, it is possible according to the invention for the display device to be used to convey information about the machine device to the user, e.g. in the form of up-to-date data, potentially possible data, or one or more specific total portions of required configuration and / or settings data.

In this context, it is possible that the configuration device is designed to use the state data record information that the respective machine state, in particular the respective configurations and / or settings the machine units, relate to represent on the display device. This can in particular be done separately according to the individual machine units. The information can be retrieved in particular articulated.

The possibility of communication between the machine side on the one hand and the portion design page on the other hand also allows the user to be informed about how the machine device may need to be changed in order to produce one or more - explicitly or potentially desired - total portions. This is particularly advantageous if, according to one embodiment of the invention, this information always also includes the current operating and setup state of the machine side.

According to the invention, it may further be provided that the configuration device or the system controller is designed to determine a desired status data record from a configuration data record, to compare the desired status data record with the status data record and to determine changes in the machine status that are required to obtain the data Make configuration data set corresponding total portion.

For this purpose, the configuration device can be designed to display and / or output the required changes on the display device. This can in turn be done separately according to the individual machine units.

According to the invention, a particularly convenient embodiment may be that the configuration device is designed to display and / or output the required changes on the display device in the form of conversion and / or setting instructions for making configuration and / or setting changes to the individual machine units. Hereby receives the user thus no or not only an error message when a total portion not currently be generated is desired or created, but the user receives specific information about how the current machine equipment must be rebuilt or adjusted so that the desired total portion can be produced.

According to an advantageous development, distinction is made in the presentation and / or output between automatically taking place settings on the one hand and manual settings or conversions on the other.

If one or more machine units are able to do so, according to a further embodiment it can be provided that the system controller is designed to control the individual controls of the machine units in such a way that at least one of the required changes is automatically performed on at least one of the machine units.

In particular, with regard to required changes, an assignment and / or identification of the measures to be taken and corresponding representations and / or outputs with regard to the individual machine units can take place. For this, e.g. Messages are grouped or displayed in a list or output or provided with identifiers.

In the method according to the invention, it can be provided that the machine device additionally comprises at least one output device, which is likewise controlled by the system control on the basis of the predefined machine data set in order to add at least one add-on product to the storage area.

The display device may have a configuration function, by means of which a user on the display device of a plurality of product slices the total portion can graphically create, in particular by creating the individual portions of the product slices and the total portion of the individual portions, wherein on the display device product slices, individual portions and a total portion realistic or symbolically represented.

The configuration data set is preferably predefined, in particular calculated, from the positions of the product slices and / or individual portions forming the created total portion on the display device.

Furthermore, it is provided in particular that a configuration range for the total portion and / or for each individual portion is also displayed on the display device, in particular in the form of one of the total portion to be formed and the shelf area to be formed.

As already mentioned elsewhere, the formatting regions which are provided for individual portions and, where appropriate, for addition products may at least partially overlap and / or at least partially intermesh. Thus, it can be determined by the user in principle for each part of the total portion, whether this part is more in the foreground or in the background or forms the foreground or the background of the total portion, whereby the filing order is determined.

It can be provided that the position of the created total portion relative to the configuration range is taken into account when specifying the configuration data record.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a state data set representing the respective machine state can be provided, wherein, based in particular on the basis of the state data set, the total portions which can be created by means of the display device and the total portions which are generated by means of the display device the machine device can be formed, are related to each other.

It is preferably provided that by means of the state data set the total portions and / or individual portions which can be created by means of the display device are adapted to the machine state, in particular to the respective configurations and / or settings of the machine units.

It can be provided that by means of the state data set the individual portions and / or total portions which are possible on the basis of the respective machine state are displayed on the display device.

Furthermore, it can be provided according to the invention that information relating to the respective machine state, in particular the respective configurations and / or settings of the machine units, is displayed on the display device, in particular separately for the individual machine units, by means of the state data set.

Furthermore, according to one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a setpoint status data set is determined from a configuration data set, the setpoint status data set is compared with the state data set and changes in the machine state are determined which are necessary in order to be able to form a total portion corresponding to the configuration data set ,

Preferably, the required changes are displayed on the display device and / or output, in particular separated according to the individual machine units.

The required changes can be made on the display device in the form of conversion and / or setting instructions for making configuration and / or Settings changes are displayed on the individual machine units. In this context, it may be provided that the operator is enabled to release the changes, in particular to the display device, whereby the respective setting takes place automatically only after such a release.

Furthermore, it can be provided according to the invention that the individual controls of the machine units are controlled such that at least one of the required changes to at least one of the machine units is automatically performed.

With regard to further possible embodiments and advantages of the method according to the invention and its developments mentioned above, reference is also made to the above statements on the device according to the invention and to its possible embodiments.

Further developments of the device according to the invention and the method according to the invention will become apparent from the following statements, the dependent claims and the drawings.

The manner of setting up the machine units, in particular the slicing apparatuses and possibly the dispensing devices for add-on products, is fundamentally arbitrary. The slicing devices may, for example, be next to one another or one behind the other or arranged along a closed or open line, for example on a pitch circle, L-shaped or T-shaped. In particular, a single central system control is provided for all machine units.

A special feature of the invention is that not only individual portions can be created in advance by means of the display device, ie with the display device not just working in a single level. Rather, the invention allows a kind of three-dimensional product design, as it can be specified for each individual portion, whether it should be above or below one or more other individual portions or between two other individual portions, if - especially in multi-variety packaging for reasons of an attractive product presentation in practice is often desired - the individual portion forming the total portion should overlap each other.

Since according to the invention a plurality of slicing devices are used, the storage shapes of the individual portions can be different. For example, a slicing apparatus may be provided with a turntable on which e.g. a circular tray shape can be realized. Furthermore, different types of storage such as shingling, stacking or "shaved meat" can be individually assigned to the individual portions in this way.

A particularly preferred, although not mandatory, embodiment of the invention consists, as already mentioned, in working with food products of different types. For example, each slicer may be operated with a single track in which a particular product is cut, the products of the individual slicers being different. Alternatively, it is possible to provide at least one multi-track slicing device and to cut products of different types in their tracks.

However, the invention is also particularly advantageous when only products of the same variety are cut open. It can then provide each slicer for a special filing image of the individual portion in question, so that the overall result is a total portion, as they despite using only one single product variety with a single slicing device is not possible.

Furthermore, it can be provided according to the invention that the total portion comprises a single type of product. The formation of such total portions can be done by multi-lane slicing by means of only a single slicer in an efficient manner.

Thus, another advantage of the invention is that individual components of the machine device can be passive as needed. If a particular type of product or storage form for which a particular slicing device is provided is not required in a respective desired total portion, this can be recognized, for example, by the evaluation device and taken into account in the provision of the configuration data record, so that the system controller generates the relevant machine unit during production leaves the total portion outside.

Another advantage of the invention is that a particularly rapid production of total portions is possible if, for example, all slicing devices are equipped with the same type of product and comparatively simple storage forms are desired, which can be realized if the slicing arranged parallel to each other or in series one behind the other and all individual portions generated by the slicing devices have the same shape. This can be the case, for example, if a total portion is desired whose individual portions look the same and in which only the relative arrangement of the individual portions with each other arrives.

A special feature of the invention is that upon completion of a portion design carried out on the display device on the basis of information On the machine device on the display device a recommendation or advice for their device can be given, due to which the user can take appropriate conversion and / or adjustment measures or trigger automatically feasible measures. In particular, it is possible for the user to be shown during product design or subsequently only such possible total portions or variants of the created total portion for further processing or for a selection with respect to the or the respective products, in terms of each to be populated Product trays, in particular trays, are meaningful or even feasible with regard to the technical possibilities of the individual machine units and / or with regard to the possibilities for controlling the machine device.

Such guidance or guidance of the user can be dynamically or adaptively designed insofar as, after each choice made by the user, the further possibilities are adapted according to the particular circumstances, in particular of the machine device, or reduced to meaningful possibilities. Furthermore, it can be provided that previous stored settings are in particular automatically recorded, which can be used or changed by the user either directly or without modification.

Recommendations or instructions to the user, which are presented in particular on the display device, may include the assignment and / or the manner of loading the slicing devices with one or more products to be sliced. In other words, the configuration device or the system control, for example, can inform the user which slicing device has to be loaded with which product in which way, so that overall the machine device is able to optimally generate the respectively desired total portion.

Furthermore, an automatic allocation of storage areas of the storage device, in particular an automatic tray allocation is possible according to the invention. Thus, by means of the display device, the user can be informed as to which trays are in which tray store or with which type of tray one or more tray stores must be equipped in order to be able to produce a respectively desired total portion.

It is also possible according to the invention to incorporate into the system control and / or into the product design information originating from sensors installed in the area of the machine device, such as a particular optical device for detecting trays or other product trays. Such a sensor system can influence the conversion or setting recommendations to the user via the system control or the configuration device or display the existing conversion and / or adjustment options to the user.

In principle, according to the invention, the machine device can comprise any desired complex transport and conveying technology for products, individual portions and other objects such as in particular product trays, eg trays, for the total portions, wherein these technical devices are also controlled on the basis of the total portion created by the user on the display device can. These technical devices can be connected to the individual stations, in particular the slicing devices, both upstream and downstream. These may be, for example, devices for rotating individual portions or total portions or product carriers or product trays. Furthermore, the technical devices may comprise points with which certain stations, in particular slicing devices, can be bypassed or the storage areas and / or individual portions can be assigned to the individual stations or slicing devices.

Generally speaking, the invention thus enables an intelligent, application-related and potentially dynamic or adaptive interaction between - on the one hand - a fundamentally arbitrarily complex "hardware" with which diverse total portions can be produced, and - on the other hand - a comfortable, designed for visual and intuitive use, portion designer, on which a user only needs to create the desired end result - namely a desired total portion. The system controller then adjusts the individual machine units in an optimally coordinated manner so that the desired total portions are produced at high throughput. In other words, the invention saves the user the time-consuming and tedious task of programming or setting up the entire networked machine system in all details in such a way that the respectively desired total portion is actually produced. Portion design itself can also be made easier for the user by intelligently using information about the entire machine system, as has already been explained in general and with specific examples.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, a total weight for the total portion can be specified as the target weight, which is taken into account by the system control in the control of the machine device, so that the machine device as accurately as possible adheres to the target weight in the formation of the total portion. It is also possible to specify a single serving weight for at least one or each individual portion as the target weight. Alternatively or additionally, the number of slices may be predetermined for at least one or each individual portion.

The storage device can be used to transport the gradually formed total portion from station to station, ie from machine unit to machine unit, wherein it is also possible, the storage device for transport from a machine unit to use on another transport device, for example in the form of a collection tape. In this case, for each machine unit, in particular each slicing device, the components required for the provision of a single portion or a Beigabeproduktes such as Portionierband, control belt, balance and / or buffer belt can be provided.

Alternatively or additionally, the storage device may serve to design the total portion or portions by e.g. a certain storage form of the portion is realized by appropriate control of the storage device.

Furthermore, the depositing may include turning and / or turning individual product slices and / or entire individual portions.

The individual slicing devices are preferably each specialized in slicing only a single type of product or a small number of different product types, in particular for reasons of cutting quality and hygiene.

The slicing devices can each be designed in single track or multi-track and / or operated.

In general, it is imperative neither in the device according to the invention nor in the method according to the invention that the configuration data set provided by the evaluation device is determined by a total portion created on the display device. The configuration data record can also be specified in another way, for example by the user entering a code that represents an already finished overall portion.

Fig. 1

schematisch ein Beispiel für eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zum Bilden von Gesamtportionen, mit der ein erfindungsgemäßes Verfahren zum Bilden von Gesamtportionen ausgeführt werden kann, und

Fig. 2

schematisch eine Möglichkeit für eine Darstellung, wie sie erfindungsgemäß auf einer Anzeigeeinrichtung gemäß der Erfindung möglich ist.

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

Fig. 1

schematically an example of a device according to the invention for forming total portions, with which a method according to the invention for the formation of total portions can be carried out, and

Fig. 2

schematically a possibility for a representation as it is possible according to the invention on a display device according to the invention.

According to Fig. 1 includes a device according to the invention, with the total portions 11 (see also Fig. 2 Furthermore, the device comprises a configuration device 23 and a central system control 29, which communicates with, among other things, an evaluation device 27 of the configuration device 23 and individual controllers 15a associated with the machine units 15 are.

In the illustrated embodiment, the machine device 13 comprises five slicing devices 17 in the form of Hochleistungsslicern, two output devices 18 and a storage device 19 in the form of a conveyor line, which is designed for example as endless conveyor belt or as a transport device for each storage area 21 having product trays 22, for example in the form of so-called trays , With a "(+)" those machine units 15 are provided, which are active in an exemplary application for the production of a total product 11. With a "(-)" provided machine units 15 - here two of the slicers 17 - are passive, since they are not needed for this application.

Within an application, a machine unit 15 may change its state e.g. Switch between "active" and "passive" several times, for example, to be equipped with a new product. The task of the passive machine unit 15 can then be taken over by another machine unit 15.

The slicing devices 17 are generally known slicers, each having a product feed, with the food products to be sliced one or more tracks are fed to a cutting plane in which a cutting blade, such as a circular blade or sickle blade, rotating and / or rotating moves.

Each slicer can produce individual portions 12, each comprising one or more product slices 12a (in the example illustrated - see also FIG Fig. 2 - salami, ham and bacon).

To form the individual portions 12, each slicer comprises a portioning unit, not shown, which is designed in accordance with a respectively desired storage shape. From the portioning reach the individual portions 12 via conveying means, not shown, to the depositing device 19. The delivery of the individual portions 12 on the product trays 22 can be done in basically any manner. Devices for dispensing or transferring product slices 12a or multiple slices 12 comprising portions are known in principle. For example, robots can be used. Alternatively or additionally, basically known insert technology can be used. Basically, it is also possible that the slicers 17 are arranged with respect to the storage device 19 such that the separated product slices 12a fall directly on the respective product tray 22.

The slicers 17 arranged here next to one another along the depositing device 19 or their dispensing or transfer points are approached successively by the individual product trays 22. In this case, the product trays 22 can either be moved only in one direction F or - depending on the application - also be moved in the opposite direction in order to remove the slicers 17 or their dispensing or transfer points in a respectively predetermined order.

In this way, with the machine device 13 on each product tray 22, a total portion 11 can be formed from a plurality of individual portions 12, which are each produced and provided by one of the slicers 17.

In addition to the individual portions 12 comprising individual product slices 12a separated here in each case, the total portion 11 may contain one or more addition products 14 (cf. Fig. 2 ), which are also deposited on the product tray 22 or applied to the product tray 22. For this purpose, the output devices 18 are provided. As already mentioned in the introductory part, the add-on products 14 may be bagged foods, such as cheese grated or spices, and pasty products such as mustard, ketchup or remoulade. However, it is also possible to add non-food products, such as, for example, packaged wet wipes for cleaning hands, cutlery, toothpicks or utensils of any kind, which are to be added, for example, as part of marketing campaigns.

The individual portions 12 and the optionally provided add-on products 14 together form a total product or overall product present on the product tray 22, which will also be referred to below simply as a total portion 11.

In the illustrated embodiment, a packaging machine 41 adjoins the depositing device 19, in which the product trays 22 are closed or be provided with an outer packaging. Such a packaging machine 41 may form part of the machine device 13, but this is not mandatory.

On the display device 25 and its meaning for the above-explained machine device 13 and for the user will be described in more detail below in connection with Fig. 2 received.

With the display device 25, the evaluation device 27 is connected to the central system controller 29 communicates. The evaluation device 27 is, inter alia, capable of evaluating a total portion 11 created by the user by means of the display device 25 such that a configuration data record 31 is provided for the system controller 29. The system controller 29, in turn, is able to determine, based on the configuration data set 31, a machine data set 33 with which it is possible to control the individual controllers 15a of the machine units 15 so that the machine device 13 produces a total portion 11, as previously described in US Pat User was designed by means of the display device 25.

The evaluation device 27 may be integrated in the system controller 29, or vice versa. It is also fundamentally possible to integrate the individual controllers 15a of the machine units 15 into the system controller 29, or vice versa.

The device according to the invention is therefore capable of information processing in which what the user designs in a manner that is particularly comfortable for him is translated, as it were, into a "machine language" with parameters in the background to cause the machine units 15 to do so produce what has been created on the display device 25, namely a respective desired total portion 11 of a plurality of individual portions 12 and optionally one or more Beigabeprodukten 14th

As already mentioned in the introductory part, an essentially arbitrarily multifaceted interaction between the display device 25 on the one hand and the machine device 13 on the other hand can also take place with the inclusion of an information flow taking place in the other direction. In this case, by means of the system controller 29, machine information 36 derived from the individual machine units 15 can be transferred to the evaluation device 27 in the form of status data sets 37, which ensures that the machine information 36 or information derived therefrom, recommendations and / or instructions for the user on the display device 25 are shown.

Illustratively, the user can use the in Fig. 2 shown display device 25 of the machine device 13 (see. Fig. 1 ), where and in what orientation and in which order different individual portions 12 and optionally provided Beigabeprodukte 14 must be positioned on the respective product tray 22 so that a respective desired total portion or a respective desired total product 11 results.

The display device 25 may be formed as a touch screen to allow easy operation by finger. But it can also be a conventional screen in conjunction with other input devices are used.

In the illustrated embodiment, the display on the touch screen comprises a plurality of selection areas 39 and a design area 43. At the selection areas 39 different individual portions 12 can be selected and pulled in particular on a so-called "drag and drop" function on the design area 43 and there at a respective desired Position are filed. For example, it is also possible for the individual portions 12 to be initially designed and / or assembled in the selection areas 39, each with one product type whereupon the selection and the design of the total portion 11 takes place.

In the resulting total portion 11, the individual portions 12 may partially overlap. The level in which a single portion 12 with respect to the other individual portions 12 is in the total portion 11, resulting from the order of storage of the individual portions 12 in the design area 43. In the same way, the Beigabeprodukte 14 drawn on the design area 43 and there on a be stored in each desired position.

Depending on the particular application, multiple add-on products 14 may overlap each other and / or be overlapped with one or more individual portions 12.

For a particular application, unavailable selection areas 39 may be either not visible at all or may be visible but disabled as shown in FIG Fig. 2 is indicated by the provided with a cross selection areas 39.

The selectable individual portions 12 may be fixed. Alternatively, it may be possible for the user to change the individual portions 12, for example with regard to the number of product slices 12a, with respect to the degree of overlapping of the individual product slices 12a and / or with regard to the relative arrangement of the product slices 12a. For example, this may only be possible for the user in a relatively limited scope. Alternatively, the user may be enabled to "design" any individual portions 12. For this purpose, it is provided in particular that within the overall application, to which the schematically in Fig. 2 shown screen, one or more additional screens are provided, which allows the user to design individual portions 12. The design of single portions 12 can be done, for example, in the manner as mentioned in the already mentioned in the introduction EP 1 762 346 A1 described in connection with the configuration device explained there. This known portion design is hereby incorporated by reference.

The design area 43 of the display device 25 is provided with several configuration areas 35 which facilitate the user's portion design and which ensure that only those total portions 11 can be created which fulfill certain conditions. These conditions can be of many types. For example, on the basis of machine information 36 (cf. Fig. 1 ) are given that for the individual portions 12 and the Beigabeprodukte 14 each not the entire storage area 21, but only a part of it is available. These subareas may at least partially overlap.

The machine information 36 may include information about the shape and size of the respective product trays 22 to be used or used. A configuration area 35 in the design area 43 of the display device 25 can consequently correspond to the storage area 21 of this product storage area 22.

The positions and orientations of the individual portions 12 and the Beigabeprodukte 14 relative to the storage area 21 corresponding configuration area 35 in the design area 43 then correspond to the way in which the slicers 17 and the output devices 18, the real individual portions 12 and Beigabeprodukte 14 on the storage areas 21 of can store real product trays 22. In other words, the configuration areas 35 ensure that the individual components of the overall product 11 relative to one another and the overall product 11 are correctly positioned and aligned relative to the product tray 22.

• Bei einem ausschließlich Käse aufschneidenden Slicer wechselt die Käsesorte und/oder das Format der Käseriegel, so dass Schneidparameter und Anschläge einzustellen und ggf. Produktgreifer zu justieren sind.

Some practical examples of retrofitting a multi-cultivating machinery will be mentioned below:

• In the case of a slicer that cuts only cheese, the type of cheese and / or the format of the cheese jars change, so that cutting parameters and stops can be adjusted and, if necessary, product grippers adjusted.

In the case of a slicer which cuts open only boiled sausage, the type of sausage and / or the format of the sausage strands changes, so that cutting parameters and stops can be adjusted and, if necessary, product grippers adjusted.

In sliced only red sausage or salami slicer changes the type of sausage and / or the format of the sausage strands, so that set cutting parameters and attacks and if necessary to adjust product gripper.

If in a so-called mono-varietal operation only packs with a single product type are to be produced, then in the entire plant only a single slicer can be in operation, which slices simultaneously in several tracks products, whereby usually at least approximately the same throughput of portions or packs as in a multi-variety operation is achieved. The producers using the invention are therefore very flexible and thus able to produce small batches, each with different packages cost and quickly, which is why a temporary stoppage of parts of the entire system is accepted.

As for changes in the packaging for the total portion, for example, the so-called lower shell of the package often remains unchanged, but the so-called top film must be changed, for example, change size and / or position of an applied to the top film imprint, which is another Arrangement of the individual components of the total portion in the lower shell may require.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

11

Total portion, total product

12

single-serving

12a

product slice

13

machine Setup

14

adding product

15

machine unit

15a

individual control

17

Slicer, Slicer

18

output device

19

Bin Setup

21

storage area

22

Product tray, tray

23

configuring means

25

display

27

evaluation

29

control Panel

31

Configuration record

33

Machine data

35

Konfigurierbereich

36

Informations

37

State record

39

selection area

41

packaging machine

43

design area

F

conveying direction

Claims (15)

1. An apparatus for forming total portions (11) which at least comprise product slices (12a) which are cut off from a plurality of food products, in particular food products of different types, wherein the total portions each comprise a plurality of individual portions (12) which are each formed from at least one product slice (12a), having

   - a machine assembly (13) having a plurality of machine units (15), comprising

   - a plurality of slicing apparatus (17), in particular high-performance slicers, which each have at least one product feed with which at least one product to be sliced is fed to a cutting plane in which at least one cutting blade moves, in particular in a rotating and/or revolving manner; and

   - a placement device (19) which comprises at least one placement region (21) which can be traveled between the slicing apparatus (17) and on which a total portion (11) is formed from product slices (12a) cut off by means of the slicing apparatus (17);

   - a configuration device (23) having

   - a display device (25), in particular in the form of a touchscreen; and

   - an evaluation device (27) communicating with the display device (25); and

   - a system control (29) which communicates with individual controls (15a) associated with the machine units (15) and with the configuration device (23),

   wherein a respective total portion (11) can be created from a plurality of different individual portions (12) by means of the display device (25);
   wherein the evaluation device (27) is configured to provide a configuration data set (31) determined by a predefined total portion (11); and wherein the system control (29) is configured to predefine a machine data set (33) from a provided configuration data set (31) and to control the machine assembly (13) on the basis of the predefined machine data set (33) such that total portions (11) corresponding to the predefined total portion (11) are formed
   by successively placing individual portions (12) formed by different slicing apparatus (17) on the placement region (21) of the placement device (19), with the individual portions in particular being placed in an overlapping manner.
2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the machine assembly (13) additionally comprises at least one output device (18) which can likewise be controlled by the system control (29) on the basis of the predefined machine data set (33) and with which at least one side product (14) can be added to the placement region (21).
3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the machine data set (33) for the machine units (15) comprises configuration data, setting data and/or operating data which each depend on the created total portion (11) and which predefine a configuration, setting or operating mode of the respective machine unit (15) required for the formation of the total portion (11).
4. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   product slices (12a), individual portions (12) and a total portion (11) can be represented realistically or symbolically on the display device (25) and the display device (25) has a configuration function by means of which a user can create the total portion (11) graphically from a plurality of product slices (12a) on the display device (25), in particular by creating the individual portions (12) from the product slices (12a) and/or the total portion (11) from the individual portions (12); and/or
   in that the evaluation device (27) is configured to predefine the configuration data set (31) from the positions of the product slices (12a) and/or individual portions (12) forming the created total portion (11) on the display device (25).
5. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   a configuration region (35) for the total portion (11) can also be represented on the display device (25), in particular in the form of a placement area, preferably a tray (22), associated with the total portion (11) to be formed; and/or
   in that a configuration region (35) can also be represented for each individual portion (12) on the display device (25), in particular in the form of a placement surface associated with the individual portion (12) to be formed,
   wherein in particular the evaluation device (27) is configured to take account of the position of the created total portion (11) relative to the configuration region (35) in the predefining of the configuration data set (31).
6. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the system control (29) is configured to provide a state data set (37) representing the respective machine state, wherein in particular the configuration device (23) or the system control (29) is configured to set the total portions (11) which can be created by means of the display device (25) and the total portions (11) which can be formed by means of the machine assembly (13) into relation with one another on the basis of the state data set (37); and
   wherein in particular the configuration device (23) is configured to adapt the total portions (11) and/or individual portions (12), which can be created by means of the display device (25), by means of the state data set (37) to the machine state, in particular to the respective configurations and/or settings of the machine units (15).
7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6,
   characterized in that
   the configuration device (23) is configured to represent the individual portions (12) and/or total portions (11) possible on the basis of the respective machine state on the display device (25) by means of the state data set (37); and/or
   in that the configuration device (23) is configured to represent information which relates to the respective machine state, in particular to the respective configurations and/or settings of the machine units (15), on the display device (25) by means of the state data set (37), in particular broken down by the individual machine units (15).
8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6 or claim 7,
   characterized in that
   the configuration device (23) or the system control (29) is configured to determine a desired state data set from a configuration data set (31), to compare the desired state data set with the state data set (37) and to determine changes of the machine state which are required to form a total portion (11) corresponding to the configuration data set (31),
   wherein in particular the configuration device (23) is configured to represent and/or output the required changes on the display device (25), in particular broken down by the individual machine units (15).
9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8,
   characterized in that
   the configuration device (23) is configured to represent and/or output the required changes on the display device (25) in the form of conversion instructions and/or setting instructions for carrying out configuration changes and/or setting changes at the individual machine units (15); and/or in that the system control (29) is configured to control the individual controls (15a) of the machine units (15) such that at least one of the required changes is carried out automatically at at least one of the machine units (15).
10. A method for forming total portions (11) which at least comprise product slices (12a), in particular by means of an apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the product slices (12a) are cut off from a plurality of food products, in particular food products of different types, and wherein the total portions (11) each comprise a plurality of individual portions (12) which are each formed from at least one product slice (12a), having

    - a machine assembly (13) having a plurality of machine units (15), comprising

    - a plurality of slicing apparatus (17), in particular high-performance slicers, which each have at least one product feed with which at least one product to be sliced is fed to a cutting plane in which at least one cutting blade moves, in particular in a rotating and/or revolving manner; and

    - a placement device (19) which comprises at least one placement region (21) which can be traveled between the slicing apparatus (17) and on which a total portion (11) is formed from product slices (12a) cut off by means of the slicing apparatus;

    - a configuration device (23) having

    - a display device (25), in particular in the form of a touchscreen; and

    - an evaluation device (27) communicating with the display device (25); and

    - a system control (29) which communicates with individual controls (15a) associated with the machine units (15) and with the configuration device (23),

    wherein a respective total portion (11) is created from a plurality of different individual portions (12) by means of the display device (25);
    wherein a configuration data set (31) determined by a predefined total portion (11) is provided by means of the evaluation device (27); and wherein a machine data set (33) is predefined by means of the system control (29) from a provided configuration data set (31) and the machine assembly (13) is controlled on the basis of the predefined machine data set (33) such that total portions (11) corresponding to the predefined total portion (11) are formed
    by traveling the placement region (21) of the placement device (19) between the slicing apparatus (17) and by successively placing individual portions (12) formed by different slicing apparatus (17) on the placement region, with the individual portions in particular being placed in an overlapping manner.
11. A method in accordance with claim 10,
    characterized in that
    the machine assembly (13) additionally comprises at least one output device (18) which is likewise controlled by the system control (29) on the basis of the predefined machine data set (33) to add at least one side product (14) to the placement region (21).
12. A method in accordance with claim 10 or claim 11,
    characterized in that
    the display device (25) has a configuration function by means of which a user can create the total portion (11) graphically on the display device (25) from a plurality of product slices (12a), in particular by creating the individual portions (12) from the product slices (12a) and the total portion (11) from the individual portions (12), wherein product slices (12a), individual portions (12) and a total portion (11) are represented realistically or symbolically on the display device (25); and/or
    in that the configuration data set (31) is predefined from the positions of the product slices (12a) and/or individual portions (12) forming the created total portion (11) on the display device (25).
13. A method in accordance with any one of the claims 10 to 12,
    characterized in that
    a configuration region (35) for the total portion (11) is also represented on the display device (25), in particular in the form of a placement area, preferably a tray (22), associated with the total portion (11) to be formed; and/or
    in that a configuration region (35) is also represented for each individual portion (12) on the display device (25), in particular in the form of a placement surface associated with the individual portion (12) to be formed, wherein the position of the created total portion (11) relative to the configuration region (35) is in particular taken into account in the predefining of the configuration data set (31).
14. A method in accordance with any one of the claims 10 to 13,
    characterized in that
    a state data set (37) representing the respective machine state is provided, wherein the total portions (11) which can be created by means of the display device (25) and the total portions (11) which can be formed by means of the machine assembly (13) are in particular set into relation with one another on the basis of the state data set (37), wherein the total portions (11) and/or individual portions (12) which can be created by means of the display device (25) are in particular adapted by means of the state data set (37) to the machine state, in particular to the respective configurations and/or settings of the machine units (15); and/or
    in that the individual portions (12) and/or total portions (11) possible on the basis of the respective machine state are represented on the display device (25) by means of the state data set (37); and/or
    in that information which relates to the respective machine state, in particular to the respective configurations and/or settings of the machine units (15), is represented on the display device (25) by means of the state data set (37), in particular broken down by the individual machine units (15).
15. A method in accordance with claim 14,
    characterized in that
    a desired state data set is determined from a configuration data set (31), the desired state data set is compared with the state data set (37) and changes of the machine state are determined which are required to form a total portion (11) corresponding to the configuration data set (31), wherein in particular the required changes are represented and/or output on the display device (25), in particular broken down by the individual machine units (15); and/or
    in that the required changes are represented and/or output on the display device (25) in the form of conversion instructions and/or setting instructions for carrying out configuration changes and/or setting changes at the individual machine units (15); and/or
    in that the individual controls (15a) of the machine units (15) are controlled such that at least one of the required changes is automatically carried out at at least one of the machine units (15).

Images