EP2919950B1 - Food slicer - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for slicing food products, in particular high-performance slicer. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system with such a slicing device and with at least two differently shaped cutting blade carriers, which are each releasably attachable to a rotor shaft.

Such slicing devices are basically known and serve to slice food products such as sausage, meat and cheese into slices at high speed. Typical cutting speeds are between several hundred to several thousand cuts per minute.

Modern high-performance slicers differ, inter alia, in the design of the cutting blade and in the manner of the rotary drive for the cutting blade. So-called sickle or spiral blades rotate only about a blade axis, this blade axis itself performs no additional movement. In slicers with circular or orbital knives, on the other hand, it is provided that the circular blade rotating about a knife axis circulate in a planetary manner in addition to this self-rotation about a further axis spaced apart from the knife axis-here called a rotation axis. Which blade type or type of drive is to be preferred depends on the respective application. In general, it can be said that higher cutting speeds can be achieved with only rotating sickle knives, whereas rotating and additionally planetary rotating circular knives can be used more universally without sacrificing cutting quality.

The invention relates to slicing with a planetary rotating circular blade. Typical cutting speeds here are in the range of about 350 to 800 revolutions per minute, i. With such a slicer, about 350 to 800 slices per minute can be separated from a product.

From about such cutting speeds, it is required that, when slicing products in portions, so-called idle cuts are made in which the knife continues to move, i. performs his cutting motion, but not in the product, but in the "void" cuts, so temporarily no slices are separated from the product and these "cutting breaks" can be used to a formed with the previously separated slices portion, such as a stack of discs or shingles arranged discs to be transported away. The time passing between two consecutively separated slices is no longer sufficient for a proper cutting performance or cutting speed for a proper removal of the slice portions. The length of these "cutting breaks" and the number of idle cuts per "cutting break" depend on the particular application.

As already mentioned, in practice, such a blank cut operation is required beyond a certain cut edge speed or knife limit speed, which is typically between about 350 and 600 revolutions per minute. This is why modern sickle knife slicers, which can achieve much higher cutting speeds, are generally provided with an axial drive that allows the knife to be moved away from the product fast enough to make idle cuts. In this context, one also speaks of a "displacement action" of the knife or of the blade-carrying knife receptacle, and such slicers are also referred to as "tactile" slicers.

Although modern circular knife slicers - as mentioned - usually work in a speed range in which a wegtakten the knife for performing blanks, at least for most applications is not mandatory, such tactile circular knife slicer have already been proposed. One way to realize such a tactile circular knife slicer is in WO 2008/034513 A1 described. The circular blade containing cutting head has a relatively complex structure and is axially adjustable as a whole. The cutting head has a non-rotatable axis, wherein a rotationally driven by a rotary drive hub, which simultaneously represents the blade holder, can be rotated about this non-rotatable axis.

This known circular knife slicer discloses a general basic problem, which in principle precludes a tactile design of a circular blade slicer, namely the requirement not only to circulate the circular blade planetary, but also to provide a self-rotation. Consequently, the circular blade not only has to be driven in a planetary orbit, but also has to be set in rotation around its own knife axis. This results in an already complex drive technology, which requires a much higher design effort, if in addition the circular blade should be adjusted quickly and precisely axially in order to perform idle cuts can.

The requirements for axial adjustability in circular knife slicers are further increased by the fact that circular knives - unlike sickle knives - are based on a different cutting principle: While in sickle knives the relative movement between knife edge and product required for cutting by the sickle or spiral shape of the knife rotating only around the knife axis, in circular knives it is the planetary orbital motion which produces the required cutting motion. This has the consequence that in circular knives compared to sickle blades per round more time is available, in which the knife outside the product range is located and thus can be adjusted axially. For circular knives, the corresponding rotation angle range, which is also referred to as clearance angle, often more than 180 °, whereas in sickle blades, which are also operated at a higher speed, only a clearance angle of typically just under 100 ° is available.

Circular knife slicers are thus, in principle, significantly less time-critical in terms of axial adjustment. However, so far has hardly been trying to develop practical concepts for tactile circular knife slicer.

In addition, be on DE 100 30 691 A1 and WO 2005/009695 A1 referenced showing concepts for circular blade slicers in which an axial displacement of the circular blade is not provided and thus does not belong to the class of slicing devices described with the present disclosure.

The object of the invention is to provide a slicing device, which is based on the principle of a planetary rotating circular knife and is capable of a blank cutting operation, which also should be given a simple, compact and hygienic design and in particular the full functionality of modern high-performance slicer ,

The solution of this object is achieved by the features of claims 1 and 15.

According to the invention, the slicing device comprises a rotor shaft which rotates about an axis of rotation and is axially adjustable during operation, a rotor driven by the rotor shaft, a rotor carried by the cutting blade which rotates planetary about the axis of rotation and additionally rotates relative to the rotor about a knife axis parallel to the rotation axis, and a rotary drive for the rotor shaft.

The invention is based on the idea, in departure from the above-described concept according to WO 2008/034513 A1 not to adjust the entire cutting head in the axial direction, but to axially adjust a rotor shaft supporting the cutting blade via a rotor, ie to provide an axially adjustable rotor shaft.

This concept allows - especially in certain specific embodiments, as explained in more detail below - surprisingly a simple, almost minimalist construction of a tactile circular knife Slicers, which is also compact, meets the highest standards of hygiene and beyond - despite omission from other high-performance slicers with comparable performance, yet fulfilling a very high level of functionality. The concept according to the invention also and precisely allows a concentration on an optimal axial displacement of the blade, whereby important functions such as e.g. the cutting gap setting can be taken over, so that e.g. no axially adjustable cutting edge is needed. It is also not necessary to retract the product since the blade can be adjusted axially for a blank cutting operation. Finally, for this reason, even expensive tractors or conveyor belts for the product can be omitted.

In other words, a peculiarity of the invention is that a circular blade slicer, which actually requires no Messeraxialverstellung due to the cutting speed, is nevertheless optimized with respect to a Messeraxialverstellung, since it was recognized that clever basic design and a circular blade slicer with a fast and reliable functioning Axial adjustment for the knife are provided and these axial adjustment can also take over essential functions, which in turn can be omitted otherwise necessary components, which - and so closes the circle - the optimization of the axial adjustment at least facilitated.

Possible embodiments of the slicing device according to the invention are specified in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

In one embodiment, a combined axial and rotary bearing for the rotor shaft is provided, relative to which the rotor shaft is rotatable and can be adjusted axially. In particular, the axial and rotary bearings may comprise a fixed hub or be associated with a fixed hub. The hub can thus form part of the axial and pivot bearing or be considered as a cooperating with the axial and pivot bearing component. Such a combined bearing for the rotational movement of the rotor shaft on the one hand and the axial movement of the rotor shaft on the other hand allows a simple and compact structure.

If a fixed hub for the thrust and pivot bearing is provided, then this hub can be used for a plurality of functions. By means of the hub, the rotor shaft can be supported on a fixed frame or frame part, for example a housing wall, of the device. Alternatively or additionally, the hub can serve as a support for other components, for example for components which cooperate with a rotary drive for the self-rotation of the cutting blade or form a stationary part of such a rotary drive.

A particularly compact, in particular in the axial direction comparatively short construction arrangement can be achieved if, according to another embodiment, a front portion of a hub for the rotor shaft and at least one rotary bearing for the cutting blade comprehensive range of the rotor axially engage, and if also a on rear part of the hub arranged stationary part of a rotary drive for the cutting blade and a rotor-side part of the rotary drive axially engage with each other.

In this case, the fact is utilized that the rotary shaft providing the rotor shaft and the blade axis defining the blade for the self-rotation of the rotary drive are radially spaced. This arrangement thus enables the respective axial engagement of the components and overall provides for a somewhat "nested" structure or a high packing density of the respective components. The available space, especially in the axial direction is thereby used optimally. The relatively short length of such a construction also reduces the required supporting forces, which in particular must be absorbed by the hub.

As already mentioned, a hub provided for the rotor shaft, which ensures the axial and rotational mounting of the rotor shaft, can be carried by a fixed frame or frame part of the device.

Particularly advantageous from a hygienic point of view is a preferred arrangement, according to which a hub for the rotor shaft is exposed to the outside and a combined axial and rotary bearing for the rotor shaft between the hub and the rotor shaft is sealed from the environment.

The rotor shaft is in particular passed through a fixed frame or frame part, on one side of the rotary drive and on the other side of the rotor is arranged. As a result, the drive region of the rotor shaft is separated from the cutting region by means of the frame or frame part designed in particular as a housing or housing wall, which is advantageous in particular from a hygienic point of view.

In a particularly advantageous exemplary embodiment of the invention, a rotary drive which is responsible for the self-rotation of the cutting blade is decoupled from the rotor shaft. As a result, it is not necessary to effect the rotary drive for the knife directly through the rotor shaft. Therefore It is possible to avoid structurally complex belt or gear arrangements, which would otherwise have to be provided to provide the rotary drive for the self-rotation of the knife directly through the rotor shaft.

It is particularly preferred if the rotary drive for the cutting blade is derived from the rotational movement of the rotor.

The rotational movement of the rotor, which in any case takes place, can thus be used to additionally set the blade, which rotates planetaryly due to the rotational movement of the rotor, into a self-rotation relative to the rotor. In other words, given due to the planetary rotation of the circular blade relative movement of the knife, in particular a blade detachably connected to the knife shaft can be exploited to give the knife or the knife shaft a self-rotation.

In one embodiment, the rotary drive for the cutting blade may comprise a stationary part and a rotor-side part, wherein the stationary part and the rotor-side part cooperate with the rotor mounted on the rotor shaft. The given due to the planetary circulation relative movement of the rotor-side part of the rotary drive with respect to the stationary part can thereby be converted into a rotational movement of the rotor-side part and thus the blade or the blade shaft.

The interaction between the stationary part and the rotor-side part is in particular designed such that relative movements in the axial direction between the two parts are permitted. This makes it possible, in particular for the implementation of blank sections and / or for cutting gap adjustment and / or assembly or disassembly of the rotor, the rotor shaft together with knife and rotorseitigem part to adjust the rotary drive axially, without the rotary drive would oppose.

In this case, provision is made in particular for the rotor shaft to be axially adjustable relative to the stationary part of the rotary drive for the cutting blade.

The stationary part of the rotary drive for the cutting blade may be carried by a combined axial and rotary bearings and / or by a hub for the rotor shaft. In this way, the hub can contribute to the self-rotation of the cutting blade.

A rotor-side part of the rotary drive, which carries out the rotary movement together with the rotor, may be formed by a blade shaft of the cutting blade, so that it is the blade shaft, which cooperates with the stationary part of the rotary drive.

The stationary part of the rotary drive may comprise a ring on which the blade shaft rolls. It is particularly provided that the ring is designed as a toothed ring, which cooperates with a gear of the knife shaft.

This concept for the realization of the rotary drive for the self-rotation of the blade is structurally simple and reliable, wherein also the available space is optimally utilized without a complicated mechanism for transmitting the rotational movement of the rotor shaft in the radial direction would be required outwardly on the blade shaft. Complex belt or gear arrangements are thereby avoided.

In an alternative embodiment of the rotary drive for the self-rotation of the rotary blade according to a further embodiment of the invention is a coaxial with the rotor shaft arranged drive shaft or drive axle provided, with a blade shaft of the cutting blade is driven, for example via a belt and / or gear arrangement. It is possible, but not mandatory, for the drive shaft, a separate rotary drive is provided. The axis can be a fixed, ie non-rotating, drive axis relative to which the rotor rotates, this relative movement being converted into the intrinsic rotation of the blade or of the blade shaft.

The drive shaft or the drive shaft may be telescopic, in order to allow in this way an axial adjustment, in particular for performing blank cuts and / or for cutting gap adjustment. Alternatively, the drive shaft or the drive axle as a whole can be axially adjustable.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the rotor shaft is designed as a hollow shaft through which the drive shaft or the drive axle extends.

The interaction between the drive shaft or drive shaft for the self-rotation of the cutting blade with the blade shaft can be carried out within the rotor in a further embodiment, wherein the drive shaft or drive shaft extends into the rotor.

In particular, for the implementation of empty cuts and / or for cutting gap adjustment is preferably provided that both the rotor shaft and the drive shaft or drive shaft are at least partially axially adjustable. In particular, the rotor shaft and the drive shaft or drive axle are simultaneously or jointly axially adjustable.

In a slicing device with a planetary rotating cutting blade, the cutting blade is offset radially outwards relative to the rotor shaft which sets the rotor in rotation and thus with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotor, ie the cutting blade is arranged eccentrically. As a result, the rotor has an imbalance caused by the cutting blade. In order to ensure a vibration-free running of the rotor or the knife, especially at the high speeds in the cutting operation, the slicing must be balanced in all planes.

The slicing device according to the invention, in particular in one embodiment, as has been explained above with reference to possible embodiments, enables a particularly simple and effective balancing concept which satisfies the mentioned requirements. In contrast to known balancing concepts, the invention in particular comes without complex constructions and without expensive materials such as e.g. Tungsten for the balancing masses out.

The term "imbalance" in the following also generally depending on the context of an imbalance mass, an imbalance position and / or effective in the rotation due to the imbalance mass force in terms of magnitude and direction to understand.

Axial distances, that is, along the axis of rotation or the knife axis measured distances relative to a cutting blade relate here, unless otherwise stated, to a defined by the blade or the cutting edge cutting plane, while the axial position of a balancing mass or imbalance refers to a plane which is perpendicular to the axis of rotation or knife axis and in which the center of mass of the balancing mass or imbalance. In general, here statements relating to the position or direction of action of a balancing mass, unless stated otherwise, also refer to the unbalance produced by the balancing mass or by the component or assembly in which the balancing mass in question is integrated.

If an integration of a balancing mass in a component or assembly of the device in the sense of a targeted addition of an additional Mass is understood, then it is clear to those skilled in the art that this is synonymous with a targeted removal of material from a component or assembly, mathematically speaking with a targeted addition of a "negative balancing mass", in general so with the targeted generation of an imbalance or in the relevant component or module.

According to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, at least two balancing masses are provided for compensating for an imbalance of the rotor caused by the cutting blade, all balancing masses being arranged on the side of the cutting blade opposite the dismounting side of the cutting blade and preferably axially spaced from one another.

This means a departure from such known balancing concepts in which the counterweight for balancing the unbalance divided on both sides of the knife, so at least one balancing mass before and at least one further balancing mass is arranged behind the knife. In addition, this concept makes it possible to manage without complex constructions and without expensive materials for the balancing masses.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rotor forms a balancing mass and the rotor has an asymmetrical rotational geometry with respect to the axis of rotation.

In this case, it is the rotor itself which forms a balancing mass serving for balancing the blade, ie the rotor itself at least partially compensates for its imbalance caused by the eccentrically arranged blade. This makes it possible to position the required balancing mass on the one hand axially close to the knife and on the other hand radially relatively far outward. As a result, a particularly efficient balancing concept can be realized overall. Due to the asymmetric design of the rotor can At a relatively low total weight of the rotor, a sufficiently large imbalance can be generated.

In particular, in favor of as far as possible radially outward balancing mass, the rotor can deviate extremely from a circular outer contour and, to a certain extent, highly top-heavy - with respect to the radial direction - be formed, i. be associated with a relatively large unbalance or imbalance mass, for example - figuratively speaking - like a rotating hammer.

By the rotor itself forms a balancing mass, the construction is particularly simple. The balancing mass is also in this way axially particularly close to the cutting plane. Another, separate balancing mass in the axial vicinity of the cutting blade is therefore not necessary.

When replacing a knife by a knife with a different weight, thus resulting in a different imbalance, only the rotor needs to be replaced. The slicing device is thus particularly easy to adapt to various applications. This makes it easy to use different weight knives.

The fact that only the rotor needs to be replaced, the other components of the slicer can be maintained. In particular, an additionally provided further balancing mass can remain in the same position.

According to one embodiment of the invention, a further balancing mass can be formed by the rotary drive, in particular by a drive pulley or by a hub which can be set in rotation by means of a drive motor via a drive belt. As a result, the rotary drive performs another function by not only the rotor shaft is set in rotation, but also a part of the imbalance of the rotor is compensated.

Consequently, the rotational drive forms due to the balancing mass or unbalance together with the rotor and circular blade a mass system that can be designed in terms of dimensioning and arrangement such that the overall center of gravity of the rotating system is located on that side of the cutting blade on which also the rotary drive located is. In other words, this focus is "pulled" by the imbalance in the rotary drive on its side. Consequently, it is possible to arrange the further balancing mass also on this side of the cutting blade, so that all balancing masses are only on one side of the cutting blade.

Based on the axial length of the overall arrangement - measured between the cutting plane and plane of the rotary drive - the balancing mass of the rotary drive can be arranged in a relatively large axial distance from the cutting plane. This results in a sense, a relatively large leverage effect of this balancing mass, which itself must therefore have only a comparatively low weight, which in turn facilitates their integration into the rotary drive in practice or even made possible.

Consequently, the balancing mass formed by the rotary drive, in combination with the balancing mass formed by the rotor and thus axially extremely close to the cutting plane optimal balancing of the entire rotating system in all planes and cause both static and dynamic, and this in an extremely compact design overall arrangement.

Another advantage is that by modifying the rotary drive, for example, by replacing the drive pulley or the hub, a knife with a different weight and thus a different imbalance causing knife can be balanced. The rotor itself serving as a balancing mass in addition to the rotary drive does not necessarily have to be replaced, but it is possible to change both the rotor and the drive disk or the hub in a blade change, the latter in particular if it is not possible or not desired is to compensate for the change associated with a blade change of the unbalance to be compensated exclusively by replacing the rotor.

If the first balancing mass is formed by the rotor and the second balancing mass is integrated in the rotary drive, then it is provided in particular that the two balancing masses are arranged on different sides of a fixed frame or frame part.

The arrangement of the two balancing masses takes place in particular such that the first balancing mass and the imbalance of the rotor are at least approximately effective in opposite radial directions, while the second balancing mass is at least approximately effective in the same radial direction as the imbalance of the rotor. It is provided in particular that the first balancing mass is arranged closer to the cutting blade in the axial direction than the second balancing mass.

In particular, in the "nested" arrangement of the components, as explained above, it can be provided that the first balancing mass in the axial direction at least approximately in the amount of a combined axial and rotary bearing for the rotor shaft and / or integrated in the rotor pivot bearing for the cutting blade is arranged.

As a result of the geometrical arrangement of the balancing masses which is possible according to the invention, a system balanced in all planes and both statically and dynamically balanced can be realized even with a comparatively compact and relatively simply constructed slicer.

The solution of the object underlying the invention also takes place by the above-mentioned system comprising a slicing device and at least two differently shaped cutting blade carrier, which are each releasably attachable to a rotor shaft of the slicing device.

In this case, the one carrier is designed as a knife holder for a cutting blade, in particular for a sickle or spiral knife, which rotates about the axis of rotation during operation, which performs only a self-rotation about the axis of rotation, whereas the other carrier as rotating in operation about the axis of rotation rotor for a Cutting knife, in particular circular blade, is formed, which rotates planetary about the rotation axis and additionally rotates relative to the rotor about a parallel offset from the axis of rotation knife axis.

This concept creates a universally applicable slicing device that can be used either as a sickle knife slicer or as a circular knife slicer. It is therefore one and the same basic structure, which in particular includes the axially adjustable rotor shaft including rotary drive for the rotor shaft and the fixed hub, including axial and pivot bearing, either used with a blade holder for a sickle blade or with a rotor for a circular blade. The rotor shaft on the one hand and the blade receptacle or the rotor on the other hand in each case comprise a coordinated interface which allows a change from a sickle blade operation to a circular blade operation, and vice versa, in the simplest possible way.

This universal principle can be realized in a particularly simple manner if a rotary drive provided for the self-rotation of the circular blade is designed according to the principle explained above with reference to an embodiment, according to which the slicing device comprises a stationary part of the rotary drive which, with the rotor mounted, ie in circular blade operation, with a rotor-side Part of the rotary drive cooperates and with attached blade holder, so in sickle blade operation, ineffective on the device remains.

In other words, in a preferred embodiment, the interaction between the stationary part and the rotor-side part of the rotary drive, which allows an axial displacement movement in the circular knife operation, in particular for carrying out blank cuts and / or for cutting gap adjustment, also allow a simple disassembly of the circular blade rotor in order to disassemble the circular blade rotor to connect a blade receptacle of a sickle blade with the rotor shaft belonging to the basic structure of the slicing device. In this sickle blade operation of the stationary part of the rotary drive is therefore unused, but is not the sickle blade operation in the way.

The balancing concept explained above also does not contradict this universal principle. On the contrary, both concepts can advantageously be combined with one another if in each case the first balancing mass is integrated into the relevant support or is formed by the support, i. if both the blade holder for the sickle blade and the rotor for the circular blade includes a matched to the respective blade and on the integrated in the basic structure of the slicing second balancing mass first balancing mass.

Fig. 1 bis 7

verschiedene Ansichten eines Teils einer erfindungsgemäßen Aufschneidevorrichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel,

Fig. 8

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht eines Teils einer erfindungsgemäßen Aufschneidevorrichtung gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform, und

Fig. 9

eine geschnittene Seitenansicht eines Teils einer erfindungsgemäßen Aufschneidevorrichtung gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform.

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

Fig. 1 to 7

various views of a part of a slicing device according to the invention according to an embodiment,

Fig. 8

a sectional side view of a portion of a slicing device according to the invention according to another embodiment, and

Fig. 9

a sectional side view of a portion of a slicing device according to the invention according to another embodiment.

Fig. 1 shows a designated as a knife or cutting head part of a slicer (slicer) for slicing food products, especially sausage, ham or cheese in a sectional side view.

A hub 23 is fixed to a housing or a fixed housing wall 31. Inside the hub 23, a combined axial and rotary bearing 21 is arranged for a rotor shaft 13, which defines an axis of rotation 11 of the slicer. The rotor shaft 13 is thus rotatable about the axis of rotation 11 and axially adjustable within the hub 23 in the direction of the axis of rotation 11. For axial adjustment of the rotor shaft 13, which is indicated by double arrows, a not-shown axial drive 71 is provided, which engages the rear end of the rotor shaft 13.

In a located behind the housing wall 31 area is a rotary drive 33 for the rotor shaft 13. The rotary drive 33 comprises a provided with an external toothed drive pulley 51 which is mounted in the rear region of the rotor shaft 13 and cooperates with a drive toothed belt 53, which is not a driven drive motor is driven to enable the rotor shaft 13 in rotation about the axis of rotation 11.

At the front, located outside of the housing wall 31 end of the rotor shaft 13, a rotor 15 is fixed. Radially spaced from the axis of rotation 11, the rotor 15 includes a pivot bearing 25 for a blade shaft 35 which defines a blade axis 19 which is parallel to the axis of rotation 11. The front, located outside of the rotor 15 end of the cutter shaft 35 is as formed a knife receptacle on which a trained as a circular knife cutting blade 17 is releasably attached.

The rearwardly projecting end of the blade shaft 35 is formed as a gear 29, which forms a rotor-side part of a rotary drive for the blade shaft 35 and thus for the cutting blade 17.

As a stationary part 27 of this rotary drive is a fixed sprocket, which is supported by the fixed hub 23 or attached to the housing wall 31.

The annular gear rim 27, which is arranged concentrically to the axis of rotation 11, is provided with an internal toothing which interacts with the external toothing of the toothed wheel 29 of the knife shaft 35.

When the rotor shaft 13 rotates and thus the rotor 15 rotates about the rotation axis 11, the blade shaft 35 and thus the cutting blade 17 run planetary around the rotor shaft 13. In this case, the gear 29 of the blade shaft 35 rolls on the internal toothing of the ring gear 27, whereby the blade shaft 35 and thus the cutting blade 17 are rotated relative to the rotor 15 in rotation about the blade axis 19.

In a slicing operation, the cutting blade 17 thus performs a planetary orbital motion about the axis of rotation 11 and additionally a self-rotation about the knife axis 19 defined by the blade shaft 35.

The eccentric arrangement of the cutting blade 17 with respect to the axis of rotation 11 of the rotor shaft results in an imbalance UM of the rotor 15. According to the balancing concept explained in the introductory part, this imbalance UM is compensated by a counterweight comprising two balancing masses 47, 49. A first balance mass 47 is formed by the rotor 15. The first balance mass 47 generates an imbalance U1, that of the imbalance Is at least approximately opposite in the radial direction. The second balancing mass 49 is formed by the drive pulley 51 and is at least approximately effective in the same radial direction as the imbalance UM (see also FIG Fig. 5 ).

The lengths and directions of the vector UM, U1 and U2 in Fig. 1 and 5 are merely illustrative and should not represent specific absolute or relative values.

Due to this geometric arrangement of the balancing masses, the rotating overall system is statically and dynamically balanced in all planes.

The slicing device according to the invention consequently has a simple, compact and extremely hygienic design. The housing wall 31 separates the drive area from the cutting area. The hub 23, which rotatably and axially movably supports with the combined axial and pivot bearing 21 the rotor shaft 13 extending through the housing wall 31 together with the rotor 15 and cutting blade 17, is located in front of the housing wall 31 and is thus open to the outside. This allows hygienic cleaning of the cutting area. A seal 55 seals the axial and pivot bearing 21 from the environment.

The axial "nesting" of lying outside the housing wall 31 components provides an extremely compact structure with low axial length: With its rear, located on the housing wall 31 area, the hub 23 is located within the ring gear 27, in which the cutter shaft 35 with the gear 29 engages axially. The hub 23 itself and the rotor 15 also engage axially with each other. The pivot bearing 25 for the cutting blade 17 is located axially in the amount of the front portion of the hub 23 and in the amount of the axial and pivot bearing 21st

For example, for performing blank cuts and / or for cutting gap adjustment, the rotor shaft 13 together with the rotor 15 and cutting blade 17 and cutter shaft 35 and gear 29 is adjusted in the axial direction. The rotary drive for the cutting blade 17 formed by the fixed ring gear 27 and the gear 29 of the blade shaft 35 allows such axial adjustment movement while maintaining the rotary drive by interaction of ring gear 27 and gear 29.

Furthermore, this embodiment of the rotary drive allows the rotor 15 together with the cutting blade 17 and blade shaft 35 to be removed simply by loosening the screw connection between the rotor 15 and the front end of the rotor shaft 13, i. can be deducted in the axial direction, can.

The remaining basic structure of hub 23, stationary ring gear 27 and rotor shaft 13 including rotary drive 33 with balancing mass 49 can thereby serve as a drive for a sickle blade-bearing blade holder (not shown). As explained in the introductory part, a universal slicer is created by this basic structure, both to a sickle blade operation with only about the rotation axis 11 rotating sickle blade and as shown in FIG Fig. 1 to a circular knife operation with planetary about the rotation axis 11 circulating and additionally a self-rotation around the knife axis 19 exporting circular blade is capable.

The imbalance U1 of the balancing mass 47 in the rotor 15 and the imbalance UM of the rotor 15 caused by the cutting blade 17 are matched to one another and to the imbalance U2 of the balancing mass 49 integrated in the rotary drive 33. Corresponding to the rotor 15, in a sickle blade mode, the blade holder (not shown) carrying the sickle blade is likewise provided with a balancing mass which is tuned to the respective imbalance of the sickle blade such that, in cooperation with the unbalance integrated in the rotary drive 33 U2 the balancing mass 49 is again given in all levels and statically and dynamically balanced rotating overall system.

The unbalance U1 of the rotor 15 is located substantially closer to the cutting plane 61 defined by the cutting blade 17 than the unbalance U2 of the rotary drive 33. The unbalance U1 of the rotor 15 is also relatively far radially outward. This geometric arrangement of the balancing masses 47, 49 thus makes it possible to use relatively small balancing masses.

Fig. 2 shows the slicing device according to the invention without the housing wall 31 and without cutting blade 17. It is again the particular compactness of both radially and axially around the fixed hub 23 around grouping components to recognize.

The side view of Fig. 3 , in turn, the housing wall 31 is not shown, in particular shows the advantageous under hygienic aspects open design of the located in the cutting area components. The rotary bearing for the knife shaft 35 protruding into the sprocket 27 in the rear is provided with a housing 63.

From the top view of Fig. 4 In particular, the embodiment of the rotor 15 that deviates extremely from a rotationally symmetrical shape or a circular outer contour (see also FIG Fig. 5 and 7 ). The relatively small dimensions having rotary bearing for the cutting blade 17, of which in turn the housing 63 is shown here, is the first balancing mass 47 diametrically opposite, which has relatively large dimensions.

Fig. 5 In particular, shows the strong top-heavy design of the rotor 17 with a relatively heavy portion formed by the first balance mass 47, which is connected via a comparatively light central portion with a diametrically opposite portion, on which the rotary bearing for the blade shaft of the cutting blade 17 is mounted, wherein of the pivot bearing in turn the housing 63 is shown.

The Fig. 6 and 7 show front views with ( Fig. 6 ) and without ( Fig. 7 ) Cutting knife 17. The Fig. 7 in particular, the anchor-like shape of the rotor 15 can be seen. In addition, the internal toothing of the stationary ring gear 27 is shown.

The Fig. 8 and 9 each show a further embodiment of a slicing device according to the invention, in which for the rotary drive of the circular blade 17 a fixed axis 39 (FIG. Fig. 8 ) or a rotationally driven drive shaft 40 (FIG. Fig. 9 ) is provided.

In both embodiments, the rotor shaft 13 for the rotor 15 is formed as a hollow shaft which carries at a rear portion of a drive pulley 51 which is displaceable via a drive belt 53 by means of a motor not shown in rotation about the rotation axis 11.

The axis 39 or shaft 40 extends through the hollow shaft 13 and into the rotor 15.

In the embodiment of Fig. 8 carries the axis 39 a likewise fixed with respect to rotation toothed belt wheel 41, on which a rotating toothed belt 43 rotates with a rotating rotor 15, which cooperates with a toothing 45 which is formed on the circular blade 17 bearing blade shaft 35. The planetary orbital motion of the blade shaft 35 due to the rotational movement of the rotor 15 relative to the fixed toothed belt wheel 41 is thus used to set the blade shaft 35 and thus the circular blade 17 in rotation about the blade axis 19 relative to the rotor 15.

For receiving the toothed belt wheel 41, the rotor 15 is formed in two parts. This also applies to the embodiment of Fig. 9 ,

In the embodiment of Fig. 8 is the hub 23 together with combined axial and pivot bearing 21 for the rotor shaft designed as a hollow shaft 13 within a housing, that is not open to the outside. The hub 23 is fixed to a wall 31 of the housing.

At its rear end, the rotor shaft 13 is provided with a Anlenkabschnitt 65 for a turn again only indicated axial drive 71, which serves to axially adjust the rotor shaft 13 together with the rotor 15 and circular blade 17. This is again indicated by double arrows.

The fixed axis 39 is not axially adjustable as a whole, but telescopically formed, so that the toothed belt 41 bearing front portion of the shaft 39 can be adjusted axially together with the rotor shaft 13, in particular to carry out idle cuts or make a cutting gap setting.

In the embodiment of Fig. 9 the hub 23 is formed by a fixed housing wall 31, wherein alternatively, the hub 23 may be formed as a separate component which is fixed to the housing wall 31.

The drive shaft 40 extending through the rotor shaft 13 designed as a hollow shaft is provided with a toothed belt wheel 67 at its rear end and can be set in rotation by a toothed belt 69 by a separate drive motor, not shown, independently of the rotary drive 33 for the rotor shaft 13.

The transmission of the rotational movement of the drive shaft 40 to the blade shaft 35 takes place within the rotor 15 via a toothed belt 43 which cooperates with a toothing 45 of the cutter shaft 35 and with a toothed belt wheel 41 of the drive shaft 40. Alternatively, for the rotor shaft 13 and for the drive shaft 40, a common drive motor be provided with intermediate gear, whereby the belts 53 and 69 are driven.

A common axial adjustment of the rotor shaft 13 and the drive shaft 40 is effected by an axial drive 71, again not shown, which acts on an articulation section 65 of the rotor shaft 13.

The above in the introduction part and in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 1 to 7 explained balancing concept is also in the embodiments according to Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 realized: The rotor 15 is in each case provided with a first balancing mass 47, while a second balancing mass 49 is respectively integrated into the drive pulley 51 of the rotary drive 33 for the rotor shaft 13 formed here as a hollow shaft.

For all illustrated embodiments, the belt drives for the rotor shafts 15 and for the drive shaft 40 of the axial adjustment does not oppose, since in this case only relatively short axial travel are required and consequently the drive belt 53, 69 can be deflected accordingly.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

11

axis of rotation

13

rotor shaft

15

rotor

17

cutting blade

19

blade axis

21

Axial and rotary bearings for the rotor shaft 13

23

hub

25

Rotary bearing for the cutting blade 17

27

stationary part of the rotary drive, sprocket

29

rotor-side part of the rotary drive, gear of the cutter shaft 35th

31

fixed frame or frame part, housing wall, housing

33

rotary drive

35

cutterhead

39

fixed axis

40

drive shaft

41

Timing belt wheel of the fixed axle 39 or drive shaft 40

43

toothed belt

45

Toothing of the knife shaft 35

47

first balance mass

49

second balance mass

51

Drive disk / hub of the rotary drive 33

53

Drive belt of the rotary drive 33

55

poetry

61

cutting plane

63

casing

65

Anlenkabschnitt for axial drive 71st

67

toothed belt

69

toothed belt

71

axial drive

AROUND

Imbalance of the rotor 15

U1

Imbalance of the first balancing mass 47

U2

Imbalance of the second balancing mass 49

Claims (15)

1. An apparatus for slicing food products, in particular a high-performance slicer, comprising
   a rotor shaft (13) which rotates about an axis of rotation (11) and which is axially adjustable in operation, in particular for the carrying out of blank cuts and/or for the setting of a cutting gap;
   a rotor (15) driven by the rotor shaft (13);
   a cutting blade (17), in particular a circular blade, which is supported by the rotor (15), which revolves about the axis of rotation (11) in a planetary motion and which additional rotates relative to the rotor (15) about a blade axis (19) extending offset in parallel with the axis of rotation (11); and a rotary drive (33) for the rotor shaft (13).
2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
   characterized in that
   a combined axial and rotary bearing (21) is provided for the rotor shaft (13), relative to which bearing the rotor shaft (13) is rotatably and axially adjustable, with the axial and rotary bearing (21) in particular comprising a fixed-position hub (23).
3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2,
   characterized in that
   a front region of a hub (23) for the rotor shaft (13) and at least one region of the rotor (15) comprising a rotary bearing (25) for the cutting blade (17) and a stationary part (27) of a rotational drive for the cutting blade (17) arranged at the rear region of the hub (23) and a rotor-side part (29) of the rotational drive each axially engage into one another.
4. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   a hub (23) for the rotor shaft (13) is supported by a fixed-position rack part or frame part (31); and/or in that a hub (23) for the rotor shaft (13) is disposed outwardly open and a combined axial and rotary bearing (21) for the rotor shaft (13) is sealed with respect to the environment between the hub (23) and the rotor shaft (13).
5. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the rotor (15) has a rotary bearing (25) for the cutting blade (17), in particular for a blade shaft (35) integrated into the rotor (15), with the rotary bearing (25) being arranged in an axial direction at least approximately at the level of a combined axial and rotary bearing (21) for the rotor shaft (13).
6. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the rotor shaft (13) is led through a fixed-position rack part or frame part (31) at whose one side the rotary drive (33) is arranged and at whose other side the rotor (15) is arranged, with the rotor (15) in particular being spaced apart from the rack part or frame part (31) in the axial direction.
7. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   a rotational drive for the cutting blade (17) is derived from the rotational movement of the rotor (15); and/or in that a rotational drive for the cutting blade (17) is decoupled from the rotor shaft (13); and/or in that a rotational drive for the cutting blade (17) comprises a blade shaft (35) which is iritegrated into the rotor (15).
8. An apparatus in accordance any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   a rotational drive for the cutting blade (17) comprises a stationary part (27) and a part (29) at the rotor side, wherein the stationary part (27) and the rotor-side part (29) of the rotational drive cooperate when the rotor (15) is attached to the rotor shaft (13) in particular such that relative movements are permitted in the axial direction between the two parts (27, 29) of the rotational drive, in particular for the carrying out of blank cuts, for the setting of a cutting gap and/or for the assembly or for the dismantling of the rotor (15).
9. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the rotor shaft (13) is axially adjustable relative to a stationary part (27) of a rotational drive for the cutting blade (17);
   and/or in that a stationary part (27) of a rotational drive for the cutting blade (17) is supported by a combined axial and rotary bearing (21) and/or by a hub (23) for the rotor shaft (13);
   and/or in that a rotational drive for the cutting blade (17), in particular a stationary part (27) of the rotational drive, is arranged at the same side of a fixed-position rack part or frame part (31) as the rotor (15); and/or in that a rotational drive for the cutting blade (17) comprises a stationary part (27) with which a blade shaft (35) of the cutting blade (17) cooperates, with the stationary part (27) in particular comprising a ring at which the blade shaft (35) rolls off; and with the ring in particular being formed as a sprocket which cooperates with a toothed wheel (29) of the blade shaft (35).
10. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    a rotational drive for the cutting blade (17) comprises a rotationally driven or fixed-position drive shaft (40) or drive axle (39) which is arranged coaxially with respect to the rotor shaft (13) and by which a blade shaft (35) of the cutting blade (17) can be driven, in particular via a belt and/or toothed wheel arrangement (41, 43, 35), with the drive shaft (40) or the drive axle (39) in particular being telescopic, and with the drive shaft (40) or the drive axle (39) in particular extending through the rotor shaft (13) formed as a hollow shaft.
11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 10,
    characterized in that
    the drive shaft (40) or the drive axle (39) extends into the rotor (15) and cooperates with the blade shaft (35) within the rotor (15); and/or in that both the rotor shaft (13) and the drive shaft (40) or the drive axle (39) are at least partly axially adjustable, in particular simultaneously or together.
12. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    at least two balance masses (47, 49) are provided for compensating an imbalance (UM) of the rotor (15) caused by the cutting blade (17), with all the balance masses (47, 49) being arranged at the side of the cutting blade (17) disposed opposite the dismantling side of the cutting blade (17) and preferably being axially spaced apart from one another, and with a first balance mass (47) and a second balance mass (49) in particular being arranged at different sides of a fixed-position rack part or frame part (31).
13. An apparatus in accordance with claim 12,
    characterized in that
    a first balance mass (47) and the imbalance (UM) of the rotor (15) act at least approximately in opposite radial directions, whereas a second balance mass (49) acts at least approximately in the same radial direction as the imbalance (UM) of the rotor (15), and with the first balance mass (47) in particular being arranged closer to the cutting blade (17) in the axial direction than the second balance mass (49); and/or in that a first balance mass (47) is integrated into the rotor (15) or is formed by the rotor (15).
14. An apparatus in accordance with one of the claims 12 to 13,
    characterized in that
    a first balance mass (47) is arranged in the axial direction at least approximately at the level of a combined axial and rotary bearing (21) for the rotor shaft (13) and/or of a rotary bearing (25) for the cutting blade (17) integrated into the rotor (15);
    and/or in that a second balance mass (49) is integrated into the rotary drive (33) of the rotor shaft (13) or is formed by the rotary drive (33), in particular by a drive pulley or by a hub (51) which can be set into rotation by means of a drive motor via a drive belt (53).
15. A system comprising
    an apparatus for slicing food products, in particular a high-performance slicer, which comprises a rotor shaft (13) which rotates about an axis of rotation (11) and which is axially adjustable in operation, in particular for the carrying out of blank cuts and/or for the setting of a cutting gap, and a rotary drive (33) for the rotor shaft (13); and
    at least two differently configured cutting blade carriers (15) which are each releasably attachable to the rotor shaft (13), with the one carrier being formed as a blade mount for a cutting blade (17), in particular a scythe-like blade or spiral blade, which rotates about the axis of rotation (11) in operation, said cutting blade (17) only carrying out a rotation about the axis of rotation (11), and
    wherein the other carrier is formed as a rotor (15) for a cutting blade (17), in particular a circular blade, which rotates about the axis of rotation (11) in operation, said cutting blade (17) revolving about the axis of rotation (11) in a planetary motion and additionally rotating relative to the rotor (15) about a blade axis (19) extending offset in parallel with the axis of rotation (11); and wherein the rotor (15) preferably has a rotary bearing (25) for the cutting blade (17), in particular for a blade shaft (35) integrated into the rotor (15).

Images