EP2942165A2 - Method for operating a slicing device with multi-track drives - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for cutting at least one food bar with a slicing device, wherein at least one food bar is transported in each case one track, each with a transport in the direction of a rotating driven cutting knife, in a cutting plane to the front end of the food bar food slices of the Food bar separates; which are combined into portions and transported away, wherein the cutting blade for generating the portion or for transporting the portion of idle cuts performs in which the cutting blade moves but are separated from the food bar no food slices.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for cutting at least one food bar with a slicing device, in which at least one food bar is transported in each case one track, each with a transport in the direction of a rotary driven cutting knife, in a cutting plane to the front end of the food bar food slices of the Food bars separated, which are combined into portions and transported away, wherein the cutting blade for generating the portion and / or for transporting the portion of idle cuts, in which the cutting blade moves but are separated from the food bar no food slices.

Such a method is known from the prior art, but has the disadvantage that it always comes back to Schnitzelbildung especially when multi-lane slicing of very long, heavy food bars. Furthermore, the prior art methods are not flexible enough and / or the food bar is subjected to strong accelerations.

It was therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art.

The object is achieved with a method for cutting at least one food bar with a slicing device, in which at least one food bar is transported in each case one track, each with a transport in the direction of a rotationally driven cutting blade, in a cutting plane at the front end of the food bar food slices of the food bar is separated, which are combined into portions and transported away, wherein the cutting blade to produce the portion and / or to transport the portion performs empty cuts in which moves the cutting blade but no food slices are separated from the food bar and wherein for performing the idle cuts the cutting blade and at least the leading end of the food bar are moved away from each other.

The statements made on this subject of the present invention apply equally to the other objects of the present invention and vice versa.

The present invention relates to a method for slicing a food bar with a slicing apparatus. Such a slicing device is preferably a so-called slicer, in particular a high-performance slicer, in which more than six hundred, in some cases more than a thousand food slices per minute are separated per food bar. In such a slicing one, but preferably several food bars, such as sausage, cheese or ham, continuously or intermittently transported by a conveyor belt in the direction of a rotary driven cutting knife, which separates food slices of this in a cutting plane at the front end of the food bar. The cutting blade may be, for example, a circular or sickle blade. The food slices are portioned onto a portioning agent, for example a portioning belt or a portioning table, into portions of several, for example ten, food slices and then transported away as portions. It can be created on the portioning simultaneously several portions and transported away. Since, as is known, the frequency of the cut food slices for portioning and / or for removal are too high, often idle cuts must be performed in which the knife continues its normal movement, such as its rotational movement, but separated from the food bar but no food slices become.

According to the invention, these idle cuts are now achieved by pulling the cutting blade away from the front end of the food and away from the cutting plane and moving away at least the front end of the food bar away from the cutting plane. Both the cutting blade and the front end of the food bar thus perform a movement that increases the distance between the cutting blade and the front edge of the food bar. Preferably, both the movement of the cutting blade and the food bar is linear, most preferably provided parallel to each other. Preferably, the cutting blade is displaced along or parallel to its axis of rotation. The return movement of the front end of the cutting blade can be done by a withdrawal of the entire food bar and / or a compression of the front end of the food bar. The food bar and / or a part of the food bar is preferably moved together with its support, for example a conveyor belt.

Preferably, the movement of the cutting blade begins before the movement of the front end of the food bar is initiated. This preferred embodiment of the present invention has the advantage that for the at least sections Wese movement more time is available to the food bar without chips being formed. As a result, the food bar or parts of the food bar must be accelerated less strongly, so that the forces are less and / or oscillations of the food bar and / or the entire device are at least reduced.

Preferably, several food bars are at least temporarily cut simultaneously.

Another object of the present invention is a method for slicing food bars with a slicer having a plurality of tracks, in each of which a food bar is loaded and transported independently of the one or other tracks in the direction of the rotary driven cutting blade, in a cutting plane The front end of the respective food bar separates food slices, which are combined into portions and transported away. According to the invention, it is now provided that in the case of the cutting movements for cutting a complete portion, the same number of food slices is not cut off at all food bars and / or different food bars are at least temporarily cut open.

The statements made on this subject of the present invention apply equally to the other objects of the present invention and vice versa.

According to the invention it is thus provided that at least one cutting movement of the cutting blade, which is required for slicing a portion of at least one food bar a slice is separated, while from another food bar, which is also located in the slicing, no food slice is separated. This makes it possible to produce a portion of different food slices such as sausage and cheese, the sausage slices are at least partially cut off in front of the cheese slices or vice versa. In addition, it is possible to vary the number of the respective food slice per variety. For example, it is possible for one serving to have five slices of sausage and only three slices of cheese, although the food slices are sliced for one serving in a device.

In a preferred embodiment, this is achieved by the number of empty cuts per track and / or the transport of the respective food bar per track individually is selected. In the case of tracks in which no food slice is to be cut off, the respective food bar is pulled away from the cutting plane and the feed is switched off. Thus, in this track, the cutting blade performs blank cuts, while on at least one other track it separates food slices from another food bar.

Furthermore, it is possible with the inventive method to cut several portions simultaneously, in which the products are arranged in several rows, wherein the distance of the food slices on the portioning agent is preferably less than the distance of the food bars and / or where at least two different products in one Portion are available.

Preferably, the cutting blade and / or at least the front end of the respective food bar is moved away from each other to carry out a blank cut.

Preferably, food slices are separated from a plurality of food bars for one serving, the number of food slices per food lock being different, but with the last slicing motion being cut off for each portion of all the food slices located in a track.

According to a further or a preferred object of the present invention, the food bars are gripped at the front end facing away from the food bar at different times in each case by a gripper.

The statements made on this subject of the present invention apply equally to the other objects of the present invention and vice versa.

In particular, the gripper has the function of stabilizing the food bar, when it is already largely cut open, in its position so that it does not tilt and / or pull the so-called remnant, which can not be cut away, away from the cutting blade Remove the respective track, for example, throw it into a container or the like.

This embodiment of the method according to the invention allows a very high flexibility, in particular if the respective food bars are of different lengths and / or if they are cut open at different speeds.

Since with each food bar, as a rule, an uncut end piece remains, which in each case is withdrawn by the gripper, this withdrawal takes place in the respective tracks according to the invention or preferably at least partially at different times.

Preferably, the grippers of all tracks are displaceably mounted on a single central unit and are preferably guided by this. Preferably, each gripper has its own drive, with which it is possible this gripper individually, d. H. independent of the other grippers to move at least a certain distance relative to the central unit. Preferably, the grippers can be transferred from a gripping to a non-gripping state, particularly preferably individually.

Preferably, the central unit is also provided slidably along the slicing device.

• Figur 1a - d zeigt eine erste Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren.
• Figur 2a - c zeigt eine weitere Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren; bei dem für eine Portion unterschiedliche Arten von Lebensmittelriegeln aufgeschnitten werden.
• Figur 3a, b zeigt eine Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren, bei der eine Lebensmittelportion unterschiedliche Sorten von Lebensmittelscheiben aufweist.
• Figur 4a, b zeigt eine Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren, bei der pro Lebensmittelriegel eine unterschiedliche Anzahl an Lebensmittelscheiben für eine Portion abgeschnitten wird.
• Figur 5a - d zeigt die Bewegung der Greifer während des mehrspurigen Aufschneidens von Lebensmittelriegeln.
• Figur 6 zeigt eine Ausführungsform einer Spur einer Aufschneidevorrichtung.

In the following, the inventions are based on the Figures 1-6 explained. These explanations are merely exemplary and do not limit the general inventive concept. These explanations apply equally to all articles of the present invention.

• FIG. 1a - d shows a first embodiment of the method according to the invention.
• FIG. 2a c shows a further embodiment of the method according to the invention; slicing different types of food bars for one serving.
• FIG. 3a, b shows an embodiment of the method according to the invention, in which a food portion has different types of food slices.
• FIG. 4a, b shows an embodiment of the inventive method in which per food bar a different number of food slices is cut for a portion.
• FIG. 5a - d shows the movement of the grippers during the multi-lane slicing of food bars.
• FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of a track of a slicing device.

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the method according to the invention. This is carried out with a four-lane slicing device, in which four food bars A - D can be transported independently with one transport (not shown) in the direction of a cutting blade 1, which can separate food slices from the front end of the respective food bar in the cutting plane 6. The person skilled in the art understands that the slicing device can have more or fewer tracks 3'-3 "", but for example also only one track. The cutting blade 6 is preferably driven in rotation. In the illustration according to figure a, the food bars B and D are in a retracted position, in which the advance of the means of transport of the respective track 3 ", 3""is not activated, but the food bars A and C become as indicated by the arrow shown within the food bar, transported continuously or intermittently in the direction of the food bar, so that the cutting blade 1 in each of the rotation of each cutting a food slice (not shown) separated from the front end of the food bars A and C. If now a change of aufzuschneidenden Food bars done, this is preferably as in the FIGS. 1b to d shown performed. For this, according to the invention, both the cutting blade 1 of the cutting plane 6 and the front end of the food bar as in FIG. 1b shown moved away as well as in Figure 1c shown in the sliced food bar, here A and C a piece of the cutting plane 6 withdrawn. Thus, the first the cutting blade 1 has been moved away from the cutting plane 6, is available for the withdrawal movement of food bars A and C more time than the normal time window in a complete movement, such as a rotary or planetary motion, available, so that they are not within one rotation of the cutting blade or less must be withdrawn without chips are formed, but more time is available. In the representations according to the FIGS. 1b and c The knife performs blanks, ie it rotates without food slices being separated from the food bars. Then (cf. Figure 1d ), the cutting blade 1 is moved back into the cutting plane and now the food bars B and D transported in the direction of the cutting blade, so that the cutting knife separates food slices of these bars. By the method according to the invention it is possible to feed several tracks with food bars and not always with each movement of the knife to separate from all food slices slices. Furthermore, it is possible with the method according to the invention to vary the cold cuts between the respective food slices and / or to separate a different number of food slices from the respective food slices. Figur1 Also serves as an illustration if only one food bar is cut in a trail. Also in this case, to perform blanks both the cutting blade 1 is moved away from the cutting plane 6, as well as at least the front end of the food bar A retracted from the cutting plane. This embodiment, when only a food bar is cut open, has the advantage that the movement of the food bar can be slower and / or that even then no chips are formed, even if the slicing process is interrupted relatively long.

FIG. 2 essentially shows the method according to FIG. 1 , In the present case, the slicer also four tracks 3 '- 3 "", with two tracks 3', 3 '"each with a food bar with a round cross-section and two tracks 3", 3 "" each with a food bar with a quadrangular cross-section are loaded. In the presentation according to FIG. 2a the food bars are cut with the round cross-section as long as enough food slices are cut with a round cross-section. Then, as in FIG. 2b 1, the cutting blade 1 is moved away from the cutting plane 6 by a linear distance, the bars are retracted in the tracks 3 ', 3 "' and the bars B and D are pushed forwards with the quadrangular cross section moved back into the cutting plane 6 ( Fig. 2c ) and the slices of bars B and D can begin by being transported in the direction of the cutting blade. The skilled artisan recognizes that the retraction of the bars A and C and the advancement of the bars B and D can be performed sequentially or simultaneously. The retraction of the food bars that have just been sliced, however, preferably occurs after the cutting knife has been pulled away from the cutting plane. The skilled person understands that the method shown here can be carried out without a withdrawal of the cutting blade from the cutting plane.

FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the inventive method, for example, the method according to FIG. 2a , Again, four food bars are cut into four lanes and the food slices deposited on a portioning table 10, such as an xY table, shingled here. For example, it could only be two tracks. The food bars A have a round cross-section and the food bar B has a quadrangular cross-section. In the present case two portions are cut open at the same time. First, as in FIG. 3a shown, the food bar A cut, wherein after each slice, as shown by the arrow on the portioning table 10, this moves forward by a certain distance to achieve a shingled portion. The food bars B are in a retracted position. Then, preferably, the cutting blade 1 from the cutting plane 6 in the direction of the cutting table is shifted by a linear distance so that it performs blank cuts. Furthermore, as shown by the arrow 12, the portioning table is moved a certain distance to the right. Furthermore, as in FIG. 3b shown the food bars A withdrawn and the food bar B pushed forward. In addition, the portioning table 10 is preferably moved again in the direction of the food bars. Then, the conveyor belts transport the food bar B in the direction of the cutting blade, which cuts food slices of these, which are stored shingled on the portioning table 10. Thus, it is possible to obtain one or more portions of food slices from two different food bars without causing chips to form.

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the method according to the invention. In the present case, a food portion is to be cut, which consists of six food slices A 'three food slices B' and a food slice C '. This is achieved in that initially only the two food bars A and the food bar B are cut, which in FIG. 4a is shown while the food bar C is in a retracted position. Consequently, the cutting blade does not cut off any food bars. During the time when the cutting blade is not in engagement with the food bars, the food bar C, for the last cutting movement (the last cut) for this portion, is pushed forward and in this last cut (see FIG. Fig. 4b ) slices are cut from all four food bars. Then, the front end of the food bar C is again withdrawn from the cutting plane 6 and a new portion can be cut open. The retraction of the food bar C is preferably carried out after the cutting blade has been moved away from the cutting plane. This results in a sufficiently large period of time on the one hand to transport the finished food portion of the slicing away and on the other to withdraw the food bar C. If it is necessary for the formation of a portion that all food bars are cut simultaneously, this should be done at least at the last cut for each serving, because then more time is available for the next cut of the next serving the no longer needed food bar again withdraw. However, this method also works without a movement of the cutting blade from the cutting plane.

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the method according to the invention. In the present case a gripper 9 is arranged per track, which can be engaged with the rear end 17 of the respective food bar A-C present in the track, in order to stabilize them in their position, and in particular if their slices are already very advanced, and / or to withdraw the remaining remnant from the cutting blade. In the present case, all grippers 9 are provided on a central unit 15, which is preferably provided in the direction of the cutting plane and back displaceable or stationary. Relative to this central unit 15, the grippers 9 can be moved independently of each other, for example by a motor drive. The central unit 15 preferably guides the grippers 9 as they move relative to the central unit. The grippers grasp the rear end of the food bar only after their sliced has begun preferably after their cold cuts is almost completely completed. In the embodiment according to FIG. 5 However, to form a portion of the food bars A and B two slices of the food bar C but only cut a slice. As a result, food bar C is sliced slower than food bars A and B.

In the presentation according to FIG. 5 the food bars A and B are cut comparatively far, while the food bar C still a long uncut portion is present. Consequently, the grippers 9, which are arranged behind the food bars A and B, are moved forward relative to the central unit 15, in order to engage the food bars A and B. The gripper behind the food bar C, however, remains in a retracted position and is not brought into engagement with the food bars. In this state, the slicing of food bars is continued until the food bars A and B are completely cut open except for a remnant. Then, the remaining portion of the food bars A and B is withdrawn from the respective grippers and preferably dropped over a discharge chute (not shown). Thereafter, the respective gripper is preferably moved to its "home position". The liberated tracks can be loaded with a new food bar, which is in FIG. 5c is shown. These new food bars A and B are then cut open. Furthermore, in FIG. 5c to recognize that now the food bar C is cut very far, so that the gripper behind it is brought into contact with this food bar, while the grippers 9, which are located behind the food bars A and B, are not engaged with this.

FIG. 5d shows the state in which all rear ends of all food bars are each engaged with a gripper 9.

The example according to FIG. 5 shows that it is possible and useful to grasp the ends of the food bars at different times. This is possible in particular that the ends of the food bars are only taken when their cold cuts are already in progress and / or almost completed.

FIG. 6 shows a track 3'- 3 "" a slicing machine, with the method of the invention can be performed. A food bar A, B, C rests on a conveyor belt and is transported by this in the direction of a cutting blade 1. The transport is assisted by a second conveyor belt 5 abutting the upper end of the food rack, which preferably presses the food bar against the lower conveyor belt 5. The conveyor belts 5 transport the food bar 5 in the direction of the cutting blade 1, which is driven in rotation and at each rotational movement separates a food disc from the front end of the food bar, when the cutting blade is in the cutting plane and the food bar is transported in the direction of the cutting blade. To carry out blank cuts, the cutting blade is displaced, as shown by the arrow, from the food bar and the cutting plane about a linear span, parallel to its axis of rotation for a certain period of time. As soon as no more blank cuts are desired, the knife is moved back along the same path back into the cutting plane. Furthermore, if necessary, at least the front end 16 of the food bar 5 is withdrawn from the cutting plane. However, it is also possible to withdraw the entire band construction including food bar. In the region of the rear end 17, a gripper 9 is arranged as needed, in particular when the food bar is already very far cut, is engaged with this. Preferably, the gripper 9 claws, which are positively and / or positively and reversibly brought into connection with the rear end 17. As soon as the food bar has been largely cut open so that only one remaining piece remains, this remnant piece is withdrawn from the gripper 9 by the cutting plane and preferably dropped off via a discharge chute (not shown).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

cutting blade

2

slicing

3

track

3 '3 ""

track

4

cutting plane

5

Mode of Transport

6

cutting plane

7

Movement of the cutting blade away from the cutting plane and / or the front end of the food bar

8th

Retraction movement of the front end of the food bar

9

grab

10

Table, portioning tape

11

Arrow, movement of the table 10 in the transport direction of food bars

12

Arrow, movement of the table 10 transversely to the direction of transport of food bars

13

Guiding means, connecting means

14

-

15

Central unit of the gripper

16

Front end of the food bar

17

Rear end of food bar

ABC

Food bar

A ', B', C '

Food slice from food bar A, B, C

Claims (8)

Method for slicing food bars (A, B, C) with a slicing device (2) having a plurality of tracks (3 '- 3 "") into each of which a food bar (A, B, C) is loaded and independent of or the other tracks (3'-3 "") is transported in the direction of a rotationally driven cutting blade (1) in a cutting plane (6) at the front end of the respective food bar (A, B, C) food slices (A ', B ', C') separated, which are chamfered together into portions and transported away, characterized in that cut in the cutting movements for slicing a full portion of not all food bars the same number of food slices and / or at least temporarily different food bars are cut. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of blank cuts for each track is selected individually. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that for performing a blank cut the cutting blade (1) and / or at least the front end of the food slab just cut are moved away from each other. Method according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that for a portion of food sheaths (A ', B', C ') are separated from several food bars, wherein the number of food slices per food bar is different and at the last cutting movement for the each serving of all food bars is cut off a slice. Method according to one of the preceding claims or the preamble of patent claim 1, characterized in that the food bars at the end (17) of the food bar (A, B, C) facing away from the front end (16) are in each case held by a gripper (9 ). A method according to claim 5 or the preamble of claim 5, characterized in that at each food bar an uncut end piece remains, which is in each case withdrawn by a gripper (9) and this withdrawal in the respective tracks (3 '- 3 "") takes place at least partially at different times. Method according to one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the grippers (9) are all mounted displaceably on a central unit. Method according to one of claims 5 - 7, characterized in that each gripper (9) has its own drive.

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