EP3112104B1 - Supply device for food slicer - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a feeding device for feeding food products to a slicing unit with at least one conveyor belt as a product support, which has a drive for a loading operation. In loading operation, the products reach the conveyor belt. The food products may be, for example, sausage, ham, cheese, meat, bread or the like. The slicing unit comprises in particular a rotary blade and / or a planetary rotating cutting blade, in particular a circular or sickle blade.

The feeder includes a product holder associated with the conveyor belt that provides feed of the product in a feed operation.

It is known that when feeding products to a slicing unit usually one or more conveyor belts are used as a product support. One knows here single-track belt operations in which a conveyor belt extends over the entire width of the product support. In a multi-track operation, i. In the case of several parallel tracks in the cutting operation, however, the products on the respective tracks can be fed individually to the slicing unit.

It is also known to provide for each track independently operable tractor belts or product holder, which determine the feed. At times, there is a slight slip between the bottom of the product and the product overlay, as the products are moved relative to the product overlay.

In addition, multi-lane feeding devices are known in which the loading takes place laterally. The disadvantage of this is that the products are twisted during loading, tilted and / or rubbed off when they are moved from the lateral loading position parallel to the feed direction to the respective track.

In DE 42 35 985 B4 a feeder according to the preamble of claim 1 is described.

It is an object of the invention to provide a feeding device, a slicing device and a method for supplying a product, in particular on a track-specific basis, to a slicing device, wherein slippage between the product and the product support is avoided.

The solution of this object is achieved with a feed device, a slicing device and a method respectively with the features of independent claims 1 and 9. According to the invention, the product holder has at least one coupling device which is designed to couple the product holder for the feed operation with the conveyor belt, so that the product holder provides for a feed of the conveyor belt.

In particular, the loading of the conveyor belt can be done with products in a central area, i. the loading can be done from the upstream side of the feeder. Thus, the products to be sliced reach from the loading side, ie in the feed direction, into the slicing position.

The feeder designed in this way as extremely compact. Also, the products are not twisted during loading, tilted and / or rubbed off. According to the invention, a different drive is used in particular for loading the products than for feeding to the slicing unit. When the product is fed to the slicing unit, the product holder and the conveyor belt stand together in contact. The product holder in this case moves the conveyor belt in the feed direction. In this way, slippage between the product and the conveyor belt can be avoided. The product holder thus preferably simultaneously moves both the product and the conveyor belt in the direction of the slicing unit. A relative movement between the product and the product support is avoided by the intermediate coupling. This coupling can exist in the feed operation at least temporarily and / or at least over a partial section of the feed path.

Further developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawings.

According to one embodiment, the food products can be fed to the slicing unit in multiple lanes. Furthermore, a plurality of juxtaposed conveyor belts are provided. The drive is designed to drive the conveyor belts together in loading operation. Each track is assigned an individually movable product holder.

• Zuführvorrichtung zum mehrspurigen Zuführen von Lebensmittelprodukten zu einer Aufschneideeinheit mit mehreren nebeneinander angeordneten Förderbändern als Produktauflage, welche einen Antrieb aufweisen, der dazu ausgebildet ist, die Förderbänder in einem Beladebetrieb gemeinsam anzutreiben, und individuell bewegbaren Produkthaltern, die jeweils einer Spur zugeordnet sind und in einem Zuführbetrieb für einen spurindividuellen Vorschub des jeweiligen Produkts sorgen, wobei die Produkthalter jeweils zumindest eine Kopplungsvorrichtung aufweisen, die dazu ausgebildet ist, den Produkthalter für den Zuführbetrieb mit dem jeweiligen Förderband zu koppeln, so dass die Produkthalter für einen spurindividuellen Vorschub des jeweiligen Förderbands sorgen.

The invention therefore also relates to the following subject matter:

• Feeding device for multi-lane feeding of food products to a slicing unit with a plurality of juxtaposed conveyor belts as a product support having a drive adapted to drive the conveyor belts together in a loading operation and individually movable product holders each associated with a track and in a feed operation provide for a track-specific feed of the respective product, the product holder each having at least one coupling device which is adapted to couple the product holder for the feed operation with the respective conveyor belt, so that the product holder provide a track-specific feed of the respective conveyor belt.

In loading operation, the products can be driven on the conveyor belts arranged next to one another by the common drive. Consequently, in particular, a single belt drive drives all tracks at the same time in order to move the products completely in the direction of the slicing unit onto the respective conveyor belt. The common drive can be arranged at any point or on any roller, then in particular a drive roller, the conveyor belts. In this way, individual drives can be saved for the loading operation, which costs can be reduced.

In the feed operation, however, the drive is ineffective, since the conveyor belts are preferably decoupled from this drive.

The product holders are coupled in feed mode with the respective conveyor belts and move the products as well as the conveyor belts track-individually. The conveyor belts can preferably be stored independently of each other. This enables a track-specific product feed. The feed itself takes place in the feed operation, however, via the linear movement of the product holder.

In particular, each product holder may comprise a linear drive. The product holder can be designed, for example, as a gripper with claws, as a vacuum gripper and / or as a slide.

According to a further embodiment, the coupling device couples the product holder to the associated conveyor belt in a non-positive and / or positive fit. The coupling device may for example comprise a clamping device. It is also possible that the coupling device comprises an engagement device for engaging in a recess of the conveyor belt. The engagement device can engage, for example, in at least one perforation, a recess and / or a grid in the edge region of the conveyor belt.

Optionally, also designed as a suction coupling device is conceivable, as well as the use of magnetic forces, in particular for clamping the conveyor belt.

According to a further embodiment, the coupling takes place on at least one side of the conveyor belt, ie in particular outside the actual product support area. Preferably, the coupling can also take place on both sides of the conveyor belt. The coupling device can correspond in particular to the edge of the conveyor belt. In principle, however, it is also possible that the coupling at any point of the conveyor belt, e.g. in the middle, takes place.

According to a further embodiment, the coupling device comprises at least one adjustable coupling element, which is adjustable between a release position for the loading operation and a coupling position for the feed operation. The coupling element can in this case in particular be rotated in order to couple to the conveyor belt. In the case of an opposite rotation, the coupling with the conveyor belt can in particular be released again. The adjusting movement may alternatively or additionally comprise a height adjustment. For example, the distance of the coupling element relative to the product holder can be adjusted in order to clamp the conveyor belt between the coupling element and the product holder.

In particular, the adjustment of the coupling element can take place simultaneously with another function of the product holder, e.g. with an actuation of the claws, so that only one drive or only one actuator is necessary.

According to a further embodiment, the drive has a, in particular track-specific, freewheeling function for the feed operation, wherein preferably for Each track or each conveyor belt is provided a freewheel bearing. The freewheeling function ensures that the conveyor belt is decoupled from the common drive in the feed mode. The conveyor belt is thus moved only over the product holder. In loading operation, however, the freewheeling function is deactivated, so that the conveyor belt is driven by the common drive.

The freewheel bearing may, for example, having loaded with springs balls, which enable or block the freewheel.

If the freewheel is effective, the conveyor belts are decoupled from the common drive, in particular in the feed direction.

According to a further embodiment, the conveyor belts for the loading operation are oriented at least substantially horizontally and for the feed operation in a position inclined relative to the horizontal. The delivery device may in this case in particular comprise a lifting arm. The conveyor belts are to, in particular central, loading products in a horizontal position. For cutting, however, the conveyor belts may be inclined, e.g. usually around 40 °. In this oblique position, the cutting takes place. The adjustment of the coupling element can be coordinated in particular with the up and / or down pivoting of the lifting arm.

The invention also relates to a slicing apparatus, in particular high-performance slicer, for slicing food products.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for feeding food products to a slicing unit, wherein in a loading operation at least one conveyor belt is driven by a drive, a product holder is associated with the conveyor belt and in a feed operation for a feed of the product and the product holder for feed operation couples to the conveyor belt so that the product holder provides for advancement of the conveyor belt.

Preferably, the coupling is made with the beginning of the movement of the product holder in the feed direction. At this time, the conveyor belt is in particular already tilted. The product holder is preferably located in an upper end region of the feed device.

According to one embodiment decoupled in feed mode, in particular track-individual, freewheeling function the drive of the conveyor belt. In feed mode, the feed of the conveyor belt is therefore carried out only by the product holder.

This method has the advantage that there is no slippage between the product and the conveyor belt, since the conveyor belt is moved by the product holder.

In a multi-track operation, drives for the individual tracks can also be saved, since a common drive is sufficient for loading. Individually movable product holders for the feed are provided only in the feed operation, but which are in any case provided with individual drives, in order, e.g. cut to weight.

The coupling between the product holder and the conveyor belt is preferably released when the product holder has moved with a product residue in the direction of the slicing unit so that the product only rests on a product support belt connected downstream of the conveyor belt. The coupling device may, for example, be located downstream of the conveyor belt, so that the product may possibly still be held even though the product holder is already decoupled from the conveyor belt. Shortly after decoupling, the conveyor belt can again go down to the loading position be swiveled to pick up new products. The product residue can be further cut here. If the product is completely cut open, the end piece may be thrown off the product holder on the way back by a resulting gap between the conveyor belt and the product support belt. In the horizontal loading position, the drive of all conveyor belts is then again for all tracks together.

According to the invention, a compact design of the feeding device, in particular of the conveyor belts, is made possible. Although several conveyor belts can be arranged side by side, only a single drive for this in loading operation is necessary. In the feeding mode, however, the products can also be fed to the cutting unit on a track-by-track basis, since in this case the product holders ensure the individual movement of the products.

According to the invention, a central loading can be realized in a simple manner since all conveyor belts can be driven together in the loading operation. Thus, the products can be quickly introduced from the upstream side of the slicing unit in the respective tracks and optionally pre-conveyed to a front stop. For example, the stop may be temporarily provided in the conveying path during the loading operation, e.g. by raising the product support band.

According to the invention, the number of servodrives can be reduced, i. For several tracks you only need one instead of several independent belt drives for the product feed.

Also, the feeder can serve as a possible basis for an expansion stage of a slicer kit.

All embodiments of the devices described here are in particular designed to be operated according to the method described here. Furthermore, all embodiments of the devices described here as well as all embodiments of the method described here can each be combined with each other.

Fig. 1 bis 5

Perspektivansichten einer Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Zuführvorrichtung.

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

Fig. 1 to 5

Perspective views of an embodiment of a feeding device according to the invention.

First, it will be noted that the illustrated embodiment is merely exemplary in nature. In particular, the number of tracks and conveyor belts shown may vary.

In Fig. 1 a feeding device is shown which feeds food products 10 to a slicing unit 12.

The products 10 can be advanced on conveyor belts 14 via a common drive, not shown, in the direction of the slicing unit 12.

Product holders 16 may be engaged with a rear end of the products 10, for example by means of claws. The product holders 16 have a coupling device 20 with at least one coupling element 22. In particular, two coupling elements 22 may be provided per product holder 16, preferably on the respective sides.

Furthermore, the product holder 16 each comprise a linear drive, not shown. The product holder 16 can be moved in this way individually and independently.

The conveyor belts 14 are followed by a product support belt 18.

In Fig. 1 the conveyor belts 14 are in a substantially horizontal position. In this loading operation, products 10 can be loaded onto the conveyor belts 14. For this purpose, all conveyor belts 14 are simultaneously driven by a common drive. The products 10 are simultaneously moved in the feed direction Z to the slicing unit 12.

Subsequently, the conveyor belts, as in Fig. 2 shown to be adjusted in an inclined position. In this feeding operation, the product holders 16 engage with a rear portion of the products 10 and come into contact therewith.

In addition, the clamping devices 20 produce a coupling with the respective conveyor belts 14 with the aid of the coupling elements 22. The product holder 16 are thus fixedly coupled in the feed operation with the respective conveyor belt 14. At the same time, the conveyor belts 14 are decoupled from the common drive by means of a freewheeling function, so that the drive of the conveyor belts 14 now takes place exclusively via the respective product holders 16. The products 10 can consequently be moved in the feed direction Z to the slicing unit 12 on a track-by-track basis.

To position the products 10 prior to slicing, the product support belt 18 can be raised. The products 10 are thus advanced by the product holders 16 until the products 10 hit the product support belt 18.

For cutting, the product support belt 18, as in Fig. 3 shown, be adjusted down again. The products 10 are now cut individually. If only one product residue of the respective products 10 is present and thus are the product holders 16 in an end region of the respective conveyor belts 14, then the coupling between the product holders 16 and the conveyor belts 14 can be released again. The product residue, which is located only on the product support belt 18, can still be cut open, while the conveyor belts 14 can already be adjusted to a horizontal position to accommodate new products 10.

The product holder 16 can now be moved backwards. When zurückverstellen the product holder 16, these can throw the end pieces in a gap between the product support belt 18 and the conveyor belts 14 and dispose of them, for example.

The supply of other products 10 takes place according to the same principle just described.

In the 4 and 5 an enlargement of the coupling device 20 is shown. The coupling device 20 comprises a pivotable coupling element 22. This coupling element 22 can be adjusted downwards in order to provide a distance to the remaining product holder 16 for receiving the conveyor belt 14.

Subsequently, the coupling element 22, as in Fig. 5 is shown, twisted and adjusted upwards so as to pinch the conveyor belt 14. The release of the coupling element 22 can take place in the reverse direction, ie the coupling element 22 can be turned back and spaced from the product holder 16. The coupling is then solved again.

According to the invention thus a plurality of conveyor belts can be driven by a common drive during the loading operation. In a feed operation, however, the products can be supplied to the slicing unit on a track-specific basis.

LIST OF REFERENCES

10

Food product

12

Aufschneideeinheit

14

conveyor belt

16

product holder

18

Product support belt

20

coupling device

22

coupling element

Z

feed

Claims (10)

1. A feed apparatus for feeding food products (10) to a slicing unit (12) comprising
   at least one conveyor belt (14) as a product support; and
   a product holder (16) which is associated with the conveyor belt (14) and ensures an advance of the product (10) in a feed operation,
   wherein the product holder (16) has at least one coupling apparatus (20) which is configured to couple the product holder (16) to the conveyor belt (14) for the feed operation such that the product holder (16) ensures an advance of the conveyor belt (14),
   characterized in that the conveyor belt (14) can be driven by a drive in a load operation.
2. A feed apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the food products (10) can be fed to the slicing unit (12) in multiple tracks;
   in that a plurality of conveyor belts (14) arranged next to one another are provided;
   in that the drive is configured to drive the conveyor belts (14) together in the load operation; and
   in that an individually movable product holder (16) is associated with each track.
3. A feed apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the coupling apparatus (20) couples the product holder (16) to the associated conveyor belt (14) in a force-transmitting and/or shape-matched manner.
4. A feed apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the coupling takes place at at least one side of the conveyor belt (14).
5. A feed apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the coupling apparatus (20) comprises at least one adjustable coupling element (22) which is adjustable between a release position for the load operation and a coupling position for the feed operation.
6. A feed apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the drive has a freewheeling function, in particular a freewheeling function individual per track, for the feed operation, with a freewheel bearing preferably being provided for each track.
7. A feed apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the conveyor belts (14) are oriented at least substantially horizontally for the load operation and are oriented in a position inclined with respect to the horizontal for the feed operation.
8. An apparatus for slicing food products comprising a slicing unit (12) and a feed apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.
9. A method of feeding food products (10) to a slicing unit (12), in particular having a feed apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 1 to 7, in which
   at least one conveyor belt (14) is driven by a drive in a load operation;
   a product holder (16) is associated with the conveyor belt (14) and ensures an advance of the product (10) in a feed operation; and
   the product holder (16) is coupled to the conveyor belt (14) for the feed operation such that the product holder (16) ensures an advance of the conveyor belt (14), characterized in that at least one conveyor belt (14) is driven by a drive in a load operation.
10. A method in accordance with claim 9,
    characterized in that
    a freewheeling function, in particular a freewheeling function individual per track, decouples the drive of the conveyor belt (14) in the feed operation.

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