EP3288731B1 - Cutting device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device, in particular high-speed slicer, for slicing food products in at least one slice comprehensive portions. The food products may be, for example, sausage, ham, meat, cheese or the like.

The slicing apparatus includes a slicing unit configured to separate slices from a product. The slicing unit can be a rotary blade and / or a planetary rotating cutting blade, in particular sickle or circular blade.

In conventional slicing the separated slices fall on a conveyor belt, such as a Portionierband, and form there a portion. To remove the portion, a certain period of time is required during which no slices are separated from the product. For this, the product feeder is stopped. However, this has the disadvantage that the product possibly expands and extends into the region of the cutting plane. This may result in the slicing unit separating product slices or product slices from the product. These product chips or product scraps get on the finished portions and affect the visual appearance. To avoid this problem, so-called idle cuts have hitherto been carried out. In this case, for example, the supplied product is moved back against the conveying direction from the cutting plane and / or the slicing unit is moved away from the cutting plane. In this way, contact between the product and the slicing unit is prevented. The slicing unit performs a normal cutting motion on the blank cuts, but without separating slices from the product.

A disadvantage of these blank sections is that this time costs and thus the throughput is reduced. In addition, a certain mechanical effort is required for this.

Slicing devices are known from the prior art in which portions can be formed and transported away without performing blank cuts.

A device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from DE 198 51 149 A1 known.

According to DE 197 13 813 C1 slices are cut on a stack pickup. This passes a partially finished stack on a portioning tape. The incomplete stack is completed on the Portionierband by more discs. When the stack is completed, the stack picker engages the pulley stream so that another stack can be created on the stack picker. In the meantime, the complete stack can be removed.

The DE 10 2010 060 325 A1 describes a similar principle. A clipboard is shot here and then a portion created. The still incomplete portion is transferred to a conveyor and completed there.

Further, the EP 0 482 334 A1 a device for transferring piece goods, such as sliced sausage, from a loading station to a packaging station.

According to the prior art always a Stapelaufnehmer or a clipboard is necessary to intervene in the disk flow. This requires a complex control and mechanics.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus and method for slicing food products which is simple and inexpensive Ensures a high throughput in the production of portions.

The solution of this object is achieved by a device and a method in each case with the features of the independent claims.

According to the invention, the disks in a cutting region as a disk flow fall directly on at least one carrier and form a portion on the carrier.

The carrier may in particular be a rigid portion carrier. This can remain connected to a portion and, for example, transported together. The carrier can thus be e.g. Serve as a tray for the portion. A conventional conveyor belt which transports portions does not correspond to a carrier in the sense of the present invention, especially since in the present case the carrier itself is transported.

If, according to a possible embodiment, which is explained in more detail below, an obstacle is provided in the fall path of the discs, so that the falling discs interact with the obstacle before they fall on the carriers, then this also means an immediate fall of the discs on the carrier to understand.

In the fall path of the discs, an obstacle for influencing the discs, preferably attached to the cutting device, can be arranged. This may be a rigid obstacle such as a simple rod or a moving obstacle such as a particular relatively short, preferably at a relatively high speed rotating endless belt. By influencing the discs or their falling movement, a changed storage of the discs can be achieved on the product tray. In particular, the discs may be folded, folded or compressed for filing, resulting in certain applications is desired. Specifically, so-called "shaved meat" portions can be formed from compressed discs.

On the one hand, a portion is understood as a complete portion which can be packed in this form. On the other hand, a partial portion is included, which may have, for example, a predeterminable number of discs or a predeterminable weight. In principle, it is also possible that a portion comprises only a single slice.

The portions are put together in particular on the carrier. The individual discs can be stacked or shingled on the carrier.

The slicing apparatus includes a moving device for moving the portion-loaded carrier from the cutting area. The carriers can be moved together with the portions to a downstream processing device, for example a packaging device. Also, the portions may be buffered, sorted and / or handled, in particular rotated or overlapped. At the end of the movement device, only good portions are preferably transferred to the packaging device.

Furthermore, the slicing device has an introduction device, which is designed to introduce at least one further carrier into the disk flow as soon as a portion is formed on the preceding carrier. The carrier may be particularly empty during insertion. Alternatively, it is also possible that the carrier already has a few discs, in particular of a different kind. For example, mixed portions, ie portions with slices of different types, can be created. For example, if a partial portion with a desired number of slices of a variety has been created, then the carrier with the partial portion can be transported to a further slicing unit and introduced there into the corresponding slice current in order to produce slices of another variety. The same principle applies to slices of the same variety. Thus, a partial portion can also be moved to another slicing unit in order to be completed there.

Thus, another carrier may be introduced into the disc stream for a subsequent portion once the previous portion on a preceding carrier has been completely created or, for example, at mixed portions, has a desired number of discs.

The slicing device comprises at least one control device for controlling the movement of the carriers, the slicing unit and / or the introduction device. It is possible that a single controller controls all processes. Alternatively, separate control devices can also be provided for the carriers, the slicing unit and / or the introduction device.

In particular, portioning does not take place on a portioning belt, as is customary in the field, but directly on the carrier. The carrier is introduced into the cutting area to accommodate the separated slices. These discs fall directly on the carrier, i. a mechanical and control technically complex Stapelaufnehmer or a clipboard is not required. The discs fall in particular exclusively on the carrier. On the same carrier, the discs are transported on. The portions formed do not shift thereby, since no further transfer of the portions, e.g. from a Stapelaufnehmer or a clipboard on the carrier or by a Portionierband on a subsequent conveyor belt is required.

Also must not be interrupted for the removal of the portions of the slicing operation, since the carrier is quickly introduced between the falling discs. As a result, the throughput is increased in a simple and cost-effective manner. Furthermore, bands and belt lengths can be minimized.

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

According to one embodiment, the slicing unit is designed to continuously separate slices from a product, the slab flow being continuous. Thus, in particular, permanent disks fall down. The disk flow is therefore not broken when slicing a product, e.g. interrupted for the removal of the portions, so that the throughput and thus the number of created portions per unit time can be significantly increased.

According to a further embodiment, the movement device comprises a plurality of individually movable transport movers and a transport system for the transport movers, in which the transport movers are movable along at least one predetermined path in a removal direction, wherein in particular the transport movers each comprise at least one runner cooperating with the web system and a support for Include receiving at least one carrier on the runner.

Preferably, the holder of the Transportmovers for receiving a plurality, in particular two, carriers are formed. In particular, in a multi-track operation, the carriers can be simultaneously introduced into adjacent disc streams and loaded with discs. The carriers can then be moved out of the cutting area by a common transport movers. In the case of two carriers, these may preferably be arranged in the held state with respect to the rotor of different sides of the transport movers.

The drive for the transport movers can be designed, for example, as a linear motor, in particular as a linear synchronous motor or as a linear induction motor.

Such linear motors are known in principle in connection with a variety of applications. An advantage of such a drive principle, inter alia, when relatively low loads are to be transported, as is the case in the area in question here of the transport of food portions.

A transport system which can be used in principle for the invention, which is hereby expressly referred to with regard to the requirement for practicability of the invention, is offered by the company MagneMotion Inc., located in Devens, Massachusetts, USA. This system is based on a so-called LSM drive, ie on a drive by linear synchronous motors, which is to be distinguished from a so-called linear induction motor (LIM drive). In contrast to a LIM drive, a magnetic field is not induced by the so-called electromagnetic traveling field in an LSM drive, but the magnetic field is provided by permanent magnets. If the rotor of the linear motor carries the permanent magnets and the stator of the linear motor generates the traveling electromagnetic field, then one can visualize the drive principle of an LSM drive such that the transport magnet provided with the permanent magnet is moved along the transport path by the magnetic field moving along the stator is pulled. Such a transport system or drive principle is for example in WO 2003/029651 A2 and WO 2010/085670 A1 described. These documents are hereby expressly incorporated by reference for the disclosure of a possible drive or operating principle for the invention.

The web system or the individual webs of such a transport system can be subdivided into a plurality of successive web elements, which to a certain extent each form a single linear motor and can be individually controlled by a control device. If, at the same time, the transport movers in the rail system are identifiable by means of the control device, then, in principle, any number of transport movers can be operated simultaneously in a fundamentally arbitrarily complex rail system and thereby moved individually.

For the identification or localization of the individual transport movers in the railway system, the aforementioned company MagneMotion Inc. uses a technique in which each transport moover is provided with a transducer which induces a signal in the stator formed by the railway system, thereby enabling the control device to determine the exact position of the transport movers with an accuracy of fractions of a millimeter or fractions of a centimeter, depending on the size of the overall system. An advantage of this system is that no external sensors are needed. In addition, in the control system of the company MagneMotion Inc., the subdivision of the webs into a multiplicity of web elements, which in one sense represents a single linear motor in each case, ensures that no collisions occur between successive transport movers. Thus, a transport movers can only enter the next track element if this is permitted by the control device, which is not the case in particular if another transport movers are located in the track element.

Against the background of this basically known transport system, it is provided in the invention in one possible embodiment that the web system is designed as a stator of the linear motor.

In particular, the rotor is in each case a component of a linear synchronous motor, wherein in particular the rotor comprises at least one permanent magnet and the web system is designed as a motor stator.

Preferably, the web system is subdivided into a plurality of web elements, which in particular each represent a single linear motor, which can be controlled individually by the control device.

The transport movers are preferably identifiable by the control device.

Furthermore, the transport movers can preferably be localized by the control device in the rail system.

The transport system has a plurality of transport movers, the total number of which depends on the particular application. It may be contemplated that the web system comprises several tens to several hundred transport movers, i. In a sense, there can be a veritable "swarm" of transport movers in the railway system in order to transport a large number of portions and possibly perform additional functions, such as, for example, buffering, distributing and / or allocating portions.

According to a further embodiment, the control device controls the slicing unit such that no idle cuts are carried out.

A blank cut is usually made after the last slice of a serving, which may also be a partial serving. The cut in the course of the next knife revolution thus goes into the void.

The fact that now no empty cuts are carried out means that after the separation of the last slice of a portion immediately with the following Knife rotation again a slice is separated. After the blade rotation for cutting the last slice of the previous portion, the first slice of the subsequent portion is thus separated immediately with the next knife revolution. The cut in the course of the next knife rotation is therefore not in the void.

A single product is cut open continuously without interruption. An interruption only takes place during a product change, ie when a product is completely cut open and then a new product is cut open.

Breaks when cutting are minimized according to the invention. This leads to a continuous disk flow and concomitantly to a continuous portion stream.

According to a further embodiment, the control device controls the slicing unit such that the distance between falling slices of a product is constant. In particular, the temporal and / or spatial distance of the falling slices of a product remains the same. The time interval can be a few fractions of seconds, for example, in extreme cases, with a cutting capacity of 2000 slices per minute only 30 milliseconds. However, larger time intervals are also conceivable. In particular, the time interval may be at most 40, 50, 75, 100, 200, 300, 400 or 500 milliseconds. The spatial distance can be a few centimeters or even just a few millimeters. The slicing unit thus cuts slices off the product evenly at a constant speed. In particular, the distance between the falling discs also does not change when the carrier is introduced into the disc flow or when a portion is removed. The carriers must therefore be introduced quickly into the disk flow.

According to a further embodiment, a transfer device is provided, which transfers the products from the carrier to a packaging device. In particular, the portions can first be moved on a carrier by the movement device, in particular on a web system. The portion remains in particular on the carrier. In the area of a packaging device, the transfer device can transfer the portions into the packaging device, in particular into a packaging. In this case, a robot unit, in particular with a picker, can serve as the transfer device. The portion can be transferred from the carrier into the packaging.

Alternatively, it is possible that already the carrier forms part of a package. For example, the carrier can be designed as a tray. The individual slices fall directly into the tray. The tray is moved to the packaging device and finally packaged there, i. in particular welded and / or glued to a film.

It is also conceivable that a tray, in which fall the separated discs, rests on a support and is moved as a unit with the carrier. The carrier may in this case comprise a holding device, e.g. a frame, a recess and / or a recess, for the tray have. The tray can then be transferred from the carrier to a packaging device.

According to another embodiment, the portion remains until it is transferred to a packaging device on the carrier. This means in particular that the slices which fall directly on the carrier also remain on this carrier until the portions are packaged. Consequently, the portions do not shift on the way to the packaging device, as may be the case, for example, in conventional conveyor belt systems with belt transitions or cut-to-size devices with a stack pick-up or in the pulley flow.

According to a further embodiment, two carriers are provided for each portion, which complement each other in the cutting area to a common support for the portion.

The edition corresponds to a certain extent a shared carrier. In particular, the two carriers or carrier halves can be introduced from different sides into the disk flow. This has the advantage that the respective carriers have to travel a smaller distance. The overlay can thus be introduced faster overall in the disk flow than a single carrier.

In particular, it can also be provided that two transport movers are used per portion. In this case, each carrier can be assigned its own transport movers. The two transport movers can preferably introduce the carriers from different sides into the disk flow.

According to a further embodiment, the introduction device comprises at least one holder which temporarily fixes or holds the carrier. The carrier can thus be safely held in the disk flow and / or positioned while the discs fall onto the carrier.

In particular, the holder may mechanically, magnetically and / or hydraulically, e.g. by means of a generated vacuum. Preferably, the holder comprises a fork or pliers.

According to a further embodiment, the holder is designed to transfer the carrier loaded with a portion to the movement device, in particular a transport mover or a holder. After a portion has been created on a carrier, the carrier can be released again from the holder. The carrier is in particular again out of engagement with the introduction device, so that it can be moved out of the cutting area.

According to a further embodiment, two holders are provided, which are designed to alternately transfer a carrier loaded with a portion to the moving device, in particular a transport mover or a holder, and to introduce a further carrier into the disk flow. The holders can work in particular alternately and meet the respective function alternately. Preferably, the holders can be mounted displaceably on an axis. In this way, the carrier can be adjusted for loading in a first position and for transfer to the moving device in a second position. This ensures that the discs are always picked up in the same position and the carriers are delivered at the same position. The portions on the carriers are thus always in the same position and do not have to be postponed.

In particular, the carrier may be movable over and / or along the holder. In this case, the carrier can preferably be moved over the holder from the rear and moved out of the cutting area in the same direction. This has the advantage that the carrier is always moved in the same direction. The control is particularly simple. Also, the supply of the carrier can be integrated in a straight-line course in a simple manner in the movement device or the movement device can continue the supply to some extent, without redirecting the carrier in this case.

According to the invention, the carriers are introduced into the disc flow in a plane which lies above a transport plane in which the carriers loaded with portions are moved out of the cutting region. This allows, for example, a narrow, compact design, since the carriers do not have to be introduced from the side into the disk flow. Above However, the removal level always has enough space to supply the empty carriers to the cutting area. A feed, which is arranged above the Abtransportebene, also has the advantage that even with more than two lanes, the carrier can be introduced into the respective disc streams, which requires at least a certain design effort in a lateral feed.

According to a further embodiment, the introduction device comprises a feed inclined relative to a removal plane for the carriers. Preferably, the carriers can reach the cutting area at least with one component opposite to the removal direction. The carriers can be supplied in particular obliquely from above the cutting area, preferably with the slope. The carrier can be made in particular of plastic. In this way, the carriers can slip by gravity alone on the inclined feed into the cutting area or up to an insertion device. The insertion device is particularly simple in this way. Preferably, the distance of the feed to Abtransportebene in the region of the cutting area is smaller than seen in Abtransportrichtung downstream. The feeder thus effectively forms a wedge and can be brought close to the cutting area without hindering the slicing unit.

According to a further embodiment, the introduction device is designed to introduce the carriers from at least one side into the disk flow. Preferably, the carriers can be inserted laterally. The carriers can in particular perform a linear movement. Also, the carrier can be screwed laterally in the cutting area. Preferably, the carriers can be introduced at right angles to the Abtransportrichtung in the disk flow.

According to a further embodiment, the introduction device comprises a pivoting device for the carrier, which is mounted pivotably about a, in particular vertical, pivot axis. The supports can be made in this way e.g. coming from the side are pivoted into the cutting area. Preferably, the pivot axis may also be oriented obliquely to a vertical, i. the carriers perform an oblique movement or a wobbling motion.

According to a further embodiment, the introduction device comprises a positioning device, which is designed to position the carrier during a picking up of discs, in particular to lower, rotate and / or move in the X / Y direction relative to the disc flow.

The positioning device may in particular comprise a lifting and / or rotating device. Also, the positioning device may comprise a weighing unit which weighs the portions prior to transfer to the moving device or the transport movers. In particular, the positioning device may comprise the holder, e.g. with a movable support and / or a fork. The functionality may in this case be integrated, for example, in the fork or in a coupling region to the holder.

The invention also relates to a method for slicing food products into portions comprising at least one slice by means of a slicing device. Accordingly, slices are separated from a product. The discs fall in a cutting area as a disk flow directly on at least one carrier and form a portion on the carrier. The loaded with portions carrier are moved out of the cutting area. At least one further carrier is introduced into the disk stream as soon as a portion is formed on a preceding carrier.

According to a further embodiment, the preceding carrier is removed with the portion, while the other carrier receives slices. In particular, there is no loss of time or interruption of the pulley flow in order to be able to remove complete portions from the cutting area.

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

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht einer Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Aufschneidevorrichtung,

Fig. 2 bis Fig. 4

Draufsichten weiterer Ausführungsformen einer erfindungsgemäßen Aufschneidevorrichtung,

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht einer Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Einbringvorrichtung,

Fig. 6

eine Draufsicht auf die Einbringvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 5,

Fig. 7

eine Seitenansicht einer Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Einbringvorrichtung,

Fig. 8 und Fig. 9

Seitenansichten einer Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Trägers,

Fig. 10

eine Draufsicht auf den Träger gemäß Fig. 8 und 9,

Fig. 11

eine Draufsicht auf eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Aufschneidevorrichtung,

Fig. 12

eine Seitenansicht einer Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Aufschneidevorrichtung,

Fig. 13 und Fig. 14

Seitenansichten verschiedener Ausführungsformen einer erfindungsgemäßen Positionierungsvorrichtung, und

Fig. 15

eine Seitenansicht einer Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Aufschneidevorrichtung.

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

Fig. 1

a side view of an embodiment of a slicing device according to the invention,

Fig. 2 to Fig. 4

Top views of further embodiments of a slicing device according to the invention,

Fig. 5

a side view of an embodiment of a feed device according to the invention,

Fig. 6

a plan view of the insertion device according to Fig. 5 .

Fig. 7

a side view of an embodiment of a feed device according to the invention,

FIGS. 8 and 9

Side views of an embodiment of a carrier according to the invention,

Fig. 10

a plan view of the carrier according to 8 and 9 .

Fig. 11

a top view of an embodiment of a slicing device according to the invention,

Fig. 12

a side view of an embodiment of a slicing device according to the invention,

FIGS. 13 and 14

Side views of various embodiments of a positioning device according to the invention, and

Fig. 15

a side view of an embodiment of a slicing device according to the invention.

First, it will be noted that the illustrated embodiments are merely exemplary in nature. In particular, the number of illustrated tracks, carriers, transport movers, holders and holders may vary. The features of one embodiment may also be arbitrarily combined with features of another embodiment. In particular, it is also possible that a plurality of carriers arranged in parallel tracks, in particular two carriers arranged next to one another, are picked up by a common transport movers and moved by the latter through the railway system.

Fig. 1 shows a slicing device, in which a product 10 is cut with a slicing unit 12 into slices 14. The discs 14 fall directly on a carrier 16 and form there a portion 18th

The carriers 16 are introduced by a feed device 20 in the disk flow. The carriers 16 loaded with portions 18 are subsequently moved out of the cutting area in a removal direction A with the aid of a movement device 22.

The movement device 22 has a plurality of individually movable transport movers 24, which can be moved in a web system 26.

The introduction device 20 comprises an obliquely inclined feed 28 and a holder 30. The feed 28 can be adjusted at its end region facing the holder 30 by an adjustment path X. The holder 30 can in turn be pivoted about a horizontal pivot axis S.

Empty carriers 16 arrive in the feed direction Z via the feed 28 into the cutting area and are fixed there by the holder 30. Discs 14 are continuously separated from the product 10 and form a continuous disk flow. The discs 14 fall here directly and unhindered on the carrier 16th

The holder 30 can be pivoted about the pivot axis S from the inclined position to a horizontal position. The feeder 28 can be pulled back by the adjustment X. By the retraction or the length variability of the free end of the feeder 28, the freedom of movement for the holder 30 is ensured.

If a portion 18 is created on the carrier 16, the holder 30 delivers the carrier 16 to the transport movers 24 of the movement device 22. The Transportmover 24 can wait just behind or eg below the cutting area. In particular, the transport movers 24 can be brought into the cutting area on a track-related circular path. The transport mover equipped with a portion of 18 24 is then moved in the Abtransportrichtung A on the web system 26 from the cutting area, for example, to a packaging device. The track reference is retained in this case, ie the carrier 16 remains in a track area and the track width is not left during the removal.

Another carrier 16 is moved obliquely from above via the feed 28 in the cutting area, fixed in the holder 30 and thus introduced into the continuous disk flow. There, the carrier 16 receives discs 14, which in turn form a portion 18 on the carrier 16.

In this way it is possible that completely created portions 18 can be transported away without the continuous disk flow having to be interrupted. Namely, the introduction device 20 makes it possible to introduce empty carriers 16 into the continuous disk flow without having to interrupt the disk flow. However, it is basically also possible to temporarily interrupt the pulley flow, e.g. by performing blank cuts to give more time to insert an empty carrier 16.

An oblique feed 28 is particularly advantageous in multi-lane operation at least three tracks.

For example, if only two parallel tracks are provided, the empty carriers 16 may also be as shown in FIG Fig. 2 shown inserted or inserted from the side in the cutting area. The feed direction Z of the carrier 16 preferably runs at right angles to the Abtransportrichtung A.

The two carriers 16 can be picked up by a common Transportmover 24 and transported by this. Alternatively, each carrier 16 may be assigned a separate transport movers 24.

In Fig. 3 a further embodiment is shown. The introduction device 20 can in this case be pivoted about an at least substantially vertical pivot axis S. The carriers 16 are therefore screwed laterally into the cutting region, preferably at right angles to the Abtransportrichtung A.

The pivot axis S can also be inclined relative to the vertical. This is particularly advantageous when the carrier 16 on an obliquely inclined feed 28, as for example in Fig. 1 is shown, are introduced into the cutting area. The screwing of the empty carrier 16 can be done in this case above finished portions 18.

Preferably, the holder 30 can be height adjustable, in particular lowerable, be formed. For this, the holder 30 may be e.g. comprise a telescoping arm extending along the pivot axis S.

Alternatively or additionally, the holder 30 at the region in which the carrier 16 is fixed, a, in particular controllable, fork 31, pliers and / or clamp comprise. The fork 31 may preferably be opened and closed to at least temporarily fix the carrier 16 to the holder 30.

It is advantageous if the carrier 16 is inserted laterally into the fork 31, since then the fork opening already points in the removal direction A after swiveling in, so that the carrier 16 can be easily transferred to a transport movers 24.

The carrier 16 can be introduced laterally or from below into the disk flow. Also, the carrier 16 from a feeder 28 in the holder 30, in particular the fork 31, fall.

In a single- or two-lane slicing device, the track width for the movement of the carrier 16 does not necessarily play a role. The carrier 16 may be both obliquely from above and from the side, e.g. via a rotating and / or pivoting movement, be added or removed.

In the slicing device, which in Fig. 4 is shown, enter the empty carrier 16 in a plane above the Abtransportebene a distributor 32 to the feed 28. This can, as in Fig. 1 is shown, be inclined. Through the manifold 32 a plurality of parallel feeds 28 can be equipped with empty carriers 16. The carriers 16 pass over the oblique feeds 28 into the cutting area and are transferred to the holders 30. In an underlying transport level, the carriers 16 equipped with portions 18 can subsequently be transported away in the removal direction A from the cutting area.

The supply from above is advantageous because above the Abtransportebene sufficient space is available. The distributor 32 and the introduction device 20 consequently require no additional space. This embodiment is particularly advantageous in a multi-track operation. In principle, however, the illustrated method is also applicable to only a single track.

The loading of the carrier 16 with discs 14 can be done synchronously in the tracks. In principle, however, it is also possible for the carriers 16 to be loaded and transported away independently of one another with wafers 16.

In the FIGS. 5 and 6 a delivery device 20 is shown. The introduction device 20 has two holders 30, which can work, for example, alternately. Thus, a holder 30 can deliver a carrier 16 with a finished portion 18 to the moving device 22, while the other holder 30 receives a subsequent carrier 16 in the fork 31.

In particular, the holder 30 may also be adjustable in length to eject the carrier 16 forward to the movement device 22.

The fork 31 may be open in particular to the supply and / or discharge direction, preferably frontally or laterally. The holder 30 may preferably correspond to a corresponding receptacle on an underside of the carrier 16.

In particular, the holder 30 can be lowered, preferably depending on the portion height.

Also, the holder 30 may perform, for example, an X / Y movement. In this way 16 longitudinal and transverse shingles portions can be created on the carrier.

However, the holder 30 can not only be used e.g. be adjusted longitudinally. For example, it is also possible for the head, in particular the fork 31, of the holder 30 to be designed to be rotatable so as to be able to receive, for example, carriers 16 laterally.

Also, the brackets 30 may each be formed axially displaceable along the pivot axis S to move the carrier 16 in the track center. So they can provide for a transverse movement of the carrier 16 for the portion formation. Otherwise, the portions 18 on a carrier 16 of the left and the right holder 30 would always be positioned offset to one another and would later be brought to a common track axis.

According to the embodiment, which in Fig. 7 is shown, the carrier 16 can also be moved over or along the holder 30. There is no direct feed, Eintaktung or transfer necessary. Also, no change of direction required. The carriers 16 can thus be fed and removed along a single direction. This principle is conceivable for a holder 30, which is hinged to the feed side, the discharge side or laterally to a track.

It is sufficient in this case, whenever always in an end position of the holder 30, preferably in the oblique position before delivery of the carrier 16 in the cutting area, a new, empty carrier 16 is nachgefördert.

In the Fig. 8 to 10 It is shown that also two carriers 16 can be provided for a single portion 18. These carriers 16 can be introduced from the side into the disk flow. This has the particular advantage that the carriers 16 can be introduced more quickly into the continuous disk flow of the falling disks.

As in Fig. 9 can be seen, a conveyed on the carriers 16 portion 18 are also delivered in a simple manner in a package 34. The carriers 16 are hereby separated from each other above the packaging 34, so that the portion 18 can fall down. This can be done, for example, at the end of a railway system 26. The portion 18 is then in a packaging tray, such as a tray.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 11 a plurality of holders 30 are each arranged laterally next to a track. These holders 30 provide for feeding the empty carriers 16 and can be moved in the X and Y directions.

In the embodiment which is in Fig. 12 is shown, the empty carrier 16 can be introduced via a single-stroke unit 36 below a cutting edge in the cutting area. The carriers 16 may in this case already be connected to a transport movers 24 or otherwise be transported, for example via a conveyor belt, into the cutting area. In the cutting area, the transport movers be moved forwards and backwards with the carrier 16 in order to create a desired storage image. This cutting area, in which the portions are created, can also be arranged separately from the web system 26, which provides for the removal.

In the FIGS. 13 and 14 is symbolically indicated by the arrows a positioning device 38. The introduction device 20 may thus comprise a positioning device 38 in these embodiments, which provides for a lifting and / or rotational movement of the carrier 16. The positioning device 38 is operative before the carriers 16 are transferred to the transport movers 24. Also, the positioning device 38 can rotate the carriers 16 to arrange the discs 14, for example, in a round.

Further, the positioning device 38 may include, for example, a scale to weigh the portion 18 in this step.

The positioning device 38 can detect and guide the carrier 14 from the outside. The positioning device 38 can also lower the carrier 16 and transfer it to the transport movers 24 waiting below. It is conceivable here for the carrier 16 to be dropped into a holder of the transport movers 24 with the aid of gravitational acceleration.

The handling of the discs 14 and the portions 18 thus takes place in a sense in three levels. In the uppermost level, the holder 30 is provided for the carrier 16. At this level, the portioning begins. In the middle level, the positioning device 38 is arranged, which handles the finished portions 18. Finally, the transport movers 24 wait in the lowest level and ensure the removal of the carriers 16.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 15 the introduction device 20 comprises a turning device. A plurality of holders 30 are arranged rotatably about a rotation axis D. The supports 16 can, figuratively, be moved as in a Ferris wheel and be introduced successively in the cutting area. A hinge 40 at the respective end region of the holder 30 ensures that the carrier 16 are always aligned horizontally.

The holder 30 may be adjustable in length. It is also conceivable that the respective holders are height adjustable. Preferably, the carriers 16 may perform X-Y movement and / or rotational movement through the holders 30.

In particular, the rotating device can be arranged laterally next to the track or the movement device 22. For each track, two rotating devices may be provided with a common axis of rotation D, which alternately feed carrier 16 into the cutting area. This can be done from one side or both sides. Also, the portions 18 may be weighed prior to transfer to the transport movers 24.

Thus, according to the invention, idle cuts can be avoided. The device does not need any equipment for it, i. the slicing unit does not have to have a disengagement mechanism or the like for this purpose. Also, the product 10 does not have to be moved counter to the feed direction. The fact that the discs 14 fall directly on the carrier 16 and are no longer removed from them to the packaging device, a high portion quality is achieved. The portion structure is not adversely affected by any band transitions during transport.

According to the invention, a high cutting performance can be ensured because the disk flow is not interrupted by idle cuts.

LIST OF REFERENCES

10

product

12

Aufschneideeinheit

14

disc

16

carrier

18

portion

20

infuser

22

mover

24

transport Mover

26

rail system

28

feed

30

holder

31

fork

32

distributor

34

packaging

36

timed-entry

38

positioning device

40

swivel

A

removal direction

Z

feed

X

adjustment

S

swivel axis

D

axis of rotation

Claims (14)

1. An apparatus, in particular a high-speed slicer, for slicing food products (10) into portions (18) comprising at least one slice (14), having
   a slicing unit (12) which is configured to cut off slices (14) from a product (10), wherein the slices (14) fall directly onto at least one carrier (16) as a slice stream in a cutting region and form a portion (18) on the carrier (16);
   a movement apparatus (22) for moving the carriers (16) loaded with portions (18) out of the cutting region;
   an introduction apparatus (20) which is configured to introduce at least one further carrier (16) into the slice stream as soon as a portion (18) has been formed on a preceding carrier (16); and
   at least one control device for controlling the movements of the carriers (16), the slicing unit (12) and/or the introduction apparatus (20), characterized in that
   the carriers (16) are introduced into the slice stream in a plane which is disposed above a transporting away plane in which the carriers (16) loaded with portions (18) are moved out of the slicing region.
2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the slicing unit (12) is configured to cut off slices continuously from a product (10), with the slice stream being continuous.
3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2,
   characterized in that
   the movement apparatus (22) comprises a plurality of individually movable transport movers (24) and a path system (26) for the transport movers (24) in which the transport movers (24) are movable along at least one predefined path in a transporting away direction, with the transport movers (24) in particular each comprising at least one runner cooperating with the path system (26) and a holding device for receiving at least one carrier (16) at the runner.
4. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the control device controls the slicing unit (12) such that no blank cuts are carried out.
5. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the control device controls the slicing unit (12) such that the spacing between falling slices (14) of a product (10) is constant.
6. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   a transfer apparatus is provided which transfers the portion (18) from the carrier (16) to a packaging apparatus.
7. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the portion (18) remains on the carrier (16) up to the transfer to a packaging apparatus.
8. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   two carriers (16) are provided for each portion (18) and complement one another in the cutting region to form a common support for the portion (18).
9. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the introduction apparatus (20) comprises at least one holder (30) which temporarily fixes the carrier (16), with the holder (30) in particular being configured to transfer the carrier (16) loaded with a portion (18) to the movement apparatus (22), in particular to a transport mover (24) or to a holding device.
10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 9,
    characterized in that
    two holders (30) are provided which are configured to alternately transfer a carrier (16) loaded with a portion (18) to the movement apparatus (22), in particular to a transport mover (24) or to a holding device, and to introduce a further carrier (16) into the slice stream.
11. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the introduction apparatus (20) comprises a feed (28) for the carriers (16) inclined with respect to a transporting away plane; and/or in that the introduction apparatus (20) is configured to introduce the carriers (16) into the slice stream from at least one side; and/or in that the introduction apparatus (20) comprises a pivoting apparatus for the carriers (16) which is supported pivotably about a pivot axis, in particular about a vertical pivot axis (S).
12. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the introduction apparatus (20) comprises a positioning apparatus (38) which is configured to position the carrier (16) during an acceptance of slices (14), in particular to lower it, to rotate it and/or to move it in the X/Y direction relative to the slice stream.
13. A method for slicing food products (10) into portions (18) comprising at least one slice (14) by means of a slicing apparatus, in particular in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    in which slices (14) are cut off from a product (10);
    the slices (14) fall directly onto at least one carrier (16) as a slice stream in a cutting region and form a portion (18) on the carrier (16);
    the carriers (16) loaded with portions (18) are moved out of the cutting region; and
    at least one further carrier (16) is introduced into the slice stream as soon as a portion (18) has been formed on a preceding carrier (16), characterized in that
    the carriers (16) are introduced into the slice stream in a plane which is disposed above a transporting away plane in which the carriers (16) loaded with portions (18) are moved out of the slicing region.
14. A method in accordance with claim 13,
    characterized in that
    the preceding carrier (16) is transported away with the portion (18) while the further carrier (16) receives slices (14).

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