EP3308915A1 - Method and device for cutting open food products and method for detecting the beginning of a food product - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for slicing food products, in particular high-performance slicers, with a product feed, which supplies at least one product to be sliced to a cutting blade rotating and / or rotating in a cutting plane, the product feed comprising a feed device and a driven conveyor belt arranged downstream of the feed device a blocking position serving as a product stop in a starting phase and a subsequent phase of the starting phase as a product conveyor serving release position is adjustable, and with a control device which is designed to detect the beginning of a product in the startup phase by means of the feeder moving product, the concerns of the product to recognize on the driven in the blocking position conveyor belt by monitoring a drive of the conveyor belt.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for slicing food products, in particular high-performance slicers, with a product feed, which feeds at least one product to be sliced to a cutting blade rotating and / or rotating in a cutting plane, the product feed comprising a feed device and a driven conveyor belt arranged downstream of the feed device is adjustable between a blocking position serving as a product stop in a start phase and a release position serving as a product conveyor in a cutting phase following a start phase.

The invention also relates to a method for slicing food products, in particular carried out by a Hochleistungsslicer, wherein at least one product to be cut by means of a product supply to a cutting plane rotating and / or rotating cutting blade is supplied, wherein the product supply a feeder and a feeder downstream driven Includes conveyor belt.

The invention also relates to a method for detecting the start of product from a processing device along a conveyor line supplied food products.

In the prior art, tapes are generally used for the supply of products to a knife of a slicing machine as a support surface for the products. Are known, for example, single-track belt drives, which extend over the entire width of the support surface, in which case at several Parallel tracks in the cutting operation of the product feed track individual takes place by means of product grippers, which detect the rear end of the product. It then takes some slippage between the product base and the support surface in purchase, if for each lane independently operable gripper or acting on top of the product acting, also referred to as tractor belts drive or conveyor belts determine the product feed.

Also known are arranged laterally next to the product conveyor gripper drives. These consist for example of at least one guide and a spindle as a drive for the axial process of a common gripper holder, which extends over several product traces away. At this holder several, each associated with a track product gripper are attached.

The gripper holder thus moves several grippers back and forth simultaneously in a multi-track product feed. In addition, each gripper has a so-called Vario drive, with which it is additionally and independently of the other grippers on a limited way adjustable to compensate for one hand, different product lengths track individual and on the other hand, despite these differences in length to allow a secure gripping the respective rear product end.

An exemplary slicing machine of the type described above comprises a relatively short conveyor belt as a traction device, product support and support directly on the knife or on the feed side immediately before - in the feed direction - the cutting edge.

Basically, the pivoting of such a conveyor belt, for example, by 90 ° relative to the feed direction in a blocking position, so that it can serve as a stop for the products during the loading phase. After loading, the conveyor belt pivots back into a conveying or release position.

It is now important for an optimal multi-track cutting process that all products actually touch the product stop with their front ends, so that a clear reference position of the products is given. If the products are e.g. be scanned in the feed or loading area and the machine control created a cutting plan, which u.a. In order to reconcile unworkable end regions, a desired slice thickness and a portion set weight with the respective product length, the positions of the scanned products relative to the cutting plane must be known.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple and reliable way to product initial detection while ensuring short loading times, secure gripper track control and accurate gripper positioning.

The object of the invention is achieved by the subject matter of claim 1, and in particular by the fact that a control device is provided, which is designed to detect the beginning of the product in the start phase by means of the feed device to move the concerns of the product at the start driven in the blocking position Recognize conveyor belt by monitoring a drive of the conveyor belt.

Under start-up phase is here to be understood a period in which still no product is cut, but certain preparatory processes take place, in particular the loading of the slicer with one or more products, conveying the products in the conveying direction, the alignment of the front product ends, taking the rear product ends, as well as the feeding of the products until just before the cutting plane or on the cutting plane zoom. The launch phase may include one or more of these operations.

The invention provides a particularly simple and yet precise solution for detecting the beginning of the product. In particular, there are no additional sensors, e.g. Photocells, necessary for initial recognition. The device can therefore be carried out particularly inexpensively.

In one embodiment, the drive of the conveyor belt comprises an electric motor and the control means is adapted to monitor a parameter of the power supply of the electric motor and to detect a change in the parameter caused by engagement, contact and / or contact of the product beginning with the conveyor belt. The engagement of the product beginning with the conveyor belt can act for example on the conveyor belt as a resistor, so that it can be recognized on the electric motor or the control device that, for example, a larger current is needed to maintain a target speed. Alternatively, for example, only a speed or speed reduction of the conveyor belt can be detected.

Quite generally according to the invention, therefore, a so-called following error can be detected and evaluated, that is to say a deviation between a nominal value and an actual value.

In a further embodiment, the parameter is the current consumption of the electric motor and the control device is designed to detect an increase of the current consumption exceeding a predetermined or predefinable threshold.

In this case, it is provided in particular that the threshold is a current consumption value which is above a reference value, which is determined within a predeterminable or predetermined period of time prior to application of the product beginning on the conveyor belt located in the blocking position, in particular within one Period that begins shortly before, during or after demv adjustment of the conveyor belt in the blocking position and in which the conveyor belt is driven.

As a result, the current consumption can be used as a reference value at - to some extent "idling" - running, located in the blocking position conveyor belt to take into account in this way the current operating situation immediately before the concern of the product on the conveyor belt.

It is preferably provided that the conveyor belt in the starting phase, in particular at least in the blocking position and / or at least temporarily, can be driven against the conveying direction. This reliably prevents the product from being moved out of a desired position by the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt does not need to be driven against the conveying direction during the entire starting phase. It suffices, if this is e.g. only occurs when the conveyor belt is in the locked position, or if this occurs during a period in which the front end of the product is expected at the located in the blocking position conveyor belt.

In a further development, the conveyor belt is arranged in the region of the cutting plane and / or immediately before a cutting edge cooperating with the cutting blade.

The conveyor belt can serve as product support in the cutting phase.

Preferably, the conveyor belt between the locking position and the release position is pivotable.

In a further embodiment, at least the conveyor belt is formed in multiple tracks and comprises a plurality of mutually independent band sections, for independently of each other the concern of a respective product beginning is recognizable.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a method according to claim 9. In particular, the product beginning of a moving means of the feeder product is detected by the conveyor belt is adjusted and driven in a serving as a product stop blocking position, the product by means of the feeder against the conveyor belt located in the locked position and driven, is moved, and the concern of the product start on the driven conveyor belt is detected by monitoring a drive of the conveyor belt. Furthermore, the product is fed to the cutting plane and cut by means of the cutting blade in a cutting phase subsequent to the starting phase when the conveyor belt is displaced into a release position serving as a product conveyor.

The object of the invention is further achieved by a method according to claim 10. In this case, a conveyor belt which is adjustable between a blocking position serving as a product stop and a release position serving as a product conveyor is provided in particular in the conveying path. In the method, the conveyor belt are moved to the blocking position and driven, the product is moved against the located in the blocking position and driven conveyor belt and detected the concerns of the product on the driven conveyor belt by monitoring a drive of the conveyor belt.

Both mentioned methods can be advantageously further developed by the embodiments described below. Also, the device described can be further developed in the sense of these embodiments. Conversely, the methods described herein can also be advantageously developed in the sense of the embodiments described herein in connection with a device.

An embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the drive of the conveyor belt comprises an electric motor and a parameter of the power supply of the electric motor is monitored, wherein a caused by the intervention of the product beginning with the conveyor belt change of the parameter is considered as concern of the product beginning on the conveyor belt.

In this case, for example, an increase of the current consumption of the electric motor exceeding a predetermined or predefinable threshold can be evaluated as the concern of the product beginning on the conveyor belt.

As already mentioned above, the current consumption with the conveyor belt running in the blocking position is preferably used as the reference value in order to record the current operating situation immediately before the beginning of the product on the conveyor belt.

In a further development, the conveyor belt is driven in the starting phase against the conveying direction.

Advantageously, the conveying speed of the conveyor belt in the starting phase can be selected as a function of at least one product property.

In a further embodiment, the drive of the conveyor belt is stopped as soon as the concern of the product beginning is detected.

In still another embodiment, the product feed is multi-lane and the product start detection is performed independently in the lanes.

A detection of a product start takes place, for example, by monitoring the motor current of an electric drive assigned to at least one conveying track for a product. As soon as a product touches the conveyor belt, for example, the mechanical resistance (or strip running resistance) increases, and in particular proportionally thereto, the motor current of the associated track drive. For this a current recording can take place, whereby e.g. a significant change in product contact can be detected. In order to save time, for example, it can be driven at idle when the conveyor belt is pivoted up and the current recording can be activated. Thus, for example, the current motor current can always be detected and external influences (for example, increased resistance due to relatively large belt tension, wear, or the like) can be masked out.

A threshold value for the motor current, which must be achieved, for example, for product identification, can be predefinable. The threshold value can be incorporated as an offset value in a control or control and thereby be idled before or during, in particular each, detection process (or loading process) with respect to the previously detected motor current.

The conveyor belt can be driven, for example, backwards, so that the end near the strand of the conveyor belt runs to the bearing surface. This tends to depress or hold down the front end of the product on the support surface, ie in a stable position. Alternatively, a forward run of the conveyor belt is possible.

An engine speed for a product detection in a starting phase or loading position can be specified. Preferably, a belt speed of the conveyor belt is as slow as possible (for example, to protect the product). In particular, the belt speed hardly deviates from a normal conveying speed. For example, the tape speed may vary depending on Product properties (eg consistency) and / or be adjustable depending on a used strip surface (eg adhesive properties).

The conveyor belt can be driven continuously for initial product detection, i. the control for the electric drive tries to maintain a given engine speed. If the mechanical resistance increases as a result of the contact of the conveyor belt with the at least one product, the current consumption of the drive motor can increase, for example.

It can also be provided in the product supply several, in particular parallel aufzuschneidende products. In particular, a separate track and / or a separate conveyor belt and / or one or more own belt drives can be provided for each product. In particular, track-individual driving and monitoring of the motor current of a respective belt drive for product initial detection can be provided. Thus, even with multiple conveyor belts, the product contact with the product stop and the achievement of the correct position can be detected track-related by a particular suddenly rising motor current.

The conveyor belt can be stopped, for example, as soon as the beginning of the product is detected. This can be done, for example, to protect the product initial area, so that little or no abrasion occurs.

In particular, if a product is not present at the product stop and no product beginning is detected within a predeterminable time window for the initial product detection, the product can be advanced further, for example by further movement of a gripper holder. This can, for example, after the (then possibly too early) gripping, but also - for example, depending on the particular design of the product gripper - done before gripping.

Optionally, it is possible that further active feed elements are controlled as a function of the product initial detection. These include, for example, guide elements, such as e.g. (lateral) partitions between several tracks, which still remain relaxed during the start or loading phase until product detection in order to provide as little resistance or adhesion surface for a product as possible. Also, a conveyor belt on a so-called loading swing which serves as a product support surface may be driven depending on the initial product detection and e.g. In the case of an unrecognized start of the product, start again to advance the product.

As an alternative or in addition to the measures mentioned above, the abutment of the product beginning on the conveyor belt can also be detected by detecting and evaluating bearing forces, oscillations and / or noises.

The above-described methods and devices according to the invention and their embodiments have particular advantages, which are given below by way of example. Thus, for example, a particularly secure product start detection for the achievement of a starting position before starting a slicing operation is achieved. Another advantage is the particularly short, optimized loading times and the associated particularly good gripper track control and gripper positioning. In particular, product grippers can approach comparatively quickly and relatively close to a product end. Furthermore, in the invention, the function of the product recognition integrated into already existing components, in particular in the electric drive for the conveyor belt or in its control. So there are no additional sensors necessary, which can be susceptible to errors, such as to light pollution prone photocells. Also, loading errors and corresponding fault messages are avoided. Another advantage is the reduction of miss-weighted portions and the increase in the yield during slicing.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung zum Aufschneiden von Lebensmittelprodukten.

Fig. 2

zeigt eine Förderstrecke für Lebensmittelprodukte, die das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren zur Produktanfangserkennung nutzt.

Fig. 3, 4 und 5

zeigen weitere erfindungsgemäße Ausführungsformen.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the schematic drawing.

Fig. 1

shows a device according to the invention for slicing food products.

Fig. 2

shows a conveyor line for food products, which uses the inventive method for product initial recognition.

Fig. 3, 4 and 5

show further embodiments of the invention.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a high performance slicer apparatus 10 for slicing food products. The device 10 comprises a product supply for feeding a product 12 to a cutting knife, not shown, which operates in a cutting plane 14. The product feeder comprises a feeder which, in the present embodiment, comprises a product tray 18 and a gripper 16, also referred to as a product holder, which is movable to feed the product 12 along a feed direction. The product support 18 may for example be designed as a free-running belt or as a sliding surface or else also drive the product 12 in the feed direction.

In the feed direction between the feeder and the cutting plane 14, a conveyor belt 20 is arranged. Between conveyor belt 20 and cutting plane 26, a cutting edge 26 is also provided. The conveyor belt 20 comprises two deflection rollers 30, 32 and is pivotable about the axis of rotation of the deflection roller 32 closer to the feed device. In solid lines, the conveyor belt 20 is shown in a release position. In contrast, the conveyor belt 20 'in dashed lines in one Locking position shown. The conveyor belt 20 is here pivotable about 90 ° between the release position and the locking position, although also another angle between these two positions can be provided.

For the conveyor belt 20, a drive 24 is provided, which is controlled by a controller 22, which also controls the gripper 16. In the release position, the conveyor belt 20 is driven to feed the product 12 to the cutting plane 14 in a conveying direction F. In the blocking position of the conveyor belt 20 ', however, this is driven in a detection direction D with a direction of rotation opposite to the direction of rotation of the conveying direction F.

If, in the blocking position of the conveyor belt 20 ', the product 12 is moved by the gripper 16 onto the conveyor belt 20' and finally touches it, an increased running resistance in the conveyor belt 20 'against idling occurs. This increased running resistance manifests itself in a higher load or a higher necessary power consumption in an electric motor of the drive 24. This increased load or current consumption is detected by the controller 22 and evaluated as detecting an engagement of the product 12 with the conveyor belt 20 '. As a result, a product beginning can be detected precisely and with simple means, in particular with components already present.

The pivot axis of the conveyor belt 20 may coincide with the axis of rotation of the guide roller 32, as in Fig. 1 is shown. Alternatively, the conveyor belt 20 can be pivoted about the axis of rotation of the other deflection roller 30 or about a pivot axis which lies approximately in a middle band region between the two deflection rollers 30, 32. Such a central pivot axis can be formed, for example, by a suspension or supporting structure of the conveyor belt 20. Also in the embodiments described below, the position of the pivot axis of the conveyor belt 20 can be varied.

In Fig. 2 For example, a conveyor line 110 for conveying a food product 112 is shown. The conveyor line 110 comprises three conveyor belts 118, 120 and 128 for conveying the product 112, in FIG Fig. 2 from right to left.

While the conveyor belts 118 and 128 are configured as conventional driven conveyor belts, the conveyor belt 120 is similar to the conveyor belt 20 of FIG Fig. 1 executed, namely with a Verschwenkungsfunktion and with a product intervention detection. Drives and a controller according to the embodiment of Fig. 1 are provided, for the sake of simplicity, however Fig. 2 not shown.

Also in Fig. 2 the conveyor belt 120 is shown in a release position in solid lines and indicated in a blocking position in dashed lines 120 '. The conveyor belt 120 'in the blocking position serves as a product stop. Upon contact of the product 12 with the conveyor belt 120 ', as described Fig. 1 detects the engagement of the product. Thus, independent of special facilities such as a slicer according to Fig. 1 in a mere conveyor line 110 a product initial recognition can be performed with simple means and precise. Also along a conveyor line, it may be important depending on the specific design of the overall system for their operation to reliably and reliably detect the front ends of subsidized products.

Also in the Fig. 3 to 5 For simplicity, components such as drives and controls have been omitted.

In the variant according to Fig. 3 is the conveyor belt 20 in comparison to the variants according to Fig. 1 and 2 opposite and pivoted at a smaller angle. The detection of the beginning of product takes place in the region of the deflection roller 32. The conveyor belt 20 is erected, for example, so far until the deflection roller 32nd reaches a height level which corresponds approximately to the expected product center or the height level of the front product end.

In the variant of Fig. 4 In the locking position shown here with solid lines with the conveyor belt 20 pivoted up, the front end of the product abuts against an intermediate region of the conveyor belt 20 between the two deflecting rollers 32. An optionally present flexibility of the circulating belt can prove to be advantageous here. In the swung-down release position, which is shown in dashed lines, the conveyor belt 20 serves as a product conveyor.

In the variant of Fig. 5 an upper conveyor belt 20 is provided in addition to a lower conveyor belt 21, which may also be referred to as a traction belt, guide belt, tether or tactile tape and is used according to the conveyor belts 20 explained with reference to the above variants for detecting the beginning of the product. In addition, the lower conveyor belt 21, for example, according to the variant of Fig. 3 be pivoted into a locked position to provide an additional detection option.

In general, according to the invention, the conveyor belt which can be adjusted between the blocking position and the release position does not only mean a conveyor belt on which the product rests while it is being conveyed, and which conveys the product alone. Rather, only a product promotion in whatever kind supportive conveyor belts, which - as in the variant according to Fig. 5 shown - may be arranged above the products to be conveyed, product conveyor in the context of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

contraption

12

product

14

cutting plane

16

grab

18

edition

20, 20 '

conveyor belt

21

conveyor belt

22

control device

24

drive

26

cutting edge

30

idler pulley

32

idler pulley

110

conveyor line

112

product

118

conveyor belt

120, 120 '

conveyor belt

128

conveyor belt

F

conveying direction

D

detection direction

Claims (15)

Device (10) for slicing food products, in particular high-performance slicers,
with a product feed, which supplies at least one product (12) to be cut to a cutting blade rotating and / or rotating in a cutting plane (14),
wherein the product feed comprises a feed device (16, 18) and a driven conveyor belt (20) arranged downstream of the feed device, which can be adjusted between a blocking position serving as product stop in a starting phase and a release position serving as a product conveyor in a starting phase, and with a release position Control device (22), which is designed to detect the start of the product of a product (12) moved in the starting phase by means of the feed device (16, 18), to control the abutment of the product beginning on the conveyor belt (20) driven in the blocking position by monitoring a drive (24 ) of the conveyor belt (20). Device (10) according to claim 1,
characterized,
in that the drive (24) of the conveyor belt (20) comprises an electric motor and the control device (22) is adapted to monitor a parameter of the power supply of the electric motor and to change the parameter caused by the intervention of the product start with the conveyor belt (20) detect. Device according to claim 2,
characterized,
that the parameter is the current consumption of the electric motor and the control device (22) is adapted to detect an a predetermined or predeterminable threshold border increase in power consumption. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the conveyor belt (20) in the starting phase against the conveying direction (F) can be driven. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
in that the conveyor belt (20) is arranged in the region of the cutting plane (14) and / or directly in front of a cutting edge (26) interacting with the cutting blade. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the conveyor belt (20) in the cutting phase serving as a product support. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the conveyor belt (20) between the locking position and the release position is pivoted. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
in that at least the conveyor belt (20) is multi-tracked and comprises a plurality of mutually independent belt sections for which the engagement of a respective product start can be recognized independently of one another. Process for slicing food products, in particular with a high-performance slicer (10), in which at least one product (12) to be sliced is fed by means of a product feed to a cutting knife rotating and / or rotating in a cutting plane (14), the product feed comprising a feed device (16, 18) and a driven conveyor belt (20) arranged downstream of the feed device, - In a start phase of the product beginning of a means of the feeder (16, 18) moving product (12) is detected by - The conveyor belt (20) is adjusted and driven in a serving as a product stop blocking position, - The product (12) by means of the feed device (16, 18) against the located in the blocking position and driven conveyor belt (20) is moved, and - The concern of the product start on the driven conveyor belt (20) by monitoring a drive (24) of the conveyor belt (20) is detected, and - In a subsequent phase to the start phase cutting phase in a serving as a product conveyor release position conveyor belt (20) the product (12) of the cutting plane (14) is fed and cut by means of the cutting blade. Method for detecting the start of the product from food processing products (12, 112) fed by a processing device along a conveying path (110),
wherein in the conveying path (110) between a serving as a product stop blocking position and a serving as a product conveyor release position conveyor belt (20, 120) is provided and in the - The conveyor belt (20, 120) is adjusted and driven in the blocking position, - The product (12, 112) is moved against the located in the blocking position and driven conveyor belt (20, 120), and - The concerns of the beginning of the product on the driven conveyor belt (20, 120) by monitoring a drive (24) of the conveyor belt (20, 120) is detected. Method according to claim 9 or 10,
characterized,
that the drive (24) of the conveyor belt (20, 120) comprises an electric motor and a parameter of the power supply of the electric motor is monitored, wherein a change of the parameter caused by the intervention of the product beginning with the conveyor belt (20, 120) as concerns the beginning of the product Conveyor belt (20, 120) is evaluated, in particular, a predetermined or predetermined threshold exceeding increasing the power consumption of the electric motor is considered as concern of the product on the conveyor belt (20, 120). Method according to claim 11,
characterized,
that the threshold is a current consumption value which is above a reference value which is within a predefinable or predetermined value Period before the concern of the product start on the located in the blocking position conveyor belt (20) is determined, in particular within a period of shortly before, during or after the adjustment of the conveyor belt (20) begins in the blocking position and in which the conveyor belt (20) driven is. Method according to one of claims 9 to 13,
characterized,
in that the conveyor belt (20, 120) is driven in the starting phase against the conveying direction (F), and / or that the conveying speed of the conveyor belt (20, 120) in the starting phase is selected as a function of at least one product characteristic. Method according to one of claims 9 to 13,
characterized,
that the drive (24) of the conveyor belt (20, 120) is stopped as soon as the concern of the beginning of the product is detected. Method according to one of claims 9 to 14,
characterized,
that the product supply is multi-lane and the product start detection in the tracks is performed independently. -.-.-.

Images