EP3338972B1 - Cutting blade - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cutting knife, in particular a sickle knife or a spiral knife or a circular knife, for a device for slicing food products, in particular for a high-speed slicer, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Cutting knives, with which food products such as in particular sausage, cheese and meat are cut into slices or pieces, are known in a variety of configurations. In particular, in the field of high-speed slicers, with which high cutting speeds of several 100 to several thousand slices per minute are separated from a rope or loaf food product, one differentiates fundamentally between so-called circular knives on the one hand and so-called sickle or spiral knives (in the following simply "sickle knives"). ) on the other hand.

Circular knives have a circular edge running around the axis of rotation, wherein a circular knife not only performs a self-rotation about the axis of rotation, but in addition to an eccentric, i. planetary rotated parallel to the axis of rotation extending axis to produce the necessary for the separation of slices cutting movement relative to the product.

Cutter blades have a blade that also has a curved course about the axis of rotation, but the radius of the blade varies between a smallest radius and a largest radius such that the blade describes a sickle or spiral curve. Crescent knives rotate only about their axis of rotation, whereby here it differs from a circular shape course the cutting edge, which provides the required cutting movement relative to the product. The intended direction of rotation of sickle knives is chosen such that the knife is immersed in the product at a relatively small radius starting circumferential portion of the cutting edge, also referred to as an immersion area, the actual cutting motion for separating a slice or piece from the product therethrough occurs as the radius increases as the knife continues to rotate, and consequently the cutting edge is moved through the product. In this context, one also speaks of a "pulling" of the cutting edge through the product or of a "pulling cut".

The term "radius", which is not used here in a strictly mathematical sense for a sickle knife, for a path perpendicularly intersecting the axis of rotation of the knife is to be distinguished from the term "radius of curvature". In accordance with the usual convention for defining a tangent at a particular point on a flat curve that is not a circle, the radius of curvature is the radius of contact of the circle of curvature that best approximates the curve at that point. The tangent of the curve at this point is perpendicular to the contact radius of that point. In a sickle knife, which thus has a non-circular cutting edge, the center of the circle of curvature is not or at least not necessarily on the axis of rotation of the knife.

Consequently, since the radius on the one hand and the radius of curvature on a sickle blade for a particular point on the cutting edge do not coincide, the tangent perpendicular to the radius of curvature does not coincide with the moving vector of that point with the knife rotating at that point. Since each point on the cutting edge rotates about the axis of rotation of the knife, the motion vector of each point is perpendicular to the radius in question, but not on the respective radius of curvature.

While the radius and the radius of curvature and thus the tangent at this point and the motion vector of this point are each identical for a particular point on the cutting edge, it depends on the specific design of a sickle blade whether radius and radius of curvature or Tangent and motion vector for a currently considered property of the knife may each be considered to be approximately equal or not.

Hereinafter, for a particular point on the blade of the blade, the term "radius" means a distance perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the blade through that point, and the term "motion tangent" or "motion vector" means a straight line perpendicular to the radius through that point. The terms "radius of curvature" and "tangent" correspond to the above-mentioned convention. In a circular blade, therefore, the radius and the radius of curvature as well as the movement tangent and the tangent are identical.

It is also known to form cutting knives for slicing food products, both circular knives and sickle knives, either with an untoothed edge or provided with a toothing. For example, cutting knives with teeth are made EP 0 548 615 B1 and FR 2 661 634 A1 known.

Furthermore, it is known to vary the so-called cutting angle in the circumferential direction in cutting knives with untoothed cutting edge. This is for example in DE 10 2007 040 350 A1 described in conjunction with a sickle knife. In this case, a smaller cutting angle is selected in the immersion area in order to reduce product upsets when the knife is immersed. Starting from the immersion region, for example, the cutting angle can steadily increase, so that at the end of the cutting process the cutting angle is greatest. If the smaller cutting angle is referred to as "flat" in the dip area, then the larger cutting angle can be said to be "steep". With a relatively steep cutting angle, an advantageous storage of the separated slices can be achieved, since the cutting edge can transmit to the respective separated disc a pulse directed out of the cutting plane out. Therefore, the peripheral portion of the knife blade effective toward the end of the cutting operation, in which a steeper cutting angle is provided, may also be referred to as a storage portion.

With respect to the prior art is also on DE 30 49 075 A1 . DE 30 49 147 A1 . DE 100 04 836 C1 and WO 2014/114579 A2 directed.

Despite the above-described known measures and the diverse design options, in practice, at least in some food products, there are always serious cutting defects. If, for example, the product to be sliced has a rind, the rind may come off during cutting. Furthermore, it can be observed that product slices tear or tear. Furthermore, unwanted wedge-shaped disks may be separated off. Another problem occurring in practice is a folding or at least partially folding the product slices. For example, high-speed camera studies by the inventors of slicing cooked ham have shown that the slices in the upper region, ie where the cutting knife dips into the product, still incline to collapse during the cutting process, so that at least some of the slices cut off do not store flat, but are partially collapsed at their front in Abtransportrichtung side and consequently are inclined as a result. This is unacceptable for the respective operator, especially if a plurality of successively sliced product slices to form a stacked or shingle-like portion of superimposed discs. The mentioned cutting defects can result in portions that are not only unsightly, but can sometimes no longer be properly packaged and therefore need to be sorted out. When so-called multi-lane cutting, so if several adjacent products are cut simultaneously, may not occur in all lanes mentioned cutting defects. The problems described above occur basically both in sickle knives and circular knives.

The object of the invention is to provide or to produce a cutting blade of the type mentioned, ie in particular a circular knife or sickle or spiral knife, with the improved cutting quality can be achieved. In particular, the highest possible cutting quality should be achieved over the entire usable for products, also known as the cutting shaft width cutting width of a slicer.

The solution of this object is achieved by the features of independent claim 1.

The invention is fundamentally applicable to sickle or spiral blades as well as circular blades.

According to the invention (claim 1), it is provided that each cutting surface is inclined relative to a clamping plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation or a cutting plane, and the inclination of the cutting surfaces varies along the peripheral edge. The cutting plane is to be understood as meaning a plane of the cutting blade which can be clearly defined by the cutting edges of the cutting teeth forming the knife edge. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which all or at least a plurality of cutting edges lie in a common plane, this plane is the cutting plane.

Unlike conventional gears is therefore provided according to the invention that not all cutting surfaces of the cutting teeth have the same inclination. Rather, it is provided that the cutting surfaces of the cutting teeth have different orientations in the space, e.g. with respect to the clamping plane.

The clamping plane may coincide with the cutting plane defined by the blade of the knife. However, this definition of the clamping level is not mandatory. As a clamping plane, e.g. also that plane can be referred to, which is defined by the back of a knife base body. Depending on whether the cutting plane defined by the knife edge is spaced from the plane defined by the rear side of the knife base in the direction of the axis of rotation of the knife (case 1) or not (case 2), the clamping plane is then spaced from the cutting plane ( Case 1) or the clamping plane coincides with the cutting plane (Case 2). In case 1, the non-zero distance measured between the cutting plane and the plane defined by the rear side of the knife base in the direction of the axis of rotation is also referred to as a gauge. The gauge is in case 2 equal to zero.

At the bottom in conjunction with Fig. 3 described embodiment is based on a knife according to case 1, wherein the cutting plane is spaced from the back of the knife body.

For the definitions made in the present case with regard to the toothing according to the invention, the actual position of the clamping plane is not decisive, but merely depends on the clamping plane being perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Therefore, in the present disclosure, in part, in an alternative to the clamping plane of a "plane parallel to the clamping plane" is mentioned.

It has surprisingly been found that with such a toothing much better cutting results, in particular over the entire available cutting shaft width, can be achieved than is possible with conventionally toothed cutting blades or with cutting blades without teeth. In particular, phenomena such as tearing or tearing of the panes and collapse or folding of the panes no longer occur. In particular, in conjunction with sickle blades has also been found that the storage behavior of the separated product slices can be improved.

The direction and the extent of the inclination of the cutting surfaces can basically be selected as a function of different criteria, in particular depending on the properties of the food product to be cut in each case. In addition, an adaptation to the positioning of the sliced products with respect to the cutting blade or the axis of rotation of the cutting blade can be done.

To geometrically describe the inclination of a cutting surface, the inclination can be described as a superposition of a tilt and a position. By "employed cutting surface" is meant here that the cutting surface - more or less pronounced, in particular depending on the size of the lead angle of the cutting edge, see below - points in the intended direction of rotation of the knife.

Alternatively, the inclination of a cutting surface, including its cutting edge, may be defined using a single angle that the cutting surface encloses with the cutting plane. The cutting edge then forms the cutting line between the cutting surface and the cutting plane. This presupposes that - according to a preferred embodiment of the invention - the cutting edge is located in the cutting plane, with respect to which defines the inclination of the cutting surface shall be. In the following, this angle, under which therefore the cutting surface is inclined to the cutting plane, to be referred to as the tilt angle KW.

If the cutting surface inclined by the tilting angle KW with respect to the cutting plane is turned on and consequently pointing in the intended direction of rotation of the knife, this means at the same time that the cutting edge of the cutting face has a nonzero leading angle.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that each cutting surface inclined relative to the cutting plane by the tilt angle KW and at the same time the cutting edge of each cutting surface has a leading angle, for example, with respect to the Bewegungsstangente at a defined point of the cutting edge, for example, the rear end of the cutting edge.

Different inclinations of the cutting surfaces can thus be achieved, for example, by varying the tilt angle while maintaining the initial angle, or vice versa. Alternatively, it is possible to vary both angles. The respective resulting inclination of a cutting surface can be selected in dependence on the circumferential position at which the relevant cutting tooth is located.

Thus, if the inclination of the cutting surfaces varies, then either only the tilt angle or only the bleed angle may vary and the other angle may be constant, either zero or nonzero. Alternatively, both angles can vary. Consequently, along the peripheral edge a variety of different angle combinations can be realized.

At this point, it should be clarified that, when referring to a varying inclination of the cutting surfaces along the peripheral edge, it is not precluded that the cutting surfaces of two or more cutting teeth are identically inclined. In other words, not all cutting teeth need to have differently inclined cutting surfaces.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that only the tilt angle of the cutting surfaces varies along the peripheral edge, wherein the lead angle of the cutting edges, although constant along the peripheral edge, but different from zero. Regardless of whether the cutting surfaces - when viewed in the circumferential direction - overlap or not, the employees, so each having a nonzero different bleed angle having cutting edges of the cutting surfaces can be referred to as a staggered or scale-like arrangement, which is particularly characterized in that between each two successive cutting surfaces a transition is present, which can basically be configured arbitrarily, but preferably always characterized in that in the region of the transition, the two immediately successive cutting surfaces are offset with respect to the axis of rotation against each other. In other words, there is a height offset or a jump in a transition from a cutting surface to the cutting surface of a circumferentially immediately following cutting tooth.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, despite this height offset or jump is provided that there is an uninterrupted, lying in the clamping plane or in a plane parallel to the clamping plane effective cutting edge, which is formed by the cutting teeth and the transitions together contiguous and here is referred to as a continuous cutting edge.

Experiments by the inventors have shown that the cutting quality can be significantly increased if at least some of the cutting edges of the cutting surfaces are provided with a nonzero leading angle, so that - if according to the preferred embodiment of the gearing in immediately successive Cutting teeth whose cutting surfaces are each employed - between these cutting surfaces as such identifiable transition is present.

As already mentioned, an embodiment of the invention relates to the orientation of the cutting edges, which basically can be described and defined independently of the size and orientation of the cutting surfaces and also regardless of whether the cutting surfaces are flat or curved.

According to this embodiment of the invention, u.a. provided that at least some cutting edges or each cutting edge with a Bewegungsstangente includes a, in particular non-zero, lead angle, the Bewegungsstangente and the radius intersect at a point of the respective cutting edge, and / or that at least some cutting edges are each oriented such that a front end of the cutting edge seen in the intended direction of rotation on another, preferably a smaller, radius than the rear end of the relevant cutting edge, and / or that at least some cutting edges or each cutting edge with a connecting path includes a, in particular non-zero, lead angle, wherein the connecting path connects the two rear ends or the two front ends of a respective cutting edge and the immediately preceding or succeeding cutting edge.

By the gate angle or by the orientation of the cutting edges can - in principle for each cutting edge individually - are determined as a respective cutting edge, eg in a knife-fixed frame, oriented and thus under which orientation the relevant cutting edge cuts into the product to be sliced. For a straight cutting edge lying in a defined plane, a point on the cutting edge is sufficient for a clear definition of its orientation.

As an alternative to a midpoint of the cutting edge selected in the definition with regard to the motion vector-insofar arbitrarily-another point of the cutting edge can also be selected, for example one of the two end points of the cutting edge. The definition of the orientation of the cutting edge with respect to the movement tangent, ie to the motion vector, is in principle arbitrary, but offers itself insofar as the motion vector of a point on the cutting edge indicates in which direction this point of the cutting edge at the moment of cutting moved into the product relative to the product.

Generally, the absolute value of the angle between the cutting edge and the motion vector of a point on the cutting edge depends on what point on the cutting edge is. If, in the following, absolute values for the lead angle are specified, these relate as far as the lead angle is defined with respect to the motion vector, i. is measured between the motion vector and the cutting edge - always on the rear in the direction of rotation of the relevant cutting edge.

In the case of a sickle knife, unlike a circular knife, given the radius decreasing by definition in the circumferential direction-as considered in the intended direction of rotation-the front end of each cutting edge, as seen in the intended direction of rotation, lies on a smaller radius than the rear end of the relevant cutting edge , Preferably, however, according to the invention in a sickle knife a stronger "inclination" of the cutting edges is provided, ie, the front end is preferably at a radius which is smaller than the radius on which the front end would be if the front end and the rear end on a imaginary curve corresponding to the cutting edge of a conventional toothless sickle knife.

Consequently, the orientation of the cutting edges can alternatively also be defined so that at least some cutting edges or each cutting edge with a connecting path includes a, in particular non-zero, lead angle, the connecting distance the two rear ends or the two front ends of a respective cutting edge and the immediately connecting preceding or succeeding cutting edge.

In particular, in a sickle knife all rear ends of the cutting edges and / or all front ends of the cutting edges may each lie on an imaginary curve, which is not a circle, which corresponds at least approximately to the cutting edge of a conventional toothless sickle blade. The links together form a polygon that approximates this imaginary curve. Preferably, the cutting edges of the knife in so far as a "stronger skew" on, as each cutting edge with its connection path includes a non-zero angle, which should also be referred to here as lead angle. The front end of each cutting edge is therefore not on a connecting the two immediately adjacent rear ends connecting path, but on a smaller radius.

The lead angle ranges given in this disclosure apply to both its definition of the motion vector and its definition of the link. For a given toothing, the concrete value for the size of the gate angle depends on its definition, but at least for the cutting blade used in practice on high speed slicers for slicing food products, the difference due to the small length of a cutting edge compared to the total length of the peripheral edge of the knife small or negligible.

A preferred embodiment, with which extremely good cutting results can be achieved, will be described below in conjunction with the drawing. This embodiment is a sickle knife. Extremely good cutting results can also be achieved with a circular blade designed according to the invention, as have been found on different products, including cheese, tests carried out.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention, which - unless otherwise stated - can be implemented both on circular knives and on sickle or spiral knives, are also specified in the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings.

As for the cutting edge, a non-zero bleed angle may be in a range of about 1 ° to 10 °, and preferably about 3 ° to 6 °. Alternatively, the lead angle may be in a range of about 10 ° to 20 °. As already mentioned, a preferred embodiment is characterized in that the lead angle is constant for all cutting surfaces.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the cutting surfaces are respectively turned facing in the intended direction of rotation.

Preferably, the cutting surfaces are each at least substantially planar or curved without edges. As a result, as an alternative to planar cutting surfaces, for example, concave or convexly curved cutting surfaces are also possible, at least slightly. Such cutting surfaces can be produced for example by means of a so-called form milling cutter or by means of a grinding tool. Analogous to the geometric definition set out above, at least approximately a reference, for example a reference plane or reference lines with radii of curvature, can also be defined for such curved cutting surfaces in order to reduce the inclination of the respective curved cutting surface with respect to the clamping plane or the cutting plane to define clearly.

As already mentioned, another parameter of the toothing according to the invention is the orientation of the cutting edges of the cutting teeth. According to one embodiment it is provided that at least some cutting edges or each cutting edge or that the projection of at least some cutting edges or each cutting edge in the clamping plane with a Bewegungsstangente includes a, in particular non-zero, lead angle, the Bewegungsstangente and the radius is e.g. intersect at the rear end point of the respective cutting edge, and / or that at least some cutting edges or each cutting edge with a connecting path includes a, in particular non-zero, lead angle, the connecting distance the two rear ends or the two front ends of a respective cutting edge and the immediately connecting preceding or succeeding cutting edge.

The size of the gate angle of one or each cutting edge is basically arbitrary and can be selected depending on the properties of the food product to be sliced. Preferably, the lead angle is a few degrees, especially not more than about 10 °, and e.g. in the range between 3 ° to 6 °, but in principle also larger bleed angles are possible.

The cutting edges can each be oriented in such a way that a front end of each cutting edge viewed in the intended direction of rotation lies on a different, in particular smaller, radius relative to the axis of rotation of the knife than the rear end of the relevant cutting edge. The course of each cutting edge between its front end and its rear end can basically be arbitrary, ie both a straight course and a basically arbitrarily curved course are possible.

According to a further preferred embodiment, it is provided that in each case the cutting edges of two directly successive cutting teeth are interconnected by a transition edge, wherein the transition edge is formed as a cutting edge.

As a cutting edge of the cutting blade according to the invention consequently not only the cutting edges of the cutting teeth or the cutting surfaces radially outwardly limiting cutting edges are effective, but also the transition edges, each connect two circumferentially immediately consecutive cutting edges of the cutting teeth together. Consequently, the shape or the course of a transition between two directly successive cutting surfaces, the cutting behavior of the cutting blade according to the invention can also be influenced.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that all cutting edges lie in a common plane, preferably in the clamping plane or in a plane parallel to the clamping plane, and / or that all cutting edges and each two immediately adjacent cutting edges connecting transition edges together form an uninterrupted cutting edge especially in the clamping plane or in a plane parallel to the mounting plane.

However, this is not mandatory. The cutting edges can also lie in different planes. In particular, it can in principle be provided, for example, that the cutting edges each intersect the clamping plane or a plane parallel to the clamping plane. It can also be provided, for example, that a transition edge connecting all cutting edges and all two immediately consecutive cutting edges forms a common, uninterrupted cutting edge the clamping plane or a plane parallel to the clamping plane intersects several times, alternately coming from one side and from the other side of this plane, wherein the plane-cutting portions of the cutting edge are either only cutting edges, only transition edges or both cutting edges and transition edges.

The effective as a cutting edge peripheral edge of the knife may be provided with a so-called clearance angle, which is different from zero, which below in connection with Fig. 5a and 5b is explained in more detail. If the clearance angle is different from zero, the cutting edges and the transition edges are not in a common plane. Preferably, however, a clearance angle of 0 ° is provided, so that in a preferred embodiment all cutting edges and all transition edges lie in a common plane, specifically in the clamping plane or in a plane parallel to the clamping plane.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the cutting surfaces each cut radially outward the clamping plane, wherein the cutting lines each form the cutting edge, and radially inwardly intersect an inclined surface of the cutting blade, which forms an angle with the clamping plane. Preferably, this angle between the inclined surface and the clamping plane is smaller than the smallest tilt angle of the cutting surfaces, so that an imaginary radial extension of the inclined surface would intersect the clamping plane radially outside the cutting edges of the cutting surfaces.

In a further preferred embodiment, the cutting edges and / or transition edges, each connecting two directly successive cutting edges, each straight. Alternatively, concave or convexly curved cutting edges and / or transition edges are also at least slightly possible. Analogous to the geometric definition set out above, at least approximately a straight line analogous to that for a curved cutting edge can also be used Be defined above movement tangent that allows a clear definition of the orientation of the cutting edge.

According to a further embodiment, in each case the cutting surfaces of two directly successive cutting teeth are connected to each other by a transition surface, wherein in particular the transition surface is formed as a recessed relative to the cutting surfaces recess.

The depression may be formed as a notch extending in the radial direction, groove, groove or groove. The depression can form an undercut.

In each case, the radial extent of two directly successive cutting teeth is preferably at least substantially equal to the radial extent of the transition surface between the two cutting surfaces. In other words, the cutting surfaces in each case over their entire radial extent in the transition area over.

Between the cutting surfaces and the transition surface in each case a transition edge may be present. These transition edges can each be a relatively sharp, non-rounded edge or a rounded edge with a comparatively small radius of curvature. Alternatively, the transition edge may form a comparatively smooth transition and in particular be rounded off with a comparatively large radius of curvature. As a result, a wavy surface can be formed by the cutting surfaces and transition surfaces as a whole. It is also possible to form the two transition edges differently, so that the transition from the one cutting surface into the transition surface is comparatively sharp-edged and the transition between the other cutting surface and the transition surface is relatively smooth.

The transition surface may be bounded radially on the outside by a transition edge connecting the two cutting edges of the two cutting teeth. As already mentioned above, this transition edge itself may be formed as a cutting edge.

The cross-sectional shape of the transition surface or its profile can in principle be designed as desired. In particular, the transition surface may have a basically arbitrary course between the two cutting surfaces. Preferably, the transition surface has a curved course, i. the cross-sectional shape or the profile of the transition surface is not straight. Preferably, the transition surface is at least approximately U- or V-shaped curved.

The profile of the transition surface is determined in particular by the tool used for the production. Preferably, a cylindrical milling tool or a grinding tool is used with a longitudinal axis inclined with respect to the clamping plane, so that the transition surface defined by the recess radially outwardly intersects the clamping plane.

Alternatively, another, e.g. a straight-line profile of the transition surface is possible, i. the interface can then be e.g. represent the shortest path between the two transition edges into the adjacent cutting surfaces.

The transition surface can, based on the size of the adjacent cutting surfaces, occupy a relevant part of the circumferential angle range. In particular, the transition surface may extend over a circumferential angular range that is about 0.1 to 0.5 times the circumferential angular range of one of the cutting surfaces.

Preferably, the transitions between immediately successive cutting surfaces are formed such that the two immediately consecutive cutting surfaces - viewed in the circumferential direction of the axis of rotation - do not overlap.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that in each case the cutting edges of two successive cutting teeth do not overlap one another in the circumferential direction and / or do not merge directly into one another.

The cutting edges preferably have a constant circumferential length and / or a constant edge length, i. all cutting edges preferably have the same circumferential length.

With regard to the cutting teeth, it is especially provided that each cutting tooth has a circumferential length and / or a tooth length of about 3 mm to 7 mm, preferably about 5 mm.

By the term "circumferential length" is meant in each case the circumferentially measured extent or extension of the cutting edges or cutting teeth, i. not the length of the cutting edge or cutting tooth measured along the cutting edge. This length is referred to as edge length in this disclosure.

By this distinction, the fact is taken into account that in particular due to the inclination of the cutting surfaces and / or the optionally non-zero leading angle of the cutting edges, the cutting edges are each not in the geometrically strict sense on a circumferential line of the knife. Consequently, the circumferential length of the cutting edges is in each case smaller than the pitch, since the pitch is the sum of the circumferential length of the cutting edge and the non-zero circumferential length of the respective cutting edge adjacent transition edge is. In contrast, it is possible in principle that the edge length of a cutting edge is the same size as the pitch or greater than the pitch, when the transition edge is relatively small and / or the angle of attack of the cutting surface is relatively large.

The pitch of the cutting teeth is preferably constant and is in particular between about 3 mm and 6 mm, preferably about 5 mm. The pitch of the cutting teeth is to be understood as meaning the distance between two circumferentially immediately consecutive cutting teeth, measured between points of the two cutting teeth corresponding to one another. At a pitch of, for example, 5 mm, for example, the distance between the two front ends of the cutting teeth of the two cutting teeth, each in the intended direction of rotation, is 5 mm.

In an alternative embodiment, the pitch of the cutting teeth may vary in the circumferential direction, in particular with regard to the circumferential lengths of the cutting teeth and / or with regard to the circumferential lengths of the transitions between the cutting teeth.

According to the invention, it is not mandatory that the toothing of the cutting blade is made identical in each circumferential region, i. Not all cutting teeth of the cutting blade are necessarily identical, with such an embodiment is nevertheless encompassed by the invention. Moreover, it is not mandatory according to the invention that the entire effective cutting edge of the cutting blade is provided with a toothing.

In a preferred embodiment of the cutting blade according to the invention, at least substantially the entire effective cutting edge is provided with a toothing, which, however, is designed differently in individual circumferential regions.

According to one embodiment, the peripheral edge has at least one type I circumferential region with a plurality of cutting teeth whose cutting surfaces have the same tilt angle.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the peripheral edge has at least one circumferential region of the type II with a plurality of cutting teeth whose cutting surfaces have a varying tilt angle.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the peripheral edge has one or more peripheral regions of the type I and additionally one or more peripheral regions of the type II.

In the case of a circumferential region of the type II, provision can be made for the tilt angle to vary in each case from one cutting tooth to an immediately adjacent cutting tooth, or for the tilt angle to be in each case from a group of n> 1 successive cutting teeth with an identical tilt angle to an immediately adjacent group of m> 1 consecutive cutting teeth with mutually equal tilt angle varies. In particular, n = m = 2, 3, 4 or 5. In other words, in a Type II circumferential region, the tilt angle may vary either from tooth to tooth or from tooth group to tooth group.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that the circumferential edge between two type I circumferential regions comprises a type II circumferential region in which the value of the tilt angle varies from the tilt angle value of the one circumferential region of type I to the tilting angle value of the other circumferential region of type I.

In particular, when the cutting blade is a sickle blade or a spiral blade, it can be provided according to a preferred development that the radius of curvature of the peripheral edge in the intended direction of rotation decreases from a largest radius to a smallest radius, the value of the tilt angle of the circumferential region of type II decreases in the direction of rotation from a larger Kippwinkelwert to a smaller Kippwinkelwert decreases, in particular at equal angular increments of cutting tooth to cutting tooth ,

In this way, a cutting profile can be obtained by a corresponding tilting position of the individual cutting surfaces along the peripheral edge, which shows both an optimal immersion behavior and an optimal filing behavior. In particular, a cutting profile can be reproduced, as it is known for example from the prior art for sickle knife with unworn knife edge and in which - as in connection with DE 10 2007 040 350 A1 mentioned - in a dip area a comparatively flat cutting angle and in a storage area, a comparatively steep cutting angle is present.

Accordingly, in the cutting blade according to the present invention, the tilting angle of the cutting surfaces of the cutting teeth can be made comparatively small in a circumferential region of type I forming the immersion region, whereas in a peripheral region of the type I forming the deposition region, the tilting angle of the cutting surfaces is selected to be relatively large. The transition area between the dip area and the storage area is then formed by the perimeter area of the type II, in which - viewed from the immersion area - the tilt angle of the cutting surfaces increases from the smaller value of the immersion area to the larger value in the deposition area, this increase being continuous from cutting tooth to cutting tooth or cutting tooth group to cutting tooth group, each within a group constant tilt angle can be done, as already stated above in general.

In a possible embodiment of a cutting blade according to the invention, which is designed as a sickle knife or spiral knife, the storage area extends approximately over a twice as wide circumferential angle range as the immersion area, the transition area between the immersion area and the storage area extending over a circumferential angle range, which is slightly more than is half of the circumferential angular range of the immersion area.

In a further possible embodiment of the cutting blade, the larger tilting angle value of one circumferential region of type I may be in the range of 20 ° to 30 ° and preferably between 22 ° and 26 °, the smaller tilting angle value of the other peripheral region of type I being in the range of 15 ° ° to 22 ° and is preferably between 17 ° and 19 °, and wherein in the peripheral region of the type II each angular change in the range of 0.2 ° to 1 °, preferably in the range of 0.25 ° to 0.5 °.

In a particular embodiment, the smaller tilt angle value is about 18 °, with either the larger tilt angle value being about 26 ° and each angle change about 0.5 °, or the larger tilt angle value being about 22 ° and each angle change being about 0.25 °.

Even with a cutting blade according to the invention designed as a circular blade, the inclination or the tilt angle of the cutting surfaces can either be constant over the entire peripheral edge or vary along the peripheral edge. In the case of varying tilt angles, a plurality of peripheral regions may be provided, of which at least two circumferential regions differ with regard to the value of the tilt angle constant within the respective circumferential region or with respect to the change behavior of the tilt angle within the respective circumferential region or in that the tilt angle is constant in the one peripheral region and the other peripheral region of the tilt angle varies.

Thus, e.g. the tilt angle "wave-like" and alternately increase and decrease from peripheral area to peripheral area and, for example, between a minimum of e.g. 18 ° and a maximum of e.g. 22 ° or 26 ° "oscillate". The "gradient" may e.g. 0.25 ° or 0.5 ° per cutting tooth, i. the tilt angle can change from cutting tooth to cutting tooth in equally large angular steps.

Preferably, a variation of the tilt angle over the peripheral edge of the circular blade is symmetrical, since in a circular knife - unlike a sickle blade - due to the superposition of self-rotation about the axis of rotation and the orbital motion about the axis parallel to the axis of rotation extending axis - is not predetermined in practice , with which peripheral area the circular blade strikes a product to be sliced. Thus, e.g. in the case of the above-mentioned "wave-like" variation of the tilt angle, the total circumference of 360 ° may be an integer multiple of one period of the "tilt angle oscillation".

It has already been mentioned several times that surprisingly good cutting results can be achieved with a cutting blade according to the invention. Especially with critical products such as cooked ham could be a significant reduction to eliminate the so-called Einklapp- or Zusammenklappeffektes observed in the separated product slices.

Overall, can be achieved by the invention, an improvement in the quality of the separated product slices. This increases the product yield and reduces manual rework on the separated slices or on the portions formed therefrom. This in turn reduces downtime on a packaging machine downstream of the slicing device.

A particular advantage of the cutting blade according to the invention is that the improved cutting quality at the same time allows an increase in the cutting speed.

The individual machining of the cutting teeth according to the invention and in particular the individual design of the cutting surfaces makes it possible to realize a variety of configurations of a knife toothing. The cutting blades can thereby be adapted specifically to certain product properties. An adaptation can also be made with regard to the cutting geometry. In particular, in the manufacture of the gearing with respect to the applications for which the cutting blade is designed, it is possible to take into account the way in which the knife penetrates into the respective product, taking into account the position of the product in the slicing device, in particular in a so-called Cutting shaft, and taking into account the size of the total intended cutting area, in particular the cutting shaft width.

Such adaptation options are particularly important in the so-called multi-lane slicing, so when simultaneously cutting several adjacent products of importance. In a multi-track slicing the products of the cutting plane defined by the knife edge are fed simultaneously at least substantially at right angles to the cutting plane.

Fig. 1

eine Draufsicht entlang der Drehachse auf eine mögliche Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Schneidmessers,

Fig. 2

eine vergrößerte Ansicht eines Teils der Verzahnung des Schneidmessers von Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

verschiedene Ansichten eines erfindungsgemäßen Schneidmessers mit vergrößerten Detailansichten zur Erläuterung der Ausgestaltung der Messerverzahnung,

Fig. 4

einen vergrößerten Ausschnitt einer erfindungsgemäßen Verzahnung zur Erläuterung der Geometrie der Verzahnung, und

Fig. 5a und 5b

Darstellungen zur Erläuterung des Freiwinkels.

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

Fig. 1

a plan view along the axis of rotation on a possible embodiment of a cutting blade according to the invention,

Fig. 2

an enlarged view of a portion of the toothing of the cutting blade of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3

various views of a cutting blade according to the invention with enlarged detail views to explain the configuration of the blade toothing,

Fig. 4

an enlarged section of a toothing according to the invention for explaining the geometry of the toothing, and

Fig. 5a and 5b

Representations for explaining the clearance angle.

At the in Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment of a cutting blade according to the invention for a high-speed slicer for slicing food products, as is generally known in the art, is a sickle knife, which rotates during a cutting operation about a rotation axis 11 in a direction of rotation Rotary.

The radially outer, effective as a cutting peripheral edge 13 of the cutting blade 10 extends approximately over a circumferential angular range of almost 270 °, from a minimum radius Rmin to a maximum radius Rmax.

In a slicing operation, the rotary blade 10 dives with an immersion region 33, which for example extends over a circumferential angular range of 74 ° and has a circumferential length of about 317 mm, into the product to be sliced. The immersion region 33 is adjoined by a transitional region 32 which, for example, extends over a circumferential angle range of 41 ° and has a circumferential length of approximately 205 mm. At this transition region 32 of the peripheral edge 13, a storage area 31 of the closes Knife blade, which extends over a circumferential angle range of about 150 ° and has a circumferential length of about 917 mm.

The knife edge which has these three regions 31, 32 and 33 is provided with a toothing according to the invention, which will be discussed in more detail below. Each cutting tooth of the toothing has, among other things, a cutting face 17 pointing towards the front side of the knife 10 (cf. Fig. 2 ), which has a certain inclination. The three regions 31, 32, 33 differ from each other in terms of the inclination of the cutting surfaces 17. This will be explained in more detail below.

The Fig. 1 is a plan view of the front of the blade 10, which faces away during the cutting operation the product to be sliced or the products to be cut at the same time. The axis of rotation 11 extends centrally through a circular receiving opening 12 of the knife 10, by means of which the knife 10 can be attached to a knife holder of the slicing device, not shown here. The knife holder comprises, for example, a rotor hub of a high-speed slicer, as is generally known to the person skilled in the art.

Adjoining the receiving opening 12 is an end face 38 which, in this exemplary embodiment, has a planar design and runs perpendicular to the axis of rotation 11.

As well as the illustrations on the far left and far right in Fig. 3 show, radially adjoins the end face 38 an inclined surface 37, from which the individual cutting surfaces 17 of the cutting teeth 15 (FIG. Fig. 2 ) extend radially outward. The tilt angle of the inclined surface 37, ie the angle between the inclined surface 37 and a clamping plane AE (see. Fig. 3 ), is smaller than the smallest provided at the cutting surfaces 17 tilt angle. In other words the inclined surface 37 extends flatter than each cutting surface 17, so that an imaginary radial extension of the inclined surface 37, the clamping plane AE radially outside the peripheral edge 13 (FIGS. Fig. 1 ) would cut.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of Fig. 1 in the immersion region 33, which, starting from the smallest radius Rmin of the knife 10, shows the first nine cutting teeth 15 of the toothing above. As Fig. 2 shows, the cutting surfaces 17 are radially outwardly bounded by a cutting edge 19. Transitions 27 formed as depressions between the cutting teeth 15 are also radially outward from a cutting edge 21 (FIG. Fig. 3 ), each connecting two cutting edges 19 of the cutting surfaces 17. In Fig. 2 It can also be seen that the transition from the inclined surface 37 into the cutting surfaces 17 of the cutting teeth 15 is in each case formed by a straight inner edge 36, from whose end points in each case an edge extends to the corresponding end point of the relevant cutting edge 19. These edges 25 ( Fig. 4 ) thus each extend between the inclined surface 37 and the clamping plane AE. The inner edges 36 may each be sharp-edged or rounded.

As Fig. 1 shows, between the flat end face 38 and the inclined surface 37, a transition edge 39 is formed. The edge 39 may be sharp-edged or rounded.

The inventive geometry of the cutting teeth 15, in particular the cutting surfaces 17 and the transitions 27, will be described below in connection with the Fig. 3 and 4 explained in more detail.

In Fig. 3 shows the middle upper view with the section BB an enlarged section of the toothing of the blade 10 of Fig. 1 in the storage area 31. The illustration below shows an enlargement of the teeth in the transition region 32, whereas the underlying representation with the section CC a Enlargement of the toothing in the immersion area 33 shows. The intended direction of rotation red of the blade 10 is indicated by an arrow. The cutting surfaces 17 are thus not only tilted, ie in each case connect the inner edge 36 located above the clamping plane AE in the inclined surface 37 with the clamping plane AE, but are also employed turning red in the direction of rotation.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3 the cutting surfaces 17 of the cutting teeth 15 in both three peripheral portions 31, 32 and 33 of the blade teeth are both tilted and employed.

As for the tilt angle KW, so Fig. 3 can be seen that the tilt angle KW in the storage area 31 (upper middle illustration in Fig. 3 ) is comparatively large. The tilt angle KW is preferably 26 ° here. In immersion area 33 (penultimate mean representation in Fig. 3 ), the tilt angle KW is smaller than in the storage area 31. The tilt angle KW is here preferably 18 °.

In the immersion region 33, the cutting surfaces 17 are consequently flatter or less steep than in the depositing region 31. As already explained above, in particular compressions of the product during immersion of the knife 10 can be avoided, whereas at the end of the cutting process due to the steeper cutting surfaces 17 in the depositing region 31 improved storage of each separated product slice can be achieved.

In the transition region 32, of which an exemplary section in the second middle view of Fig. 3 is shown, the cutting surfaces 17 are tilted such that in each case three successive cutting surfaces 17 have the same tilt angle KW. In this case, the tilt angle KW, starting from the value 26 ° in the transitional region 32, decreases in each case from three groups to immediately following groups of three by 0.5 °, with the last group of three preceding the immersion region 33 has a tilt angle KW of 18.5 °, to which then join the cutting teeth 15 of the immersion region 33 each with a tilt angle KW of the cutting surface 17 of 18 °.

In an alternative embodiment, the tilt angle value in the immersion region 33 may again be 18 °, whereas in the deposition region 31 the tilt angle value is 22 ° and each angular step between immediately consecutive triplets of cutting teeth 15 in the transition region 32 has a value of 0.25 °.

The pitch a of the toothing is constant over the entire circumferential area and in this embodiment is 5 mm. Alternatively, the pitch of the teeth may vary, as already stated in the introductory part.

By hiring the cutting surfaces 17 are immediately consecutive cutting surfaces 17 are not in a common plane and go directly successive cutting surfaces 17 not directly into each other.

In the embodiment shown here, a transition 27 is present in each case between two directly successive cutting surfaces 17, which is formed as a recess extending in the radial direction with a U-shaped cross-section.

Every transition 27 (cf. Fig. 4 ) comprises a transition surface 23, which merges radially inwardly via a transition edge 35 in the inclined surface 37 and is bounded radially outwardly by a transition edge 21 which lies in the cutting plane SE.

A special feature of this embodiment is that these transition edges 21, the cutting edges 19 of the adjacent cutting surfaces 17th connect and even formed as a cutting edge. As a result, all the cutting edges 19 and each transitional edge 21 connecting each two immediately consecutive cutting edges 19 together form a continuous, uninterrupted overall cutting edge.

Another peculiarity in this embodiment is that this uninterrupted cutting edge formed jointly by the cutting edges 19 and the transition edges 21 lies continuously in the plane of the plane SE. This is through the last two middle representations in Fig. 3 illustrated, wherein the last, lowest middle representation schematically shows a section DD perpendicular to the cutting plane SE by the dashed line of the overlying representation.

The dash-dotted line runs through the lowest point of the transition surface 23. The points 1 and 2 are the intersections of the dotted line with the cutting plane SE (point 1) and with the inclined surface 37 (point 2). The points 3 and 4 are the intersections of a first transition edge 25 with the cutting plane SE (point 4) and with the inclined surface 37 (point 3), whereas the points 5 and 6, the intersections of a second transition edge 25 with the cutting plane SE (point 5 ) or the inclined surface 37 (point 6). The two transition edges 25, the cutting edge 19 and the inner edge 36 clamp the respective cutting surface 17, which is formed planar in this example, so has no curvature, however curved.

As can be seen from the sectional view, the points 1, 4 and 5 as well as the cutting edge 19 connecting the points 5 and 4 and the transition edge 21 connecting the points 4 and 1 lie in the cutting plane SE, while the points 2, 3 and 6 and the the points 6 and 3 connecting inner edge 36 and connecting the points 3 and 2 transition edge 35 in the inclined surface 37 are. However, the points 6 and 3 - measured in the radial direction - different far away from the axis of rotation 11, wherein the point 6 is located radially further out than the point 3 and - since the inclined surface 37 is inclined relative to the cutting plane SE - therefore closer is located at the cutting plane SE as the point 3, that is, the point 6 is lower than the point 3. The point 2 is in turn radially inward than the point 3 and therefore higher than the point 3 and higher than the point 6th

Correspondingly, the point 1 is located radially further inward than the point 4, which in turn lies radially further inward than the point 5. However, all three points 1, 4 and 5 are at the same height level, since they lie in the common cutting plane SE.

In addition, the concrete lengths and relative positions of the points 3, 4, 5 and 6 connecting edges 19, 25, 36 of the respective cutting surface 17 are selected in this embodiment such that the cutting surface 17 is not only tilted, but also employed, and Although such that the cutting surface 17 is red in the direction of rotation.

Also the Fig. 4 It can be seen that in the illustrated embodiment, the cutting surfaces 17 are each made such that the cutting surfaces 17 have in the intended direction of rotation red.

By the employment of the cutting surfaces 17 results radially within the cutting edges 19, 21 in the circumferential direction, a height offset or jump each between two immediately consecutive cutting surfaces 17 in the region of the respective transition 27th

In the embodiment shown here, the four corner points 19a, 19b, 36a and 36b lie in a common plane, namely in the plane of the planar Cutting surface 17. A planar cutting surface 17 is not mandatory. With the same relative arrangement of said vertices, the cutting surface 17 may also be concave or curved. It can also be provided that the named vertices do not all lie in a common plane. The cutting surface 17 is then curved accordingly.

Fig. 4 purely by way of example shows the possibilities of unambiguously defining the orientation of the cutting surface 17 in a knife-fixed reference system.

In Fig. 4 the rear end 19b of the cutting edge 19 forms the reference point in the direction of rotation in the direction of rotation. The movement tangent T 'at the rear end 19b is perpendicular to the radius R through the rear end 19b and is identical to the motion vector the rear end 19b. With respect to this motion vector T ', the cutting edge 19 is inclined by an angle β, in such a way that the cutting edge 19 is red in the direction of rotation.

Another alternative option for defining the "skew" of the cutting edges 19 and thus the lead angle AsW is also in Fig. 4 shown.

As mentioned in the introductory part, the angle between a cutting edge 19 and, for example, that (in Fig. 4 dash-dotted) connecting path V are defined, which connects the rear end 19b of the respective cutting edge 19 and the rear end 19b of the red in the intended direction of rotation red immediately adjacent cutting edge 19 with each other.

As also mentioned in the introduction, all these links V together form a traverse, which approximates an imaginary continuous curve, which is not a circle, on which all the rear ends 19b of the cutting edges 19 lie and which are at least approximately corresponds to the cutting edge of a conventional toothless sickle blade. The front end 19a of each cutting edge is in this embodiment, not on the relevant link V, but on a smaller radius, ie closer to the axis of rotation of the knife than any point on the connecting path V. The cutting edge can also lie on the connecting line V.

In principle, it is also possible that the cutting surfaces 17 each consist of a plurality of individual surfaces, each of which is planar and / or, for example, convex or concave curved. In particular, the cutting surfaces 17 may have edged or rounded transitions between the individual surfaces. However, the cutting surfaces 17 are preferably, if they are curved, each a part of a regular or differentiable surface in the mathematical sense and thus have no edges.

Fig. 5a shows the example of conventional knife the definition of the so-called clearance angle FW in each case in a section perpendicular to the defined by the cutting edge SK cutting plane SE and parallel to the axis of rotation, not shown. In the left-hand illustration, FW = 0 °, ie on the knife rear side RS there is an area FL adjacent to the cutting edge SK in the cutting plane SE. In contrast, the right representation shows a knife with a non-zero clearance angle FW.

Out Fig. 5b it turns out that in a knife according to the invention and a non-zero clearance angle FW the cutting edges 19 and transition edges 21 (and thus the points 1, 4 and 5 according to FIG Fig. 3 ) are no longer in a common plane. The right-hand illustration shows the two sections aa and bb according to the left-hand illustration.

The invention includes both knives with FW = 0 ° and with FW ≠ 0 °, where FW = 0 ° is the preferred embodiment.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

cutting blade

11

axis of rotation

12

receiving opening

13

peripheral edge

15

cutting tooth

17

cutting surface

19

cutting edge

19a

front cutting edge end

19b

rear cutting edge end

21

Transition edge between cutting edges

23

Transition surface

25

Transition edge between cutting surface and transition surface

27

crossing

29

Knife back

31

Peripheral area of type I, storage area

32

Peripheral area of type II, transition area

33

Peripheral area of type I, immersion area

35

Transition edge

36

inner edge

36a

front inner edge finish

36b

rear inner edge finish

37

sloping surface

38

face

39

edge

Rmax

largest radius of the peripheral edge

Rmin

smallest radius of the peripheral edge

AE

Clamping plane

SE

cutting plane

P

Intersection in cutting surface

R

radius

a

division

northwest

tilt angle

KW

tilt angle

red

direction of rotation

AsW

lead angle

T '

Motion tangent, motion vector

β

corner

V

link

Claims (13)

1. A cutting blade, in particular a scythe-like blade or spiral blade or circular blade, for an apparatus for slicing food products, in particular for a highspeed slicer, the cutting blade rotating about an axis of rotation (11) during a cutting operation,
   having a radially outer peripheral edge (13) which acts as a blade edge and which has a curved extent about the axis of rotation (11); and
   having a plurality of cutting teeth (15) which are arranged distributed following one another along the peripheral edge (13),
   wherein each cutting tooth (15) has a blade edge which comprises a cutting surface (17) and a cutting edge (19) radially outwardly bounding the cutting surface (17),
   characterized in that
   each cutting surface (17) extends inclined with respect to a spanned plane (AE) perpendicular to the axis of rotation (11) or with respect to a cutting plane (SE) and the inclination of the cutting surfaces (17) varies along the peripheral edge (13).
2. A cutting blade in accordance with claim 1,
   wherein the cutting edges (19) lie in a common cutting plane (SE); and
   wherein the cutting surfaces (17) each extend inclined with respect to the cutting plane (SE) and intersect the cutting plane (SE) at a tilt angle (KW), with the cutting edges (19) forming the respective intersection line between the cutting surface (17) and the cutting plane (SE).
3. A cutting blade in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2,
   wherein the cutting surfaces (17) are each angled facing in the intended direction of rotation (Rot); and/or wherein the cutting surfaces (17) are each at least substantially planar or extend in a curved manner, in particular convexly or concavely, without edges.
4. A cutting blade in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   wherein at least some cutting edges (19) or each cutting edge (19) includes/include a lead angle (AsW), which in particular differs from zero, with a movement tangent (T') in the cutting plane (SE), with the movement tangent (T') and the radius (R) intersecting at a rear end point (19b) of the respective cutting edge (19);
   and/or wherein at least some cutting edges (19) or each cutting edge (19) includes/include a lead angle (AsW), which in particular differs from zero, with a connection path (V), with the connection path (V) connecting the two rear ends (19b) or the two front ends (19a) of the respective cutting edge (19) and of the directly preceding or following cutting edge (19) to one another.
5. A cutting blade in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the lead angle (AsW) of the cutting edges (19) is constant along the peripheral edge (13) and differs from zero; and/or wherein all the cutting edges (19) lie in a common plane, preferably in a cutting plane (SE) or in a plane in parallel with the spanned plane (AE); and/or in that all the cutting edges (19) and all the transition edges (21) connecting a respective two cutting edges (19) directly following one another jointly form an uninterrupted blade edge which in particular lies in a cutting plane (SE) or in a plane in parallel with the spanned plane (AE); and/or wherein the cutting edges (19) and/or transition edges (21) connecting a respective two cutting edges (19) directly following one another are each in a straight line.
6. A cutting blade in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   wherein at least some cutting edges (19) are each oriented such that a front end (19a) of the cutting edge (19) viewed in the intended direction of rotation (Rot) lies on a smaller radius than the rear end (19b) of the respective cutting edge (19).
7. A cutting blade in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the respective cutting edges (19) of two cutting teeth (15) directly following one another are connected to one another by a transition edge (21); wherein the transition edge (21) is configured as a cutting edge; and/or
   wherein the respective cutting surfaces (17) of two cutting teeth (15) directly following one another are connected to one another by a transition surface (23), with the transition surface (23) in particular being formed as a recess projecting backwards with respect to the cutting surfaces (17), with the recess in particular being formed as a notch, a channel, a furrow or a groove extending in the radial direction, and/or with the recess forming an undercut.
8. A cutting blade in accordance with claim 7,
   wherein the transition surface (23) is radially outwardly bounded by a transition edge (21) connecting the two cutting edges (19) of the cutting teeth (15); and/or wherein the transition surface (23) in cross-section has an extent between the two cutting surfaces (17) which is in particular curved in a U shape or in a V shape, with the open side of the U or of the V facing in the same direction as the cutting surfaces (17).
9. A cutting blade in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the cutting edges (19) have a constant peripheral length and/or a constant edge length; and/or wherein the pitch (a) of the cutting teeth (15) is constant and in particular amounts to approximately between 3 mm and 6 mm, preferably to approximately 5 mm; or
   wherein the pitch of the cutting teeth (15) varies in the peripheral direction, in particular with respect to the peripheral lengths of the cutting teeth (15) and/or with respect to the peripheral lengths of the transitions (27) between the cutting teeth (15).
10. A cutting blade in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    wherein the peripheral edge (13) has at least one peripheral region (31, 33) of type I comprising a plurality of cutting teeth (15) whose cutting surfaces (17) have the same tilt angle (KW); and/or wherein the peripheral edge (13), in particular in addition to at least one peripheral region (31, 33) of type I, has at least one peripheral region (32) of type II comprising a plurality of cutting teeth (15) whose cutting surfaces (17) have a varying tilt angle (KW), with the tilt angle (KW) in particular varying from a respective cutting tooth (15) to a directly adjacent cutting tooth (15), or with the tilt angle (KW) varying from a respective group of n > 1 cutting teeth (15) following one another and having the same tilt angle (KW) with respect to one another to a directly adjacent group of m > 1 cutting teeth (15) following one another and having the same tilt angle (KW) with respect to one another, where n = m = 2, 3, 4 or 5 in particular applies.
11. A cutting blade in accordance with claim 10,
    wherein the peripheral edge (13) between two peripheral regions (31, 33) of type I comprises a peripheral region (32) of type II in which the value of the tilt angle (KW) varies from the tilt angle value of the one peripheral region (31) of type I to the tilt angle value of the other peripheral region (33) of type I.
12. A cutting blade in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    wherein the cutting blade is a circular blade; wherein the tilt angle (KW) of the cutting surfaces (17) is either constant over the total peripheral edge (13) or varies along the peripheral edge (13); and
    wherein, in particular with a varying tilt angle (KW), a plurality of peripheral regions are provided of which at least two peripheral regions differ with respect to the value of the tilt angle (KW) which is constant within the respective peripheral region or with respect to the change behavior of the tilt angle (KW) within the respective peripheral region or differ in that the tilt angle (KW) is constant in the one peripheral region and the tilt angle (KW) varies in the other peripheral region.
13. A cutting blade in accordance with claim 11 or claim 12,
    wherein the cutting blade is a scythe-like blade or a spiral blade; wherein the radius of curvature of the peripheral edge (13) decreases from a maximum radius (Rmax) to a minimum radius (Rmin) viewed in the intended direction of rotation (Rot); and wherein the value of the tilt angle (KW) of the peripheral region (32) of type II decreases from a larger tilt angle value to a smaller tilt angle value viewed in the direction of rotation (Rot), in particular in equal angular steps from cutting tooth (15) to cutting tooth (15), with the larger tilt angle value of the one peripheral region (31) of type I in particular being in a range from 20° to 30° and preferably amounting to between 22° and 26° and the smaller tilt angle value of the other peripheral region (33) of type I being in a range from 15° to 22° and preferably amounting to between 17° and 19°, and with each angular step being in a range from 0.2° to 1°, preferably in a range from 0.25° to 0.5°.

Images