EP3386691A1

EP3386691A1 - Slicing food products

Info

Publication number: EP3386691A1
Application number: EP17701704.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Erfindernennung liegt noch nicht vor Die
Original assignee: Textor Maschinenbau GmbH
Current assignee: Textor Maschinenbau GmbH
Priority date: 2016-02-05
Filing date: 2017-01-27
Publication date: 2018-10-17
Also published as: WO2017133972A1; DE102016102034A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for slicing food products by means of a slicing device which has a working region with a cutting region and a transport region, wherein products to be sliced are supplied to the cutting region on a single track or on multiple tracks and are sliced at the end of the cutting region by means of a cutting blade that is moved in a cutting plane, especially in a rotating and/or circulating manner. According to the invention, the products to be sliced are scanned at at least one scanning point by exactly one compact sensor which is operating contactlessly and is arranged in the working region. The operation of the slicing device is controlled as a function of the outer contour of the products, wherein a part of the contour of the product is detected by means of the compact sensor and a part of the contour of the product, which cannot be detected by means of the compact sensor, is predetermined.

Description

CUTTING FOOD PRODUCTS

The invention relates to a method for slicing food products by means of a slicing device comprising a working area with a cutting area and a transport area, in which products to be sliced fed single or multi-track cutting area and at the end of the cutting area by means of a cutting plane, in particular rotating and / or circumferentially, moving cutting blade to be cut.

Such slicing devices, which are also simply referred to as slicers, are basically known. For example, with planetary rotating and additionally rotating circular blades or with only rotating sickle blades, which have speeds of several 100 to several 1000 revolutions per minute during operation, discs are separated at a constant cutting frequency of the food products. In practice, in many applications, it is desirable that either the individual slices or portions formed from a plurality of slices have a predetermined weight. Since the cutting frequency is constant, the weight of the individual disks is preferably influenced by varying the thickness of the disks. This is done by a corresponding control of the product feed: the farther the product is advanced beyond the cutting plane between two consecutive cuts of the knife, the greater the thickness of the subsequently separated product slice. The slice thickness is just one parameter that determines the weight of the slice in question. The weight of the disk is determined by the disk volume and the average density of the disk, the disk volume being the disk thickness and the outer surface contour of the disk. From the before cutting by means of a Weighing the total weight of the product and from the total volume of the product determined by the outer surface contour of the whole product, its average density can be determined. If weight-constant product slices or portions of product slices are to be obtained, therefore, knowledge of the outer contour of the products to be sliced is required for this purpose. The contour is also called a profile. The above-explained relationships as well as so-called product scanners, which serve to detect the outer contour of food products to be sliced, are known in principle to the person skilled in the art. By way of example, reference is made to DE 196 04 254 A, WO 2000/062983 A, EP 2 644 337 A and DE 10 2009 036 682 A for this purpose.

In practice, the product scanners are usually separate machines, each of which precedes the slicer as part of an entire production line. The products pass through a tunnel-like scan housing, in which the outer product contour is detected by scanning. The electrical and electronic or optoelectronic devices used for scanning

Devices are arranged within the scan housing comparatively open and unprotected. This is possible because laser radiation of a higher protection class can be used due to the surrounding scan housing. In addition, it is not necessary to subject the interior of the scan housing to a high-pressure or steam jet cleaning, which is why the electrical or electronic devices do not have to meet particularly high requirements for the degree of protection or protection class.

A disadvantage of the product scanners used hitherto in practice are the high additional costs and the increased space requirement, as a separate machine trained product scanner comparatively much space required and in particular the length of a production facility significantly increased.

Depending on the product, a longer transport and handling distance between a separate, upstream product scanner and the cutting area is also unfavorable, since the product on its way to the cutting area unintentionally with respect to its external dimensions, i. its outer contour, can be changed. This can e.g. done by mechanical influence or by the fact that temperature effects show effect.

Furthermore, in the operation of slicers of disadvantage that it either not at all or only with relatively high technical effort is possible to achieve not only in terms of cutting results, but also with regard to the processing time within the Slicers optimal handling of the sliced products. It is generally desirable for individual parameters, which vary from product to product, to have specifically coordinated functional sequences within the slicer, in order to make the transport in the slicer as efficient as possible, including the product feed and the actual slicing of the products, and thus - at a reasonable cost - optimum cutting results and to achieve a high product throughput.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, reliable, cost-effective and space-saving option to determine the outer contour or other optional for the operation of the slicer optionally usable or mandatory leh parameters of sliced food products.

The solution of this object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. According to one aspect of the invention, it is provided that the products to be sliced are scanned at at least one scanning point with precisely one non-contact, arranged in the work area compact sensor, the operation of the slicing device is controlled depending on the outer contour of the products, and wherein a Part of the product contour detected by means of the compact sensor and a non-detectable by means of the compact sensor part of the product contour is specified.

On the one hand, this method according to the invention is based on the fact that the scanning of the products to be sliced takes place within the slicing device, by means of a compact sensor. This concept and its associated benefits will be discussed in more detail below. On the other hand, the invention is based on the fact that exactly one such compact sensor is used to scan the products to be sliced. The effort for product sampling is thereby reduced to a minimum.

It has been found that in particular those products which at least partially have a geometrically comparatively simple cross-sectional shape need not be scanned from all sides for a sufficiently accurate determination of their outer contour. It is sufficient if only part of the product contour is detected and the remaining "gap" is closed in another way.

For example, it is known that a respective product, e.g. Salami, has a circular cross-section, then it is sufficient to determine by means of the single compact sensor, a circular arc of the outer contour and to calculate the circle radius and thus the cross-sectional area. The non-detectable, so to speak "in the shadow" part of the product contour is not needed for this purpose.

For example, in other products, which have an irregular top, but where one can assume that under it an im Substantially cuboidal or a "product base" having another known cross-section, as may be the case with Leberkäse, the entire product contour can be determined by detecting the contour of the upper side of the product by means of the compact sensor and additionally by applying the above-mentioned knowledge to the basic shape of the product determine the type of product concerned.

In general, therefore, it can be provided that the non-detectable part of the product contour is predefined on the basis of a known or assumed product cross section. Alternatively, the non-detectable part of the product contour can be specified via parameters determined beforehand in any way.

In general, the specification of an imperceptible part of the product contour can be done by calculation or by extrapolation. Furthermore, according to an embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the sampling-in particular for each individual product-determines at least one product parameter and the operation of at least one functional unit of the slicing device is carried out as a function of the product parameter. The product parameter may be, for example, the product length or the beginning of the product. This aspect will be discussed in more detail below.

If the product type allows to specify a part of the product contour which can not be detected by means of the compact sensor, then a scale arranged downstream of the cutting blade, which serves to determine the weight of the slice or portion weight after cutting, can be dispensed with. A single compact sensor can thus replace such a portion scale. Such a scale is in practice part of a control loop and provided to give the product supply feedback on the actual portion weight, so that the product supply is controlled accordingly and to a predetermined target weight can work. Particularly in the case of geometrically simple products, the outer contour of which can be determined with sufficient accuracy in accordance with the procedure described above by means of only a single compact sensor, a single compact sensor can render a balance downstream of the cutting blade superfluous. Alternatively, the contour determination by means of the single compact sensor can be included in the mentioned control circuit, in order to further improve the accuracy of the accurate weight cutting in this way.

If no scale of this type is used, the density or density related to the product to be cut can be used in other ways to calculate the weight of the pan or portion, regardless of whether exactly one or more compact sensors are used as weighing scales. Replacement "are used. For example, table values for product density may be used for each product type, or a density value of the product previously sliced may be used in each case if the slices of the products produced are weighed but these weight values are not e.g. be used in the context of a control circuit for controlling the product feed. According to a further aspect of the invention, it is provided that the products to be sliced are scanned at at least one scanning point with at least one non-contact, arranged in the work area compact sensor, wherein at least one product parameter determined by the scan and the operation of at least one functional unit of Aufschneidevorrich- device depending is performed by the product parameter.

Hereby, the invention opens up a new field for the production of product information within the slicing apparatus, which can serve the functional processes in handling the products, in particular with regard to Optimization of the cutting results as well as the increase of the working speed to improve.

This concept is fundamentally independent of the number of compact sensors used in the slicing device. For some applications, a single compact sensor is sufficient. This is the case, for example, if the product length, the beginning of the product or the end of the product are to be determined. Other applications, however, can use several compact sensors at one sampling point, for example to be able to determine the product contour completely or at least a larger part of the product contour. This may be the case in particular if the products have a strongly irregularly shaped surface. Irregularly shaped products, for example, whose cross-sectional area is still too small at a front product portion to give usable product slices, so to speak products with an irregularly shaped "nose", require a so-called gating control which determines which of the first slices of product sliced off must be discarded , ie from which separated product disc can be recycled eg by portioning. Without information about the individual contour on the "product nose", for example, only a certain number of slices can be fixed, from which severed product slices are utilized. This relatively inaccurate procedure can be optimized if the outer contour of the products is known at least at the said front product section. The closer this front product section is to the cutting blade when it detects its contour, the less inaccuracies due to influences on the product during transport or handling in the slicer. Strongly irregularly shaped products may require more than one compact sensor at a sampling point detecting the "product nose" for contour detection. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a scale downstream of the cutting blade is supported by the at least one compact sensor. In particular, the standard deviation of the portion weights from a target weight can be minimized in this way. For example, the at least one compact sensor can define an initial slice thickness, which is determined as a function of the product contour determined by means of the at least one compact sensor, at least at the front product section. So far, the initial slice thickness has been fixed in practice. The invention thus makes it possible, by means of the at least one compact sensor arranged in the working area of the slicer, to provide variable gate control tailored to individual product characteristics.

In general, in this aspect of the invention, it can be provided in an advantageous development that, independently of the product parameter, predetermined or predefinable control and / or regulating data and / or signals for the functional unit are changed, corrected and / or supplemented by the product parameter, in particular Frame of a control and / or regulating circuit.

An example of this concept is the abovementioned support of a control circuit including a scale downstream of the cutting blade, which can specify data for controlling the product supply even without the inclusion of product parameters determined by the at least one compact sensor, but which can be optimized with the aid of the at least one compact sensor ,

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, the product beginning can be determined as a product parameter. In particular, the product supply can be controlled depending on the position of the product start in the product supply. Consequently, the at least one compact sensor can replace a otherwise required product start sensor, for example a light barrier. In particular, the determination of the beginning of the product and thus the determination of the position or position of the product within the product feed takes place as long as a product holder of the product feed is still in the return path to a starting position.

Alternatively or additionally, the product end can be determined by means of the at least one compact sensor. The product holder then only needs to be moved back as far as required by the length of the product to be sliced.

According to a further embodiment, the product length can be determined as a product parameter, wherein in particular the product feed is controlled as a function of the product length. With the product length, not only the position of the product end is known when the position of the product start is known, and vice versa, but the product length can be used for example in the context of a "pre-recognition" for planning the operation. Thus, for example, at least an approximate value for the number of expected product slices or portions can be estimated beforehand from the product length. According to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that a starting position of a product holder of the product feed is determined as a function of the product length.

Furthermore, it can be provided according to the invention that the product length is determined as a product parameter and a transfer device, by means of which the products are transferred to the product supply, is controlled as a function of the product length. In this case, in particular, the fact can be exploited that at least when the product type is known, from the product length on at least the approximate product weight can be closed. A possible interaction with a scale downstream of the cutting blade has already been explained above. In general, it can be provided according to the invention that the product contour of at least one front section of the product is determined as a product parameter and taken into account in a control of the product feed as a function of slice or portion weights determined after slicing.

The inventive concept of this aspect of the invention, namely the determination of at least one product parameter by scanning with at least one compact sensor and the operation of the operation of at least one functional unit of the slicing device in dependence on this product parameter, can be combined with the other aspect of the invention. Preferably, therefore, it can be provided that a part of the product contour is detected by means of the compact sensor and a part of the product contour which can not be detected by means of the compact sensor is predetermined.

In general, all further developments of all aspects of the invention described herein can be combined with one another.

In particular, one or more compact sensors can be used in a multi-functional manner in the slicer and used both for product contour detection, in particular with the aim of accurate weight cutting, and for determining one or more product parameters for controlling the operation of one or more functional units of the slicer. For example, a compact sensor may report to the controller of the slicer the beginning of the product and a value for the initial slice thickness, as well as scan the product over its entire length to determine the product contour for use by the slicers control unit or product feed to obtain weight-accurate portions , Alternatively or again in addition, ie to increase the multifunctionality of the compact sensor, this can also be used to detect at least one contour that belongs to a functional unit of the slicer, for example, to check whether a product gripper or product holder is correctly aligned Whether a product test piece to be thrown off in normal operation is still located on the product gripper or product holder, or if any required side stops for the products are ever installed or if existing side stops are each set to the correct position.

One or more compact sensors can fulfill such a variety of tasks and thus save components, since according to the invention the at least one compact sensor can be arranged in the slicer and positioned there practically free.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a device for slicing food products, in particular a high-performance slicer, having a working area which comprises a cutting area and a transport area with a product feed, wherein the product feed feeds products to be sliced into the cutting area in one or more tracks and at the end of the cutting area a cutting blade, in particular rotating and / or rotating, moves in a cutting plane, with a contactless scanning device which comprises at least one scanning point for scanning the products to be sliced exactly one or more compact sensors arranged in the working range, and with a control device for controlling the operation of the slicing device. According to the invention, the slicing apparatus is designed to carry out one of the slicing methods described herein.

Advantageous embodiments of a slicing device according to the invention are given below. These further training courses can also represent the Aufschneideverfahren described herein. Conversely, all developments of the slicing method described herein can be implemented in terms of apparatus and thus further develop the slicing apparatus according to the invention.

Preferably, the products are scanned by means of the at least one compact sensor in the region of the product feed.

In particular, it can be provided that the products are scanned by means of the at least one compact sensor in the region of a front product stop of the product feed, in particular in the feed direction at a distance of about 5 to 20 mm from a stop plane of the product stop.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the products are scanned by means of the at least one compact sensor in the feed direction at a distance of about 30 to 400 mm from the cutting plane.

Preferably, the products are scanned by means of the at least one compact sensor in an area of the transport area upstream of the product feed.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the products are scanned by means of the at least one compact sensor in the region of a transfer device, by means of which the products are transferred to the product supply.

In particular, the products are scanned by means of the at least one compact sensor in the transport direction in front of a pivotable product support of the transfer device. According to the invention, it can further be provided that the products are scanned by means of the at least one compact sensor in a product entry region of the device, in particular in an entrance plane defined immediately before or immediately behind a support plane defined by a support frame or a frame of the device.

Control data is preferably calculated using detected product contours, and the slicing device, in particular the product feed, is operated using the control data, in particular for obtaining weight-constant product slices or portions of product slices.

The invention represents a fundamental departure from the previous approach, which is to use large and expensive product scanners in the form of separate machines for contour detection and to pre-store the slicing device. The invention makes use of the knowledge that a contour detection with compact sensors is possible, which can be arranged in the working area of the slicing device itself, ie within the slicer. This overcomes the prevailing prejudice in the prior art that contactless contour detection of food products to be sliced is not possible under the conditions encountered in the transport and cutting areas of high speed food slicers, that is, conditions particularly due to the presence of dirt To distinguish heat and moisture. This is due to the fact that in the area of a food slicer, scraps as well as cutting dust and cutting flour may be present and all components of a food slicer must be subjected to regular cleaning with water or steam under high pressure and at high temperatures. In addition, it plays a role that in the case of the use of laser radiation for contour detection are paid attention to it must ensure that safety regulations are adhered to and, in particular, eye safety for operating personnel is ensured.

It has surprisingly been found that in comparison to the dimensions of a typical food slicer, very small, compact sensors can be provided which enable reliable contour detection with sufficiently high accuracy and at the same time can be made robust enough and arranged to be electric or optoelectronic Devices to withstand adverse conditions within the working range of a food slicer.

Possible embodiments of the compact sensors used according to the invention as well as advantageous properties of these compact sensors are explained below and indicated in the dependent claims.

Such a compact sensor may comprise in a common housing as the light source a laser for emitting laser radiation in a scanning plane and a camera which can take the image of a line which is generated by the emitted radiation in the scanning plane on a product to be scanned. Such sensors may have an integrated electronics system without the need for an additional controller. Furthermore, such sensors may be insensitive to extraneous light or stray light. In addition, very high resolutions in the range of a few hundredths of a millimeter as well as very high data or signal output rates of up to 6 kHz are possible. The sensors can be equipped with an integrated Gigabit LAN port.

Such compact sensors thus form quasi self-sufficient units that need only be connected to a power supply and data acquisition. In one possible embodiment, such a compact sensor has a width of about 300 mm, a maximum height of about 100 mm and a thickness of about 40 mm. Such sensors are available, for example, from the company wenglorMEL GmbH.

The housing of these sensors can be improved in such a way that the sensors meet high equipment protection classes and are absolutely insensitive to dust and cleaning with water and steam under high pressure and at high temperatures.

Another advantage of such sensors is that they can be operated with laser radiation of a low protection class and thus are harmless to the human eye. Such compact sensors can consequently be positioned freely and openly in the working area of a food slicer at any desired location. Due to their small size, the compact sensors require little space and can thus be placed variably depending on the particular structural conditions of the slicer and on the contour of the products to be scanned. Several compact sensors can be arranged independently in the slicer. The acquisition data of several sensors can be computationally combined in the data evaluation.

According to the invention, the compact sensors preferably operate according to the so-called light-section method in order to detect a contour or a profile. This measuring principle is known in principle to the person skilled in the art. Reference is also made to the above-mentioned patent literature on the prior art. In principle, however, other scanning principles such as, for example, light transit time measurements can also be used according to the invention. When using the light-cutting method, the generation of the continuous or interrupted In principle, the lines to be scanned on the products to be scanned can be made in any desired manner. Thus, for example, by means of a line laser and optionally using a suitable optics, such as a cylindrical lens, a light line can be emitted. Alternatively, a single laser beam may be periodically deflected within a high scan rate scan angle range.

Preferably, the compact sensor is arranged in a separate sealed sensor housing, wherein the compact sensor defines within the working range of the slicing a scanning range for the products, which is located outside of the sensor housing. While according to previous practice - as already mentioned above - the products must pass through the scanner housing, according to the invention it is provided, so to speak, that the scanner has to be guided by the products and the manner of their handling in the slicer and in particular their transport path through the slicer , Due to the compactness and the general insensitivity of the sensors according to the invention such integration into the slicer is easily possible.

The sensor housing can be designed such that it meets a national or international, standardized protection class, according to which dust tightness, complete protection against contact and protection against water in high pressure / steam jet cleaning are given, in particular the protection class IP6K9K or IP69 according to DIN 40 050 Part 9 or DIN EN 60529, or an equivalent protection class.

In particular, an encapsulated compact sensor or a compact sensor can be provided with a sealed sensor housing.

The compact sensor preferably comprises a transmitter for emitting scanning radiation into a scanning region and a receiver for receiving radiation. ment from the scanning, wherein the transmitter and the receiver are arranged in a common sensor housing of the compact sensor. In particular, the scanning range represents that volume of space in which the transmitting range of the transmitter and the receiving range of the receiver overlap.

Preferably, it is provided that the compact sensor emits laser radiation and is designed such that it satisfies a national or international, standardized laser protection class according to which the laser radiation is harmless to the human eye, in particular the laser protection class 1 or 2 according to DIN EN 60825-1 , or an equivalent laser protection class.

In particular, the compact sensor is designed to emit scanning radiation in a scanning plane. This scanning radiation generates on a product to be scanned a line which can be detected by means of a receiver and evaluated in its course for determining the product contour in the scanning plane, wherein the optical axis of the receiver is inclined relative to the scanning plane, i. the receiver "looks" at the line created on the product surface at an angle to the scanning plane.

It is preferably provided that a scanning plane of the compact sensor is at least substantially perpendicular or at an angle of more than about 45 ° to a direction of movement of the products through the scanning plane. Preferably, the compact sensor is designed as a laser scanner. As a scanner here are referred to both those sensors in which a continuous or broken line is emitted, as well as sensors in which a point-shaped laser beam emitted and periodically deflected. Preferably, the compact sensor operates according to the light section method. As already mentioned, such a scanning principle for contour or profile recognition is basically known. The compact sensor is preferably designed to generate a continuous or interrupted line on a product to be scanned by means of a light source, in particular a laser source, and to record an image containing the line by means of a camera. As a camera, for example, a photodiode or a CCD device can be used.

Preferably, the compact sensor is supported or held on a support frame or frame of the slicing device, of which also the cutting region and the transport region of the slicing device are supported. In particular, due to its comparatively low weight, the compact sensor according to the invention can be positioned in basically any manner in the working area. Comparatively light and filigree mounts or suspensions for the compact sensor can be used. The compact sensor can also be attached, for example, to existing components of the slicing device.

The compact sensor can be arranged in or on the cutting area. It is also possible to arrange the compact sensor in the product supply area. In particular, the compact sensor can be arranged in the region of a front product stop of the product supply. A possible distance of the compact sensor from a front stop plane of the product stop is for example about 5 to 20 mm. In one possible embodiment, the compact sensor, viewed in the feed direction of the products, is located at a distance of approximately 30 to 400 mm from the cutting plane. A particular advantage of the arrangement of one or more compact sensors in the region of the product supply, for example in the region of the aforementioned front product stop, is that the products can be scanned during the actual product feed in the cutting operation, ie in a state in which they already with the product holder interact and in particular have already been seized at the rear end of the product. In practice, the gripping process can change the position or orientation of a product relative to its previous position or orientation. Thus, a scan taken before gripping may provide data relating to a location or orientation of the products that is no longer present at the time of slicing and is therefore subject to inaccuracy. Such an error can be avoided from the outset when scanned with already gripped product, ie the invention makes it possible to realize a catchword like "Scanlage = cutting position" to be designated concept.

If the positioning or orientation of the compact sensor is mentioned, this is understood in particular to mean the position or orientation of a scanning plane of the sensor. As an alternative to the aforementioned possibilities, the compact sensor can be arranged in an area of the transport area upstream of the product feed.

The compact sensor can be arranged, for example, in the region of a transfer device, by means of which the products are transferred to the product supply. The transfer device may have a pivotable product support, wherein the compact sensor - seen in the transport direction of the products - is arranged in front of the pivotable product support.

In one embodiment, the compact sensor can be arranged in the region of a transition between two conveyors of a transport path of the transport area. be arranged. If the compact sensor is arranged below the transport path, for example, a gap between two successive belt conveyors can be used to scan the products from below.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the compact sensor is arranged in a product entry region of the device, in particular in an entrance plane defined immediately before or immediately behind a support plane or a frame of the device.

Since the compact sensor is basically freely placeable in the slicing device due to its small size, according to one embodiment it can be ensured that the compact sensor is arranged outside a soiling area of the working area. Cleaning of the slicing device is thereby not made unnecessarily difficult. In particular, it can be provided that the compact sensor is arranged at a distance from the product and / or the product supply.

Furthermore, it can be provided according to the invention that different sampling positions for the compact sensor are predetermined in the work area. This means, on the one hand, that the contour detection of the products in the slicing device can always be done at different sampling points. In the above, examples of different sampling points have been mentioned. In particular, however, it can also be provided that the different sampling positions belong to a common sampling point. This means that when the scanning position of the compact sensor changes, the scanning point at which the contour detection takes place on the products within the slicing device is not changed, but that the position of the compact sensor can only be changed at the scanning point. For example, the compact sensor can be moved a little further forward or a little further back - in terms of direction of movement of the products. Alternatively or additionally, the angular position of the compact sensor can be changed around the direction of movement. In this way, for example, depending on the type or the nature of the respective products, the contour detection can be optimized by optimizing the geometric conditions of the sampling by a different positioning of the compact sensor. As a result, the scanning device according to the invention can react flexibly to conversions or retrofits of the slicing device, which change its structural conditions.

Even in cases where the slicing device itself is not or only slightly upgraded or modified and at least substantially only a change of product type or product type, can such a change quickly and reliably by a product-dependent adjustment or adjustment or a product-dependent Reconstruction of the compact sensor to be responded.

The different scanning positions are in particular so clearly defined that the compact sensor can be placed only in a single position and orientation. As a result, no adjustment or training operations are required in a repositioning of the compact sensor.

In particular, it can be provided that the compact sensor is adjustable between the scanning positions and / or convertible. The compact sensor can, for example, be pivoted or displaced, for which purpose, for example, forced guides and end stops can be provided in order to produce an advantageous uniqueness of the positioning of the compact sensor.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that one or more compact sensors at the same time produce a plurality of parallel product pumps. covered the cutting device. It is therefore not necessary to provide a separate compact sensor for a multi-track operation of the slicing device for each product. The number of compact sensors can thus be smaller than the number of tracks, it being possible, but not mandatory, that all tracks are detected by a single compact sensor. It has been found that a sufficiently large scanning range of the compact sensor can be provided without having to accept any adverse effects, in particular with regard to the positionability of the compact sensor within the slicing apparatus. The reference can then be made for example by filtering the respective desired signal in an associated control device.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that a plurality of compact sensors for common contour detection are arranged at a scanning point. It can therefore be arranged at a sampling multiple compact sensors, which cooperate in the contour detection. Depending on the outer shape of the products to be sliced, a single compact sensor per sampling point may be sufficient to detect the product contour with sufficient accuracy for the particular invention. In other applications, it may be advantageous to use several compact sensors per sampling point. These can be arranged distributed in the circumferential direction around the movement or transport direction of the products around. For example, two compact sensors can be provided which scan the product obliquely from above. Alternatively, a single compact sensor can be provided above the products, which is supported by two compact sensors scanning diagonally from below, which are arranged below the products.

When the compact sensors operate with scanning planes, it is possible, but not essential, for all the scanning planes of the compact sensors to lie in a single common plane. Rather, it is possible that the scanning planes in the transport direction of the products are slightly opposite each other. which are offset. As a result, the establishment of a scanning point is considerably simplified, since no complex adjustments of the compact sensors relative to each other are required. It has been found in connection with compact sensors operating according to the light-section method that a spacing of the scanning lines on a product of only a few millimeters still enables reliable detection and evaluation of the scanning lines by the associated compact sensor. In other words, it has been found that the compact sensors do not interfere with each other. The above-mentioned example is a possibility for a general preferred concept of the invention, according to which the scanning of the products can take place spatially offset by at least two compact sensors at one scanning point. Alternatively or in addition to a spatial offset, it is possible to perform a time-offset scan in that the compact sensors are not active simultaneously but alternately. For example, it can be prevented by a pulsed operation with compact sensors operating according to the light-section method that the camera of one sensor is disturbed by the scan line generated by the other sensor on the product. Furthermore, it can be provided that the scanning takes place at two sampling points by two compact sensors oriented in opposite directions. In this way, a location or area on the outside of a product can be detected from different directions. In the case of strongly irregularly shaped products, this is particularly advantageous because areas not to be detected are prevented, for example due to undercuts or depressions.

According to a further embodiment it can be provided that the scanning device is designed to carry out one or more additional tasks. This can be achieved by detecting at least one contour by means of the compact sensor. which belongs to at least one functional unit of the device. In this case, the compact sensor can at least temporarily be used to scan a functional unit of the device. For example, if the compact sensor is located in the region of the product feed, a product gripper engaging during the advancement of a product at the rear end of the product or another type of product holder may be scanned as it passes the sampling location of the compact sensor during product feed. This makes it possible, for example, to check whether the product gripper or product holder is correctly aligned or whether a product piece to be thrown off in normal operation is still on the product gripper or product holder when it is moved back to a starting position to prepare the slicing of a subsequent product, and thereby Probe again happened. It would also be possible, for example, to check by means of a compact sensor whether appropriate side stops are ever added to the product parameters set on the slicer or whether existing side stops are each set to the correct position.

In general, therefore, the compact sensor, due to the fact that it is located inside the slicing apparatus, can additionally be used to monitor a proper configuration as well as a proper operation of one or more functional units of the slicing apparatus.

As already mentioned, the contour detection by means of one or more compact sensors within the slicing device serves, in particular, to obtain weight-constant product slices or portions of product slices.

Against this background, a control device may be provided which is designed to control data using detected product contours calculate and operate the device, in particular the product supply, using the control data.

As far as the method according to the invention is concerned, the use of one or more compact sensors within the slicing device makes it possible to adapt the contour detection to already occurring processes in the handling of the products within the slicing device. Thus, for example, a possible slicing device can be operated in such a way that a product transferred to the product supply is thereby securely gripped by a product gripper acting on the rear product end, so that the product is pressed by means of the product gripper against a product stop which is temporarily in the feed path. Subsequently, the product is retracted by a certain, comparatively short distance by means of the product gripper, which now correctly grips in the intended manner, whereupon the product stop is moved away in order to release the feed path to the cutting plane. The product is then moved towards the cutting plane by the product gripper and then through the cutting plane. A problem in this context may be that the product pressed against the product stop deforms during the gripping process, but does not completely relax during the subsequent retraction. Depending on the respective product type, a plastic deformation can consequently take place, resulting in a permanent deformation, whereby the outer product contour changes during gripping. This can lead to errors in the control of the product feed, if the controller assumes an outer product contour due to an upstream scanning process, which no longer exists after the gripping process due to a non-elastic deformation of the front product area.

In such a case, the invention can avoid errors by detecting the product contour only then and especially shortly before cutting becomes after the previously compressed due to a gripping operation in the product supply product has relaxed again, and it is without detriment, when the product is only partially relaxed and a residual deformation remains. For example, it is possible according to the invention to arrange one or more compact sensors in the region of the mentioned product stop. The contour detection can thus take place with or shortly after the start of the actual product feed and thus the actual slicing operation. The scanning of the product thus begins, in particular, only when the product is advanced towards the cutting plane by means of the product holder.

It has been found that in many applications, for sufficient accuracy, it is not necessary to start slicing a product until after the product has been completely scanned. It is therefore possible that a middle and / or rear portion of the product is scanned only when the slicing of the product has already begun.

Such use of the scanning device according to the invention also does not lead to an impairment of the working speed of the slicing device. It has been found that the quality and in particular the accuracy of the contour detection is not impaired if the product is scanned in two scanning phases at different feed rates during the scanning process, as is the case after a gripping operation during a fast feed phase towards the cutting plane and then in a cutting feed phase at a relatively slower feed rate is moved through the cutting plane. It is then scanned a front product section at a relatively higher feed rate and then the remaining product section at a relatively slower feed rate by means of the compact sensor. Again, the contour detection can thus take place with or shortly after the start of the actual product supply and thus the actual slicing operation. As already mentioned, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, control data can be calculated using detected product contours and the up-cutting device, in particular the product supply, is operated using the control data, in particular for the purpose of weight-constant product slices or To extract portions of product slices.

A possible embodiment of the method according to the invention is characterized in that one or more additional tasks are performed by means of the scanning device. For this purpose, it can be provided that at least one contour belonging to at least one functional unit of the device is detected by means of the compact sensor. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a food slicer according to the invention. FIG

Fig. 2 shows two views of a compact sensor used in the invention, and

3 to 5 each schematically a possible arrangement of a compact sensor used in the invention.

According to FIG. 1, a food slicer 10 according to the invention has, in a manner known per se, a load-bearing structure as a frame-like frame 35 with a plurality of supporting supports and struts. The most part within this Supporting frame 35 located working area of the slicer 10 includes a front cutting area 1 1 and a transport area 13 with a product feeder 15th

The cutting area 11 comprises a cutting head 22 carried on the frame 35, in which, in particular, a drive (not shown) for a cutting blade 21 designed here as a circular blade is arranged. The defined by the cutting blade 21 cutting plane 19 is inclined at about 45 ° to the vertical. With a dashed line the axis of rotation 20 of the cutting blade 21 is indicated. During operation, the cutting blade 21 rotates about its own axis of rotation 20 and also runs around a direction indicated by a dash-dotted line drive shaft 24, with respect to which the cutting blade 21 is arranged eccentrically and thus rotates planetary.

The product support comprises a support plane extending perpendicularly to the cutting plane 19 and thus likewise inclined by 45 ° to the vertical, along which food products 17 to be sliced are fed to the cutting plane 19 with the aid of a product holder 49 acting on the rear product end.

Before the cutting area 1 1 below the cutter head 22, a movable product stopper 16 is provided. As explained in the introductory part, in a gripping operation, the respective product 17 is pressed by means of the product holder 49 against the product stopper 16 in order to ensure a reliable gripping of the product 17. Then, when the actual product feed to the cutting plane 19 begins, the product stopper 16 is moved out of the path of movement of the product 17 to release the path to the cutting plane 19.

In the illustration of FIG. 1, the product 17 rests on a pivotable product support 39 of the product feed 15. The product support 39 belongs to a transfer device 37, which will be discussed in more detail below. The Product support 39 may be formed, for example, as a freely running endless belt or have a sliding surface for the products 17.

In the swung-up state according to FIG. 1, the pivotable product supports 39, together with a front conveyor 61, which may, for example, be a conveyor belt or a passive sliding support, forms a product support on which the product 17 rests during the advance.

The front conveyor 61 is adjoined by a cutting edge 63, with which the cutting blade 21 cooperates when separating slices 53 from the products 17. On a portioning belt 65 portions 55 are formed from the separated slices 53, which are then transferred to a further conveyor belt 67 and then fed to a further processing, in which the portions 55 are weighed in particular. A balance 81 is integrated into the conveyor 67, but may also be disposed at another location subsequent to the cutting blade 21 and / or provided as a separate unit not integrated in a conveyor.

A central control device 51 is shown schematically in Fig. 1, which is connected, inter alia, with the cutting head 22 and the product holder 49 of the product supply 15. In addition, the control device 51 communicates with the other functional units of the slicer 10, in particular with a scanning device explained in more detail below, which in this embodiment comprises exactly one compact sensor 23 positioned above the products 17, for the purpose of illustrating five different scanning points A, B, C , D and E within the slicer 10 are indicated. Alternatively, a plurality of circumferentially distributed, cooperating compact sensors 23 may be provided at a sampling point within the slicer 10. The slicer 10 may in principle be designed for one-track operation or for a multi-lane transport, feeding and slicing of food products 17. For each track then has the product supply 15 a pivotable product support 39 and a product holder 49. In particular, the slicer 10 may be formed for a fully individual track operation in which the tracks can be operated completely independently and share the common cutting blade 21.

The products 17 to be sliced are placed manually or automatically in a loading area 69 on a further conveyor 44, which can be counted to the transport area 13 of the slicer 10 and the loaded products 17 through a rear product entry area 45, which defines an entrance level 47, further conveyors 41st , 43 of the transport area 13 feeds. The transport path formed by the conveying devices 41, 43, 44, which may be, in particular, endless belt conveyors, rises slightly from the rear to the front so that the products 17 in front of the transfer device 37 are already at a certain height within the slicer 10 and thus in the loading area 69, the loading height is comparatively low, whereby in particular a manual loading is facilitated.

In order to achieve at least substantially constant weight portions 55, the product feed takes place in the product feed 15 inter alia on the basis of the cross-sectional areas of the products 17, which can be calculated from the outer product contour. For detecting the product contour, the already mentioned contactlessly operating scanning device is provided, which comprises at least one scanning point within the slicer 10 one or more compact sensors 23.

A possible scanning point A is located directly in front of the product stop 16 in the product feed 15 inclined to the vertical and thus perpendicular to the cutting plane 19. The compact sensor 23 is thus arranged in such a way that that its scanning plane 33 is parallel to the cutting plane 19 and thus perpendicular to the product longitudinal extent and thus perpendicular to the product feed direction. If a plurality of compact sensors 23 are provided, then they may be arranged such that their scanning planes 33 lie in a common plane. Alternatively, the scanning planes 33 of the compact sensors 23 may be offset from each other.

A single compact sensor 23 is so small that it can be regarded as quasi point-shaped compared to the dimensions of the slicer 10. The slider 10 has, for example, a length of about 2.70 m without the loading area 69, ie up to the entry level 47, a height of about 2.50 m up to the upper struts of the support frame 35, and a width of about 1 m , This means that even with a comparatively compact design of the slicer, in which a plurality of functional units are integrated in a comparatively small space, there is still sufficient space for optimum positioning of one or more compact sensors 23. As mentioned in the introductory part, the compact sensors 23 can thus be largely freely positioned and due to their low weight with little mechanical effort directly on existing functional units of the Slicers 10 or on holders on these func- on units or on the support frame 35 are attached. In addition, a power supply and a signal line for transmitting the acquired contour data to the central control device 51 suffice for the compact sensors 23 in each case. In principle, a wireless data transmission and a battery or battery operation of the compact sensors 23 are possible, which further simplifies their integration into the slicer 10.

A further possible sampling point B is located in front of the transfer device 37 which, when the product support 39 is swung down, which is indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 1, the products 17 from the front conveyor 41 feed the products 17 via the "tail" of the slicer 10 transport means takes over. The scanning plane 33 of the compact sensor 23 lies in the region of the transition between the conveyor 41 and the swung-down product support 39. Consequently, the products 17 can be scanned while being transferred to the transfer device 37.

An alternative sampling point C is located in the region of the transition between the two successive conveyors 41, 43 of the transport device. Another possibility for positioning one or more compact sensors 23 shows the sampling D. The scanning plane 33 of the single compact sensor 23 is located immediately behind the entrance plane 47 of the slicer 10 and again in the transition region of two conveyors 43, 44. The sampling E shows yet another positioning possibility. The compact sensor 23 is arranged directly in front of the product inlet region 45. In particular, when several compact sensors 23 are to be arranged at this sampling point E, the conveying path can be interrupted and, for example, interrupted. comprise two consecutive conveyors to enable or improve scanning of the products 17 from below and from below, respectively.

In Fig. 1, the compact sensor 23 is shown only schematically at the sampling points A, B, C, D and E respectively. 1 shows on the left a side view and on the right a front view rotated by 90 ° of a possible compact sensor 23 according to the invention in order to illustrate how a compact sensor 23 designed according to this embodiment can be oriented in the slicer 10.

In this context, reference is also made to FIG. 2. The compact sensor 23 comprises a sealed sensor housing 25, in each of which a laser source 29 as a transmitter and a camera 31 are arranged as a receiver. The laser source 29 emits scanning radiation in a scanning plane 33, which in the slicer 10, as already mentioned, is perpendicular to the longitudinal extension and thus perpendicular to the respective direction of movement of the products 17. In a predetermined by the respective configuration of the compact sensor 23 distance from the sensor housing 25 intersects a conical detection range 59 of the camera 31 with an optical axis 57 which extends inclined to the scanning plane 33, the V-shaped scanning plane 33. This overlap region forms the scanning of the compact sensor 25th

As already mentioned, according to a possible embodiment of the compact sensor 23 may have a width b of about 300 mm, a smaller height h of about 60 mm, a greater height H of about 80 mm and a thickness d of about 40 mm.

The mentioned scanning begins in this embodiment approximately in a measured along the scanning plane 33 distance from the housing 25 of the compact sensor 23 of about 300 mm. The scanning area ends approximately after a further 700 mm and thus only at a distance of about 1 m from the sensor housing 25. The width of the working area is at the beginning, ie at a distance of about 300 mm, about 280 mm and at the end, that is at a distance of about 1, 000 mm, about 830 mm. The average spatial resolution is within the scanning range - depending on the direction - between 45 and 200 μιτι. The laser source can be operated with a red laser (wavelength 660 nm) or with a blue laser (wavelength 405 nm).

For example, a single compact sensor 23 arranged at one of the scanning points A, B, C, D and E can serve exclusively to determine the outer contour of the products 17 so that the product supply 15 can be controlled in such a way on the basis of this product data that Weight-accurate portions 55 be. As explained in the introductory part, a single compact sensor 23 may be sufficient if sufficiently known or geometrically simple products 17 are cut open. For this purpose, reference is made by way of example to the schematic representations in FIGS. 3 and 4. Of a product 17 of circular cross-section need only be known that the product cross-section along the product 17 is circular everywhere. The radius of the circular cross section can be determined from a partial contour 73 that can be detected by means of the compact sensor 23, and thus the cross-sectional area at the respective scanning point can be calculated. If the size of the cross-section but not its shape changes, ie if the cross-section of the product 17 is circular everywhere, but possibly varies along the longitudinal extent of the product 17, this is uncritical, since at each scanning point along the product 17 from the detectable sub-contour 73rd the cross-sectional area at this sampling point can be calculated. For the accuracy of the contour detection and thus the control of the product supply 15, it is thus harmless that by means of the single compact sensor 23, the "shadowed" partial contour 75, which is indicated in Fig. 3 by a dashed line, can not be detected.

Accordingly, it is harmless in the application shown in FIG. 4 that the partial contour 75 of the product 17, once again shown in dashed lines, can not be detected by means of the single compact sensor 23 if the cross-sectional shape of the non-detectable "pedestal" of the product 17 is known. Even if it is only known that this base is cuboid, but its size is not known, the product support 83 can be closed with consideration contour on the height of the base in the evaluation. The width of the base can be determined by the interruption of the scanning light line between the detectable part 73 produced on the product support 83 by means of the light source 29 (FIG. 2) the product contour and the detectable on the product support 83 part of the scanning light line can be determined.

Alternatively or in addition to a product contour detection to achieve weight-accurate portions 55, either a single compact sensor 23 arranged in the slicer 10 at a sampling point or several compact sensors 23 arranged at one sampling point can perform one or more additional tasks or perform additional functions, as also already mentioned above have been. Some examples are shown in Fig. 5. A compact sensor 23 may e.g. can be used to determine the product beginning 79. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible for the compact sensor 23 to determine the contour of a front product section 77 in order to determine from when the cross-sectional area of the product 17 has a size which leads to usable product slices 53. By way of example only, such a cross-sectional area 71 is shown in FIG. 5 by a dot-dash line. Due to such a "pre-recognition", the control device 51 is aware that all product slices cut off until reaching this cross-sectional area 71 can not be utilized and must be discarded in a manner known per se, eg by operating the portioning belt 65 against the normal conveying direction discard unreachable product section to the rear.

Such an initial control of the slicer 10 can consequently be optimized by means of an individual product contour detection carried out with the aid of one or more compact sensors 23 arranged in the slicer 10, since it is no longer necessary to resort to fixed values. Furthermore, by determining the product contour at the front product section 77, the thickness of the first utilizable product slice 53 can be predetermined in order to provide an initial value for the product feed 15 which is commensurate with the individuality of the respective product 17. Fixed values then no longer need to be used in this case. As already mentioned in the introductory part, even the product contour ascertained with a single compact sensor 23 can enable activation of the product feed 15, which delivers portions of weight 55 with sufficient accuracy without the aid of a balance arranged downstream of the cutting blade 21. As an alternative to such a replacement of a balance, the sampled product contour may be used to assist a loop including a downstream scale 81, thereby being able to achieve portions 55 at a much faster portioning weight within a predetermined tolerance.

Furthermore, a single compact sensor 23 can be used to determine the beginning of the product, the end of the product and / or the product length in order to use this information for an optimized operation of the product feed 15, which in particular avoids unnecessary dead times.

In general, according to the invention, one or more compact sensors 23 arranged within the slicer 10 can therefore undertake a variety of tasks and optimize certain working processes of the slicer 10. In this case, the compact sensors 23 or at least one of the compact sensors 23 can either be provided exclusively for this purpose or perform one or more of these tasks in addition to a contour detection, which serves to obtain weight-constant product slices or portions of product slices.

Hereinafter, possible, not shown relative arrangements of several compact sensors are described at a sampling.

According to a variant, two compact sensors 23 are arranged above the products 17, each of which samples the product 17 at an angle of about 45 °. The scan planes 33 each extend perpendicular to the direction of movement of the product 17. The scan planes 33 overlap so that the top of the product 17 can be illuminated simultaneously from different directions and also the side flanks of the product 17 can be detected at least substantially completely.

In an alternative arrangement, a compact sensor 23 is arranged approximately centrally above a product 17. Two further compact sensors 23 are located on both sides below the product 17 and capture the product contour from obliquely below.

According to another possible arrangement, two compact sensors 23 arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the products 17 are provided, which are oriented opposite to one another. Such an arrangement makes it possible to detect such regions of products 17, which in particular have highly irregularly shaped surfaces, also on those surface regions which would not be visible by means of a single sensor 23. Several such dual arrays of compact sensors 23 may be circumferentially distributed around the product 17.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 slicing machine, slicer

1 1 cutting area

13 transport area

15 product feed

16 product stop

17 product

19 cutting plane

20 axis of rotation

21 cutting blades

22 cutting head

23 compact sensor

24 drive axle

25 sensor housing

29 transmitter, light source, laser

31 receivers, camera

33 scanning plane

35 supporting frame or frame

37 transfer device

39 product edition

41 conveyor

43 conveyor

44 conveyor

45 product entry area

47 entry level

49 product holder

51 control device

53 product disc

55 serving

57 optical axis

59 detection area

61 conveyors

63 cutting edge

65 portioning tape

67 conveyor belt

69 loading area

71 cross-sectional area

73 detectable part of the product contour

75 non-detectable part of the product contour

77 front product section

79 Product beginning

81 Libra

83 product edition

A, B, C, D, E sampling point

Claims

claims

1 . Method for slicing food products by means of a slicing apparatus (10) comprising a working area with a cutting area (11) and a transport area (13), in which

sliced products (17) the cutting area (1 1) single track or multi-track supplied and cut at the end of the cutting area (1 1) by means of a cutting plane (19), in particular rotating and / or rotating, moving cutting blade (21)

the products (17) to be sliced are scanned at at least one scanning point (A, B, C, D, E) with precisely one noncontacting compact sensor (23) arranged in the working area (11, 13), and

the operation of the slicing apparatus (10) is controlled as a function of the outer contour of the products (17),

wherein a part (73) of the product contour is detected by means of the compact sensor (23) and a part (75) of the product contour which can not be detected by means of the compact sensor (23) is predetermined.

2. The method according to claim 1,

characterized,

the non-detectable part (75) of the product contour is predefined on the basis of a known or assumed product cross-section.

Method according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized,

the non-detectable part (75) of the product contour is calculated from a known or assumed product cross-section and the detectable part (73) of the product contour.

Method according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that in each case at least one product parameter is determined by the scanning and the operation of at least one functional unit of the slicing device (10) is carried out as a function of the product parameter.

Method for slicing food products by means of a slicing apparatus (10) comprising a working area with a cutting area (11) and a transport area (13), in which

aufzuschneidende products (17) the cutting area (1 1) single track or multi-track supplied and cut at the end of the cutting area (1 1) by means of a cutting plane (19), in particular rotating and / or rotating, moving cutting blade (21), and

the products (17) to be sliced are scanned at at least one scanning point (A, B, C, D, E) with at least one non-contact working compact sensor (23) arranged in the working area (1 1, 13),

wherein the sampling determines at least one product parameter and the operation of at least one functional unit of the slicing apparatus (10) is performed as a function of the product parameter.

Method according to claim 5,

characterized,

that predetermined or predefinable control and / or regulating data and / or signals for the functional unit are changed, corrected and / or supplemented by the product parameter independently of the product parameter, in particular in the context of a control and / or regulating circuit.

Method according to claim 5 or 6,

characterized,

in that the product beginning (79) is determined as a product parameter, wherein in particular the product feed (15) is controlled as a function of the position of the product start (79) in the product feed (15).

Method according to one of claims 5 to 7,

characterized,

in that the product length is determined as a product parameter, wherein in particular the product feed (15) is controlled as a function of the product length.

Method according to claim 8,

characterized,

in that a starting position of a product holder of the product feed (15) is determined as a function of the product length.

Method according to one of claims 5 to 9,

characterized,

in that the product length is determined as a product parameter and a transfer device (37), by means of which the products (17) are transferred to the product feed (15), is controlled as a function of the product length.

1 1. Method according to one of claims 5 to 10,

characterized,

a front product contour (77) is determined as a product parameter, wherein in particular a bleed control is carried out as a function of the front product contour (77).

12. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 1 1,

characterized,

in that the product contour of at least one front section (77) of the product (17) is determined as a product parameter and taken into account in a control of the product feed (15) as a function of slice or portion weights determined after slicing.

13. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 12,

characterized,

in that the operation of the slicing device (10) is controlled as a function of the outer contour of the products (17), one part (73) of the product contour being detected by means of the compact sensor (23) and one part (not detectable by means of the compact sensor (23) 75) of the product contour is specified.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

in that the products (17) are scanned by means of the compact sensor (23) in the region of the product feed (15).

Method according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

in that the products (17) are scanned by means of the compact sensor (23) in the region of a front product stop (16) of the product feed (15), in particular in the feed direction at a distance of approximately 5 to 20 mm from a stop plane of the product stop (16).

Method according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

in that the products (17) are scanned in the feed direction by means of the compact sensor (23) at a distance of approximately 30 to 400 mm from the cutting plane (19).

Method according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

in that the products (17) are scanned by means of the compact sensor (23) in an area of the transport area (13) located upstream of the product feed (15).

18. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

in that the products (17) are scanned by means of the compact sensor (23) in the region of a transfer device (37) by means of which the products (17) are transferred to the product supply (15).

19. The method according to claim 18,

characterized,

in that the products (17) are scanned in front of a pivotable product support (39) of the transfer device (37) by means of the compact sensor (23) in the transport direction.

20. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

in that the products (17) are scanned in a product entry region (45) of the device by means of the compact sensor (23), in particular in an entry plane immediately before or immediately behind an entry plane defined by a support frame or a frame (35) of the device ( 47).

21. Method according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

in that the compact sensor (23) is arranged in its own closed sensor housing (25) and defines, within the working area (11, 13), a scanning area for the products (17) located outside the sensor housing (25).

22. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that the compact sensor (23) is designed as a laser scanner.

23. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

in that the compact sensor (23) operates according to the light-section method.

24. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

in that control data are calculated using detected product contours and the device, in particular the product feed (15), is operated using the control data, in particular for determining To obtain weight-constant product slices (53) or portions (55) of product slices (53).

Device (10) for slicing food products, in particular high-performance slicers, with

a work area comprising a cutting area (1 1) and a transport area (13) with a product feed (15), wherein the product feed (15) to be cut products (17) the

Cutting area (1 1) single-track or multi-track feeds and at the end of the cutting area (1 1) in a cutting plane (19) a cutting blade (21), in particular rotating and / or rotating, moves

a non-contact scanning device, which comprises for scanning the products to be sliced (17) at at least one sampling point (A, B, C, D, E) exactly one or more in the work area (1 1, 13) arranged compact sensors (23), and one Control device (51) for controlling the operation of the slicing device (10),

wherein the slicing apparatus (10) is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.