EP3386693B1 - Method for carrying out a trimming cut - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for slicing a food bar in nominal food slices and / or for portioning of nominal food slices, according to the preamble of claim 1, such as from DE 10 2004 006 120 A1 known.

The generic method is known from so-called Hochleistungsaufschneidevorrichtungen, as for example in the DE 10001338 , the DE 10 2011 114 180 A1 , the EP 0107056 , as well as the GB 2386317 to be discribed. Further state of the art are the EP 2 420 362 B1 and the US 6 640 681 B1 , In these so-called "slicers" bar-shaped or other shaped food bars, such as sausage, cheese, ham, raw ham or the like with a very high cutting performance, for example, up to 1,000 cuts per minute or more, cut into nominal food slices. In this case, for example, the food latch is transported by means of a regulated drive through a stationary cutting plane in which the cut is made by a rapidly moving usually rotating cutting blade. The slice thickness of the nominal food slices results from the feed distance of the food bar between two cuts. Accordingly, at a constant cutting blade rotational speed, the regulation of the slice thickness takes place via the feed speed of the food bar, which is transported continuously in the direction of the cutting knife. The cut nominal food slices are generally combined and packaged with constant number of slices and / or weight-to-portion. Before separating the nominal food slices usually some trim food slices must be separated from the food bar, which are not suitable as Nennmittelssscheibe and are disposed of accordingly or recycled for secondary use. Currently, trim food slices are usually not cut intermittently. This has the disadvantage that with a larger deviation of the trim food slice thickness to the nominal slice thickness, the first nominal slice becomes wedge-shaped. This comes from the different feed rates for trim or nominal wheel thickness.

In the event that the trimming cut is to be cut as thick slices, the trimming cut must be done intermittently to reduce the load on the cutting system. When intermittently cut, the cutting speed usually has to be reduced. When switching from intermittent to constant feed rate, the first nominal disc becomes wedge-shaped.

It was therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art.

The object is achieved with a method for slicing a food bar in nominal food slices and / or portioning of nominal food slices, as defined in claim 1.

The present invention relates to a method for slicing a food bar into food slices. Such food bars, such as sausage, cheese or ham typically have a length between 300 and 3,500 millimeters. These food bars are inserted into the slicing device and transported by means of a transport in the direction of a rotating cutting blade. The cutting blade may be, for example, a circular or sickle blade, which rotates about a rotation axis and / or along a circular path. This cutting knife separates nominal food slices from the front end of the food rack. In this case, the food latch by means of a controlled drive continuously, preferably at a constant speed by a stationary cutting plane in which the cut is made by the rotating cutting blade transported. Also during the separation of a nominal food slice the food bar is transported further. The slice thickness of the nominal food slices results from the feed distance of the Food bar between two cuts. Accordingly, at a constant cutting blade rotational speed, the regulation of the slice thickness takes place via the feed speed of the food bar, which is transported continuously in the direction of the cutting knife. The nominal food slices so cut usually fall on a portioning device, in particular a storage table, with which they are combined into portions with a constant number of discs and / or weight-accurate portions and then removed and packaged.

Before separating the nominal food slices according to the invention at least one, preferably some trim food slices must be separated from the food bar, which are not suitable as a nominal food disc and disposed of accordingly or recycled secondary. These trim cuts preferably have a substantially greater thickness than the nominal food slice. Preferably, the thickness of the trim wheel is 5 - 30 mm.

According to the invention, when separating at least the last trim food disc of each food bar, the food bar is at least temporarily transported at the nominal feed speed for the separation of nominal food discs in the direction of the cutting blade. As a result, the first nominal food disc has an at least substantially constant thickness.

The rotational speed of the cutting blade can be the speed when cutting a nominal food slice or less.

According to the invention, when cutting the trim food disc, the cutting blade rotates at a lower speed than when cutting nominal food discs, and the speed of the cutting blade is accelerated during the final trim cut / trim cuts and / or during the slicing of at least one portion of nominal food slices.

In the present invention, the trim cuts are made at a slower speed than when cutting a nominal food slice in continuous operation. According to the invention, the speed is then during the slicing the last trimming slice (s) and / or during the slicing of at least one portion, preferably the first portion of nominal food slices, more preferably the first nominal food slice (s) of a serving, then increasing until the speed (rated speed) is reached, in which the remaining portions of nominal food slices to be cut. The acceleration phase may be shorter, equal to, or longer than the duration of slicing a portion of nominal food slices. Preferably, the acceleration takes place during the slicing of a slice or until the knife has again penetrated into the food bar for cutting the next slice.

By this embodiment of the method according to the invention, the performance of the slicer is increased because it is not waited until the cutting blade has the desired speed for the nominal operation before the first food slice a Nennportion is cut, but already cut during the acceleration phase portions of nominal food slices and exploitable Be configured portions and / or the acceleration occurs during the slicing of one or more trim discs.

Preferably, the drive of a gripper, which is connected to the rear end of the food bar and / or the drive of a traction and / or support belt, which transports the food latch in the direction of the cutting blade and / or the drive of a storage table on which the nominal food to the discs Portions are configured and then removed and / or the drive of an interleaver system, the Zwischenlegepapiere arranges between two food slices synchronized with the speed of the cutting blade.

Yet another inventive or preferred subject matter of the present invention is a method of performing trimming cuts wherein the advancement of the food bar occurs during the slicing of a trim wheel at two different speeds.

In this subject of the present invention, feed of the food bar occurs during separation of a trim disk at two different speeds. Preferably, the food bar, in particular during the Cutting knife is not engaged with it at a speed that is above the nominal feed rate when cutting nominal food slices, moved by a comparatively large distance, for example 2 - 34 mm, preferably 5 - 30 mm. Thereafter, especially when the cutting blade is in contact with the food bar, another, in particular reduced, speed, in particular the feed speed reduced to the nominal feed speed, is selected.

Between the two speeds mentioned above, the feed rate can be briefly reduced to zero or near zero m / s.

This procedure can be used to cut off one or more trimming cuts. In particular, the last trimming cut can be cut off according to this method. The Trimmschnittscheiben are then each slightly wedge-shaped.

In this inventive or preferred method, the Schneidmesset can rotate at the rated speed and / or a reduced speed.

Yet another inventive or preferred subject matter of the present invention is a method wherein the cutting knife has at least substantially the same speed during separation of the last trim food slice as during cutting of at least one portion of nominal food slices.

In this object of the present invention, the cutting blade rotates, at least when separating the last trim food disc at least substantially with the desired speed at rated operation. With the slicing of the nominal food slices in nominal operation can then be continued immediately, without the cutting blade has to be significantly accelerated.

Preferably, the trim food discs fall on the tray and are disposed of there. "Disposed" or "secondarily utilized" in the sense of the invention means that the trim food slices are not transported in the same direction as the portions of nominal food slices. With more than one Trimmlebensmittelscheibe per food bar these slices are preferably collected on the table and then transported together.

According to a preferred embodiment, the food bar is scanned prior to slicing and the number and / or thickness of the trim food slice (s) is predetermined. Only after this section of the food bar has been separated can the slicing of nominal food slices be started.

Preferably, in particular during scanning, for example in the case of X-ray scanning, the local density of the food bar is determined and the division into trim or nominal disk takes place on the basis of the density. For this purpose, a reference value is particularly preferably determined, by means of which it is decided in which of the two classes a disc falls. Alternatively or additionally, at least one geometric dimension can be used for classifying, which represents the limit beyond which a disc is a trim or a nominal disc.

Preferably, the cutting blade is braked before and / or during reloading. With this braked speed, the trim food slices can be separated from the food bar. During or after the cutting blade is then accelerated again.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, several food bars are cut simultaneously. Each food bar can have its own track. The food bars can be driven together or individually.

Figur 1

zeigt eine Aufschneidevorrichtung.

Figuren 2 und 3

zeigen die Durchführung von Trimmschritten und das Abtrennen von Nennlebensmittelscheiben gemäß dem Stand der Technik.

Figuren 4 und 5

zeigen die erfindungsgemäße Durchführung von Trimmschritten und das erfindungsgemäße Abtrennen von Nennlebensmittelscheiben.

In the following, the inventions based on the Figures 1 - 5 and an exemplary example. These explanations are merely exemplary and do not limit the general inventive concept.

FIG. 1

shows a slicing device.

FIGS. 2 and 3

show the implementation of trim steps and the separation of nominal food discs according to the prior art.

FIGS. 4 and 5

show the implementation of trim steps according to the invention and the separation of nominal food slices according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a slicing device 5. The slicing device 5 has a cutting blade 11 which cuts a food product 2 in nominal food slices 12. For this purpose, each food product 2 with a conveying means 4, in this case two conveyor belts 4, is transported continuously in the direction of the cutting plane 6 of the knife 11. The lower conveyor belt 4 is at the same time a product support. The cutting blade 11 is attached to a rotating blade holder 3 and preferably cooperates with a cutting edge cutting, which is provided for example at the front end of a product support 4 and preferably together define the cutting plane. Between the knife 11 and the cutting edge there is a so-called cutting gap, which should be as small as possible, but must be so large that the knife does not touch the cutting edge. This gap must be adjusted regularly. This can be done by a movement of the knife and / or the cutting edge. In addition, the cutting edge must be aligned parallel to the knife. After cutting, the nominal food slices usually fall on a storage table 1, which is provided with means of transport, for example a conveyor belt or conveyor belt, on which they are each configured to a portion 14, here a stack. The finished portions 14 are then removed from the cutting blade area and then packaged. The slice thickness results from the feed distance of the food product between two cuts. At constant blade rotation speed, the regulation of the slice thickness is carried out via the desired feed rate of the food product. Also during the cutting, the food bar is continuously transported. The slicing device may have per feed line 8 a gripper which engages the rear end 13 of the food product 2 before or during slicing and this during slicing, in particular towards the end of the slicing, stabilized and disposed of the end piece, which can not be cut. Each gripper is preferably provided on a gripper carriage (not shown), which moves the grippers, in particular parallel to the feed direction of the food product, back and forth.

Preferably, the slicing device is provided in multiple tracks, ie that several food products 2 are cut open by a knife, in particular at least temporarily at the same time or at least temporarily sequentially. For this purpose, the device has for each food product its own track 8, along which it is transported in the direction of the knife 11. The cut food slices are each configured into portions.

Downstream of the delivery table 1, a distributor is generally provided, which takes over the portion (s) from the delivery table and, for example, transfers them to a second distributor or a depositor who inserts the portions in packaging troughs.

FIG. 2 shows the separation of trim food slices of the food bar 2 according to the prior art. In order to separate the trim piece 2 'from the food bar, in the present case three trimming cuts 10 have to be made by way of example. The food bar is transported intermittently, ie as soon as the front end of the food bar has reached the desired position, the food bar is stopped and the trim food slice is separated and the food bar is then transported until the next trim cut position is reached, etc.

Once the desired size of Trimmschnitts 2 'has been separated, the cutting of the first portion of food slices, which are then portioned and packaged. For this, the food bar is accelerated to the desired feed rate, which is also maintained during the cut. This is the first food slice, as in FIG. 3 shown, wedge-shaped, which is undesirable.

To avoid this, according to the invention, it is provided that the food bar is also transported during the separation of the trim food discs 9 with the nominal feed speed for the separation of nominal food discs 12 in the direction of the cutting blade. As a result, the first usable nominal food disc 12 is no longer wedge-shaped, but has a substantially constant thickness.

According to the prior art, after the cutting off of the last trim food disc, the feed of the food bar was interrupted and suspended until the blade had been accelerated to its rated speed. Only then was the feed of the food bar started again.

To avoid this loss of time, according to one embodiment of the present invention, the speed of the cutting blade is accelerated during the slicing of one or more nominal food slices or at least one serving of nominal food slices until the desired rated speed is reached.

Alternatively or additionally, this acceleration can also take place during the separation of trim food slices, so that the cutting knife has the desired rated speed as soon as the first nominal food slice is to be cut off.

FIG. 4 shows the inventive method. The separation of the trimming cuts, for example, intermittently. When performing the trimming cut, the food bar is not moved. Only at the last trim cuts or the acceleration of the food bar is at nominal feed speed. As a result, the last trimming disc becomes wedge-shaped, but the first food disc to be used has a constant thickness, which results in FIG. 5 you can see. This can also rotate while disconnecting a trim disk at rated speed.

According to one embodiment, the trimming cut, in particular with a slice thickness> 5 mm, takes place with a comparatively lower cutting speed, for example 50-300 rpm. In this embodiment, the feeding of the food bar between two cuts can be performed intermittently, i. during the actual cut, the food bar is not advanced. The last trimming disc can only be moved intermittently to the cutting edge. When the knife enters the product, it switches to the feed speed of the nominal wheel thickness. From this point on, the knife accelerates to the nominal cutting number during cutting, for example 600-1500UPM. All relevant drives (feed, traction systems, portioning belts, ...) can be accelerated, preferably synchronously, with the blade speed.

But it is also possible that the feed rate for the nominal wheel thickness is present at all trim cuts and the intermittent feed is switched to it. As a result, all trims are slightly wedge-shaped.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

tray table

2

Food bar, food product

2 '

trim piece

2 '

Good for nominal food slices

3

knife receiver

4

bearing surface

5

slicing

6

-

7

-

8th

feed line

9

Trim food plate

10

cut

11

Knives, cutting knives, circular knives, sickle knives

12

Nominal food slices

13

Rear end of the food product

14

Portion, food portion, consisting of several slices

Claims (9)

1. Method for slicing a foodstuff bar (2) into nominal foodstuff slices (12) and/or for portioning nominal foodstuff slices, having a slicing device (1) which has a cutting knife (11) by which the nominal foodstuff slices are severed from the foodstuff bar, wherein the foodstuff bar (2) when slicing the nominal foodstuff slices at a nominal advancing speed is transported in the direction of the cutting knife (11), wherein prior to the severing of the first nominal foodstuff slice at least one trimming foodstuff slice (15) is severed from the leading end of the foodstuff bar, characterized in that the cutting knife when severing the trimming foodstuff slice rotates at a lower rotating speed than when severing nominal foodstuff slices, and in that the rotating speed of the cutting knife is accelerated during the last trimming cut/trimming cuts and/or during the slicing of at least one portion from nominal foodstuff slices.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the advancing of the foodstuff bar when carrying out one or a plurality of trimming cut(s) is performed at two dissimilar speeds during the slicing of one trimming slice.
3. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the drive of a gripper, of a traction belt (4), of a depositing table (1), of an interleaving system, is synchronized with the rotating speed of the cutting knife.
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting knife when severing the last trimming foodstuff slice has a rotating speed which is at least substantially identical to that during the slicing of at least one portion from nominal foodstuff slices.
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trimming foodstuff slices are disposed of or are diverted to secondary use.
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foodstuff bar is scanned and the number and/or the thickness of the trimming foodstuff slice(s) is established in advance.
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the local density of the foodstuff bar is ascertained and the apportioning of trimming slices or nominal slices is performed by means of the local density.
8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one dimension of the foodstuff bar is ascertained and the apportioning of trimming slices or nominal slices is performed by means of said dimension.
9. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cutting knife is decelerated prior to and/or when reloading.

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