EP3600802B1 - Device and method for slicing and portioning of food articles - Google Patents

Description

State of the art

The present invention is based on a device for cutting a food bar into food slices and portioning the food slices into food portions, the device having a slicing device for slicing the food bar, the device having a product feed for feeding the food bar to the slicing device and the device having a portioning belt which is positioned such that food slices cut from the food bar fall onto the portioning belt along a fall path.

Such devices are known from the prior art and are used in particular to cut sausage, ham, meat and cheese bars and to arrange the food slices formed on a storage table in stacked or shingled food portions. The food portions are then often fed to a packaging station which arranges the food portions in the trough of a packaging tray, which is then vacuum-sealed and hermetically sealed by sealing a cover film on the edge. The slicing device is also referred to by the person skilled in the art as a “slicer” or “high-performance slicer”. A separating sheet, which a person skilled in the art calls an "interleaver", is usually inserted between two food slices stacked on top of one another.

A two-dimensional arrangement of several food portions is called a format. It is known from the prior art to place not only individual food portions on the storage table, but a format made up of several food portions which are arranged next to one another and / or one behind the other can or can consist of different types of product, to form and to be arranged in the cavity of a packaging tray. Such an overall system is also referred to as a "line".

Generic devices for multi-lane slicing of several food bars with a high-performance slicer are for example from the publication DE 10 2012 109 247 A1 , DE 10 2013 218 263 A1 and DE 10 2015 215 056 A1 known. Similar devices are also from the publications EP 2 516 118 A1 and DE 10 2010 055 394 A1 known.

In the known devices there is regularly the problem that when a product is changed, there is initially a non-usable end piece of the already cut product bar and then a likewise unusable cut of the new product bar, which must be conveyed out of the device so that no cuts and end pieces in the Food portions arrive. This sorting out of the cuts and end pieces takes place partly in the area of the portioning belt or behind the portioning belt as seen in the conveying direction. The disadvantage of these solutions is that the portioning belt has already been contaminated by the gates and end pieces.

The regular occurrence of the cuts and end pieces also result in incomplete food portions and / or incomplete formats. Such incomplete food portions and / or incomplete formats must then be buffered until food slices are again produced by the slicing device to complete them. For buffering, separate buffer conveyors are known from the prior art, which are connected in parallel to a belt conveyor connected downstream of the portioning belt. Unfortunately, this lengthens the line.

Finally, spreaders are installed in the line if two tracks of food slices are to be offset from one another in a transverse direction. Disadvantageously, this also lengthens the line.

EP-A-3009242 discloses a device according to the preambles of claims 1 and 12, wherein at least one folding means is designed as a driven conveying means in the area of the slice fall line.

Disclosure of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to improve the above-mentioned device for cutting open a food bar in food slices and portioning the food slices in food portions and to prevent the disadvantages mentioned in connection with the prior art. In particular, the sorting out of cuts and end pieces, the portion and format completing, as well as multi-lane cutting and / or portioning should be easier to implement. In addition, a particularly compact and thus inexpensive design of the device should be made possible.

The object of the present invention is achieved by a device according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 12.

The device according to the invention has the advantage over the prior art that the additional belt can be inserted into the fall path of the food slices, so that the food slices either fall onto the portioning belt or the additional belt. The cut food slices can thus be conveyed on two different levels. One level is the portioning belt level, hereinafter referred to as the first level, while the other level is the level of the additional belt, hereinafter referred to as the second level. This results in increased flexibility for the functioning of the device and the functions outlined below can be incorporated into The device can advantageously be integrated in an area located directly behind the slicing device: The additional second level can be used, for example, to pick up and separate cuts and end pieces so that they do not even reach the portioning belt and thereby contaminate them. In addition, slices of food can be buffered on the second level (also referred to as temporarily parked or stored), for example for subsequent portion and / or format completion. It is also conceivable that the food slices on the second level are offset in the longitudinal direction and / or in the transverse direction with respect to the food slices on the first level. Another possibility for using the device according to the invention is that - if several food bars of different product types are cut - only food slices of one product type are arranged on the first level and only food slices of another product type are arranged on the second level. In the device according to the invention, the above modes of operation are made possible directly when the food slices fall through the additional belt. For this purpose, no additional switches, rockers, spreaders or transfer devices have to be integrated into the device in the further course of the portioning belt. Compared to the prior art, the device according to the invention is thus designed to be considerably more compact and thus more cost-effective to manufacture. The first and the second plane preferably run vertically one above the other and optionally horizontally offset from one another and / or at an angle to one another. The first and the second level do not have to run in plan, but their respective course can have inclines, curves, kinks and / or jumps. The first and second planes also do not necessarily have to run parallel to one another, but rather will preferably have an optionally variable angle to one another.

Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims and the description with reference to the drawings.

According to the present invention it is provided that the additional tape between a protruding into the fall path Receiving position, in which food slices cut from the food bar by means of the slicing device fall onto the additional belt, and a release position spaced from the fall path, in which food slices cut from the food bar by means of the slicing device fall onto the portioning belt, can be moved. The device preferably has a control unit which controls a drive which pivots the additional belt between the receiving position and the release position. It is conceivable that the additional belt is designed to be vertically pivotable about a main transport direction running along the portioning belt, which is perpendicular and essentially horizontal, and / or the additional belt is designed to be displaceable about a substantially vertical displacement axis that is perpendicular to the main transport direction. The additional tape can therefore be pivoted between the receiving position and the release position by a rotational movement and / or displaced by a translational movement. The additional belt is moved into the receiving position either to receive individual slices of food or to form stacked or shingled food portions on the additional belt.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is provided that the device has an infeed belt which is arranged downstream of the second portioning belt along the main transport direction, the additional belt and / or infeed belt being designed in particular as a rocker. The infeed belt is advantageously equipped with food slices from the additional belt in the second level. With the aid of the infeed belt, these food slices can then be arranged again in a targeted manner in the first level, for example in order to form food portions stacked or shingled with food slices in the first level or to complete them. It is also conceivable that entire stacked or shingled food portions are transferred from the second level to the first level with the aid of the infeed belt, for example to complete the format.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is provided that the device has an intermediate belt and a removal belt, the intermediate belt along the main transport direction Portioning belt is arranged downstream and wherein the removal belt is arranged downstream of the intermediate belt along the main transport direction. The portioning belt, the intermediate belt and the removal belt are preferably fastened to a common frame unit, which is preferably pivotable about a pivot axis that is perpendicular to the main transport direction and essentially horizontal, the additional belt and / or the single-infeed belt being fastened to a further frame unit, the further frame unit is particularly preferably rigidly or movably attached to the frame unit. It is conceivable that the frame unit is pivoted about the horizontal pivot axis, in particular downwards, when the additional tape is transferred from the release position to the receiving position. As a result, the further frame unit rigidly connected to the frame unit is also pivoted in the direction of the slicing device. Before, during or after this, the additional tape is preferably additionally displaced in the context of a translational movement relative to the further frame unit in the direction of the slicing device and the fall path.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is provided that the device has a transverse belt arranged below and / or in the main transport direction behind the additional belt, the transport direction of which runs at an angle and preferably at right angles to the main transport direction, the additional belt for picking up cuts or end pieces and for transferring the Gates or end pieces are configured on the cross belt. The drive is advantageously controlled in such a way that the additional belt is always moved into the receiving position when a gate or end piece is cut off from the food bar. The gate or the end piece are then advantageously taken up by the additional belt and transferred to the transverse belt. The gate or the end piece are separated out in this way without them being able to touch the portioning belt and thereby contaminate it.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is provided that the device has a further product feed which is arranged parallel to the product feed and which is arranged next to or above the product feed. Advantageously, several Food bars can be cut open simultaneously. Furthermore, a continuous flow of food slices can be generated by means of the further product feed, since at least one of the two product feeds always feeds a food bar to the slicing device, even if the other product feed is currently being loaded with a new food bar.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is provided that the device has at least one further additional belt, which preferably works parallel to the additional belt. A third level can advantageously be spanned with the further additional belt, which can also be used for separating out cuts or end pieces, for completing formats and / or portions, for buffering and / or for separating food slices of different product types.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the device is configured to buffer food slices on the additional belt, in particular to complete the portion and / or format. It is conceivable that the device is controlled in such a way that food slices on the additional belt or the infeed belt are moved more slowly along the main transport direction than food slices that are moved on the portioning belt, the intermediate belt or the removal belt along the main transport direction. A packaging machine is preferably connected downstream of the removal belt, which arranges the food portions or formats in a trough of a packaging tray, which is then vacuum-sealed and hermetically sealed by sealing a cover film on the edge.

The buffering is advantageously used to ensure that the packaging machine connected downstream of the portioning belt can work continuously or at a constant, predetermined cycle rate.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is provided that the portioning belt and the additional belt are arranged at an angle to one another, the device being configured to form at least two tracks of food slices which are offset from one another.

The additional tape thus advantageously serves to spread the two tracks. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the additional tape itself comprises a spreading tape, so that the track on the second level is spread out into several tracks, for example in order to form formats. In addition, a spreading belt can also be provided in the first level, so that formats are also formed in the first level, which are preferably completed by the single-entry belt with the formats in the second level.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method according to claim 12.

In comparison with the prior art, the method according to the invention has all the advantages already explained in connection with the above-described device according to the invention. In particular, the method also enables the additional belt to be moved into the drop path of the food slices, so that the food slices either fall onto the portioning belt or the additional belt. The cut food slices can thus be conveyed on two different levels. This results in greater flexibility for the method compared to the prior art and the functions outlined below can be carried out: The additional second level can be used, for example, to pick up and separate gates and end pieces so that they do not even reach the portioning belt and contaminate it. In addition, slices of food can be buffered on the second level (also referred to as temporarily parked or stored), for example for subsequent portion and / or format completion. It is also conceivable that the food slices on the second level are offset relative to the food slices on the first level in the longitudinal direction and / or in the transverse direction. Another possibility for using the method according to the invention is that - if several food bars of different product types are cut - only food slices of one product type are arranged on the first level and only food slices of another product type are arranged on the second level. In the method according to the invention, the above modes of operation are made possible directly when the food slices fall through the additional belt. For this purpose, no additional switches, rockers, spreaders or transfer devices have to be integrated into the device in the further course of the portioning belt. Compared to the prior art, the method according to the invention can therefore be carried out with a device that is considerably more compact than the prior art. Analogous to the device according to the invention, it is preferably provided that the additional belt between a receiving position protruding into the drop path, in which slices of food cut from the food bar by means of the slicing device fall onto the additional belt, and a release position spaced from the drop path, in which from the food bar by means of the slicing device cut food slices fall onto the portioning belt.

According to the present invention it is provided that the additional tape for receiving gates or end pieces is moved from the release position into the receiving position and, after picking up a gate or end piece, is moved back into the release position from the receiving position, the gate or end piece being removed from the additional tape is transferred in particular to an angled and in particular perpendicular to the main transport direction running transverse belt. In an advantageous manner, the gates or end pieces are thus separated out without the gates or end pieces touching the portioning belt and thus contaminating it.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is provided that by means of the slicing device at least two Food bars are cut one after the other or at the same time. The two food bars preferably comprise at least two different types of product, with food slices of one type of product being taken up by the portioning belt and slices of food of the other type of product being taken up by the additional belt. The method advantageously enables parallel operation with two different types of product, a separate level being provided for each type of product. It is conceivable that a separate downstream packaging machine is also provided for each level or that the portions of different product types are subsequently brought together as part of a format completion, for example by the infeed belt and fed together to the packaging machine in order to provide mixed portions or mixed formats.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is provided that food slices are buffered on the additional belt. A continuous or constantly clocked operation of the packaging machine is thus preferably made possible, even if the or one of the product feeds has to be loaded with a new food bar in the meantime.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that food slices are transferred from the additional belt to an infeed belt downstream of the additional belt along the main transport direction, with the infeed belt the transferred food slices for portion or format completion on an intermediate or removal belt downstream of the portioning belt along the main transport direction arranges.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that at least one food slice arranged on the additional or infeed belt by means of the additional and / or infeed belt opposite at least one food slice arranged on the portioning, intermediate and / or removal belt in transverse and / or lengthways. Further details, features and advantages of the invention emerge from the drawings and from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings merely illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, which do not restrict the essential inventive concept.

Brief description of the drawings

Figures 1 to 5

show schematic side views of a device and an associated method for cutting open a food bar in food slices and portioning the food slices in food portions according to an exemplary first embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 6 to 8

show schematic side views of a device and an associated method for cutting open a food bar in food slices and portioning the food slices in food portions according to an exemplary second embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 9 to 11

show schematic side views of a device and an associated method for cutting open a food bar in food slices and portioning the food slices in food portions according to an exemplary third embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the invention

In the various figures, the same parts are always provided with the same reference numerals and are therefore usually only named or mentioned once.

In Figures 1 to 5 are schematic side views of a device and an associated method for cutting a food bar 6 in food slices 17 and portioning the food slices 17 in food portions 15 according to an exemplary first embodiment of the present invention.

As a central element, the device comprises a slicing device 2 (also referred to as a slicer or high-performance slicer) which slices the food bar 6 by separating individual food slices 17 from the food bar 6 by means of a rotating knife 2 '. The knife 2 'comprises in particular a circular knife or sickle knife, which is driven by a knife drive 1 for a rotational movement. The slicing device 2 further comprises a cutting bar 3, which the knife 2 'moves past during the cut.

A further component of the device is a product feed 4 which feeds the food bar 6 to the slicing device 2. The product feed 4 has a conveyor belt and / or a gripper which grips the food bar 6 at its end facing away from the knife 2 ', whereby the food bar 6 is pushed successively in the known manner in the direction of the knife 2'. The food bar 6 comprises in particular a sausage, ham, meat or cheese bar.

The device further comprises a portioning belt 11 which is arranged in such a way that food slices 17, which are separated from the food bar 6 with the knife 2 ′, fall onto the portioning belt 11 along a typical falling path. In this way, a stacked or shingled food portion 15, which consists of a plurality of stacked or shingled food slices 17, can be formed on the portioning belt 11. The overlapping of two food slices 17 arranged one above the other can be adjusted by selecting the transport speed of the portioning belt 11 along a main transport direction 100 directed away from the slicing device 2.

The portioning belt 11 is followed by an intermediate belt 11 ′ along the main transport direction 100, to which the food portions 15 are transferred from the portioning belt 11. Behind the intermediate belt 11 'and along the main transport direction 100 there is again a removal belt 11 ". The food portions 15 transferred from the intermediate belt 11' to the removal belt 11" are preferably transferred from the removal belt 15 to a packaging machine (not shown). The portioning belt 11, the intermediate belt 11 ′ and the removal belt 11 ″ are fastened to a common frame unit 18. The frame unit 18 is fastened to a stand 7 so that it can pivot about a horizontal pivot axis 8.

In the packaging machine, one food portion 15, a series of several food portions 15 or an entire format of several food portions 15 is arranged in the hollow of a plastic packaging tray, which is then vacuumed and sealed airtight by sealing a lid on the edge. It is conceivable that the food portion 15, a series of several food portions 15 or an entire format of several food portions 15 are conveyed into the trough via a belt conveyor or are each picked up by a gripper, transported to the trough and deposited in the trough. The gripper can hold the food portions 15 by mechanical gripping or by vacuum.

The device according to the invention according to the exemplary first embodiment of the present invention now has an additional belt 12 which operates at least partially parallel to the portioning belt 11. In the present example, the additional belt 12 forms a second plane 10 that is vertically offset from the first plane 9 of the portioning belt 11. The additional belt 12 is characterized in that it is between a receiving position (shown in FIG Figures 2 and 3rd ), in which food slices 17 cut from the food bar 6 by means of the slicing device 2 fall onto the additional belt 12, and a release position spaced from the fall path (shown in FIG Figures 4 and 5 ), in which food slices 17 cut from the food bar 6 by means of the slicing device 2 onto the Portioning belt 11 fall, is movable. In the receiving position, the additional belt 12 is thus positioned in such a way that food slices 17 cut from the food bar 6 by means of the slicing device 2 fall directly onto the additional belt 12 along the fall path.

The additional tape 12 is attached to a further frame unit 19. The further frame unit 18 is rigidly attached to the frame unit 18. The additional belt 12 is thus designed as a rocker that can pivot about a horizontal pivot axis 101, the connection to the further frame unit 18 being designed to be shiftable such that the pivot axis 101 can move parallel or anti-parallel to the main transport direction 100. In the receiving position, the additional tape 12 and thus the pivot axis 101 are displaced maximally in the direction of the fall path or the slicing device 2 (illustrated in FIG Figure 3 ), while in the release position the additional tape 12 and thus the pivot axis 101 are displaced maximally along the main transport direction 100 and are thus maximally spaced from the slicing device 2 (illustrated in FIG Figure 1 ).

The additional belt 12 is followed by an infeed belt 13 along the main transport direction 100, which is also designed as a rocker around a horizontal pivot axis 101 ′ and is also connected to the further frame unit 19. The infeed belt 13 can be pivoted down about the pivot axis 101 ′ in the direction of the removal belt 11 ″ in order to move food slices 17 or food portions 15 located in the second plane 10, as in FIG Figure 5 shown, to be transported back to the first level 9 with the aid of the infeed belt 13 and to be placed there in a targeted manner.

In the release position, the frame unit 18 is arranged in a preferably horizontal starting position (see FIG Figure 1 ), while in the receiving position the frame unit 18 is pivoted into a folded-down position that is pivoted down about the pivot axis 8 in relation to the starting position (see FIG Figures 4 and 5 ).

A preferred mode of operation of the Figures 1 to 5 The illustrated device works as follows:
First, the additional belt 12 is in the release position, as a result of which all the food slices 17 separated from the food bar 6 fall directly and immediately onto the portioning belt 11. A stacked food portion 15 is thus formed on the portioning belt 11 ( Figure 1 ). This food portion 15 is then along the main transport direction 100 to the intermediate belt 11 '( Figures 2 and 3rd ) and then transferred to the conveyor belt 11 "( Figures 4 and 5 ). The food portion 15 thus always remains in the first level 9.

While the food portion 15 is being transferred to the intermediate belt 11 ', the additional belt 12 is moved from the release position into the receiving position. For this purpose, the additional belt 12 is first moved against the main transport direction 100 relative to the further frame unit 19 in the direction of the knife 2 '( Figure 2 ). The frame unit 18 and thus also the further frame unit 19 are then pivoted downwards about the pivot axis 8 of the frame unit 8 from the starting position into the folded-down position ( Figure 3 ), whereby one end of the additional belt 12 protrudes into the fall path of the food slices 17. The food slices 17 separated from the food bar 6 by means of the knife 2 'now fall along the fall path onto the additional belt 12 and no longer onto the portioning belt 11 below the second level 10 ( Figure 3 ) is arranged.

The frame unit 18 is then pivoted from the unfolded position about the pivot axis 8 back into the starting position and the additional belt 12 is moved along the main transport direction 8 again in the direction of the infeed belt 13 and is thus spaced from the knife 2 '( Figure 4 ). The further stacked food portion 15 'formed in the second level 10 is transferred from the additional belt 12 to the infeed belt 13 ( Figure 5 ).

By means of the infeed belt 13, the further stacked food portion 15 'is deliberately deposited on the removal belt 11 ". This depositing of the further stacked food portion 15' can be used to complete the portion or format on, next to, behind or in front of the stacked food already present in the first level 9 Food portion 15 take place. It is particularly conceivable that the additional belt 12 or the infeed belt 13 is partially angular or offset to the belts 11, 11 ', 11 "arranged in the first plane 9, so that the further stacked food portion 15' is offset from the stacked food portion 15 In the present example, the food portion 15 'in the second level 10 is preferably conveyed faster along the main transport direction 100 than the food portion 15 located in the first level 9, so that one portion and / or format from both food portions 15, 15 'can be formed.

Alternatively, it would also be conceivable that the first food portion 15 'or other food slices 17 located in the second level 10 are at least temporarily transported more slowly or not at all along the main transport direction 100, around the food portion 15' or the other food slices 17 in the second level 10 to buffer.

In Figures 6 to 8 are schematic side views of a device and an associated method for cutting a food bar 6 in food slices 17 and portioning the food slices 17 in food portions 15 according to an exemplary second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment essentially corresponds to that based on FIG Figures 1 to 5 explained first embodiment, the difference being that the device according to the second embodiment does not have an infeed belt 13, but instead a transverse belt 14 is provided at the point of infeed belt 13. The transverse belt 14 is a conveyor belt whose main conveying direction runs horizontally and perpendicular to the main conveying direction 100.

In the in Figure 6 The release position shown, the food slices 17 separated from the food bar 6 fall onto the portioning belt 11 and are stacked there to form stacked or shingled food portions 15. When a new food bar 6 is cut, there is always a cut 20 which is not suitable for forming portions and therefore has to be discarded. The same applies to the end piece 20 of each food bar 6. Before such a gate 20 or such an end piece 20 is removed from the slicing device 2 is output, the additional belt 12 is moved from the release position into the receiving position, so that the gate 20 or the end piece 20 (also referred to as scrap) falls onto the additional belt 12 and not onto the portioning belt 11. This situation is in Figure 7 shown. The additional tape 12 is then moved back from the receiving position into the release position. In the release position, the gate 20 or the end piece 20 is also transferred from the additional belt 12 to the transverse belt 14, as in FIG Figure 8 illustrated, and transported out of the device by means of the transverse belt 14.

In contrast to the first embodiment, when the additional tape is transferred from the release position to the receiving position and vice versa, the frame unit 18 is not folded about the pivot axis 8 from its horizontal starting position. The additional belt 12 is only moved in the direction of the knife 2 'or the fall path and back within the framework of the translational movement.

As an alternative to the one in the Figures 6 to 8 The construction shown, the transverse belt 14 could also be arranged below the additional belt 12 or below the portioning belt 11. A transfer of the gate or the end piece from the additional belt 12 to the transverse belt 14 could take place by pivoting the frame unit 18 about the pivot axis 8 (similar to FIG Figure 3 ). In addition, the conveying direction of the additional belt 12 could be reversed.

In Figures 9 to 11 are schematic side views of a device and an associated method for cutting a food bar 6 in food slices 17 and portioning the food slices 17 in food portions 15 according to an exemplary third embodiment, which may be according to the present invention. The third embodiment essentially corresponds to that based on FIG Figures 1 to 5 explained first embodiment, the difference being that the device according to the third embodiment has a further product feed 5 in addition to the product feed 4. The further product feed 5 is arranged above and parallel to the product feed 4 and enables two food bars 6 to be sliced open at the same time.

The additional belt 12 is arranged in such a way and at least partially in a fall path of the slicing device 2 that food slices 17, which are separated from the food bar 6 arranged in the product feed 4 by means of the knife 2 ', fall onto the portioning belt 11, while food slices 17, which are separated from the food bar 6 arranged in the further product feed 4 by means of the knife 2 ′, fall onto the additional belt 12. Preferably, transferring the additional tape 12 between a receiving position and a release position is not necessary. The product feed 4 and the further product feed 5 work in particular alternately, so that alternately a food slice 17 is separated from the one product bar 6 and a food slice 17 from the other product bar 6 by means of the knife 2 '. According to the invention, in the event that the additional tape 12 is additionally moved alternately between the receiving position and a release position. In any case, with both possibilities, stacked or shingled food portions 15, 15 'are formed almost simultaneously both on the portioning belt 11 and on the additional belt 12.

The additional belt 12 or the infeed belt 13 arranged downstream of the additional belt 12 are oriented at an angle to the portioning belt 11, intermediate belt 11 'and / or removal belt 11 ″, so that the food portions 15 ″ formed in the second level 10 compared to the food portions 15 formed in the first level 9 are offset in the transverse direction.

The food portions 15 ″ in the second level 10 are then transferred to the infeed belt 13 and placed on the outfeed belt 11 ″ by the infeed belt 13. The length of the additional and infeed belt 12, 13 is dimensioned such that the food portions 15 'deposited by the infeed belt 13 are offset not only in the transverse direction but also in the longitudinal direction with respect to the food portions 15 transferred from the intermediate belt 11' to the outfeed belt 11 ″ Food portions 15, 15 'are then according to the in Figure 11 The top view of the removal belt 11 ″ shown is arranged in two parallel tracks offset from one another in the longitudinal and transverse directions. Such an arrangement of the food portions 15, 15 'facilitates the insertion of the food portions 15, 15' in the downstream packaging machine by means of mechanical grippers, since there is enough space for the fingers of the gripper between and next to the food portions 15, 15 '.

If the product feed 4 and the further product feed comprise food bars 6 of different types of product, then the two also point in FIG Figure 11 shown traces on different types of product. For example, the track of food portions 15 has one type of product, while the track of food portions 15 'has only the other type of product. The two types of product are strictly spatially separated from one another, so that mutual contamination with a foreign type of product is eliminated.

It is conceivable that in the first and / or in the second level a spreading is also carried out onto a plurality of tracks, which are subsequently brought together again on the removal belt 11 ″.

List of reference symbols

1

Knife drive

2

Slicing device

2 '

knife

3

Cutting stick

4th

Product feed

5

Further product feed

6th

Food bars

7th

Stand

8th

Swivel axis frame unit

9

First floor

10

second level

11

Portioning belt

11 '

Intermediate belt

11 "

Discharge conveyor

12th

Additional tape

13th

Single-entry belt

14th

Cross band

15, 15 '

Food portions

17th

Food slices

18th

Frame unit

19th

Another frame unit

20th

Bleed or tail

100

Main transport direction

101

Swivel axis additional belt

101 '

Swivel axis infeed conveyor

102

Shift axis

24

Claims (18)

1. Device for slicing a block of food (6) into food slices (17) and portioning the food slices (17) into food portions (15), wherein the device has a slicing device (2) for slicing the block of food (6), wherein the device has a product feed (4) for feeding the block of food (6) to the slicing device (2), and wherein the device has a portioning belt (11) which is positioned in such a manner that food slices (17) cut off from the block of food (6) fall along a falling path onto the portioning belt (11), wherein the device has an additional belt (12) which operates parallel to the portioning belt (11) and which can be positioned in such a manner that food slices (17) cut off from the block of food (6) by means of the slicing device (2) fall along the falling path onto the additional belt (12), characterized in that the additional belt (12) is movable between a receiving position which protrudes into the falling path and in which food slices (17) cut off from the block of food (6) by means of the slicing device (2) fall onto the additional belt (12), and a release position which is spaced apart from the falling path and in which food slices (17) cut off from the block of food (6) by means of the slicing device (2) fall onto the portioning belt (11) .
2. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the additional belt (12) is pivotable vertically about a substantially horizontal pivot axis (101) which is perpendicular to the main transport direction (100) running along the portioning belt (11).
3. Device according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the additional belt (12) is displaceable about a substantially vertical displacement axis (102) which is perpendicular to the main transport direction (100).
4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device has an infeed belt (13) which is arranged downstream of the second portioning belt (12) along the main transport direction (100), wherein the additional belt (12) and/or the infeed belt (13) are/is in particular in the form of (a) rocker(s) .
5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device has an intermediate belt (11') and a discharge belt (11''), wherein the intermediate belt (11') is arranged downstream of the portioning belt (11) along the main transport direction (100), and wherein the discharge belt (11'') is arranged downstream of the intermediate belt (11') along the main transport direction (100).
6. Device according to Claim 5, wherein the portioning belt (11), the intermediate belt (11') and the discharge belt (11'') are fastened to a common frame unit (18) which is preferably pivotable about a substantially horizontal pivot axis (101') which is perpendicular to the main transport direction (100), wherein the additional belt (12) and/or the infeed belt (13) are/is fastened to a further frame unit (19) wherein the further frame unit (19) is particularly preferably fastened rigidly or movably to the frame unit (18).
7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device has a transverse belt (14) which is arranged below the additional belt (12) and/or downstream thereof in the main transport direction (100), and the transport direction of which runs at an angle, and preferably at a right angle, to the main transport direction (100), wherein the additional belt (12) is configured for receiving trim cuts or end pieces and for transferring the trim cuts or end pieces onto the transverse belt (14) .
8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device has a further product feed (5) which is arranged parallel to the product feed (4) and is arranged next to or above the product feed (4) .
9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device has at least one further additional belt (12) which preferably operates parallel to the additional belt.
10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is configured to buffer food slices on the additional belt (12), in particular for portion and/or format completion.
11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the portioning belt (11) and the additional belt (12) are arranged at an angle to each other, wherein the device is configured to form at least two tracks of food slices that are offset with respect to one another.
12. Method for slicing a block of food (6) into food slices (17) and portioning the food slices (17) into food portions (15) with a device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the food slices (17) are cut off from the block of food (6) by means of a slicing device (2) in such a manner that the food slices (17) cut off from the block of food (6) fall along a falling path onto a portioning belt (11), characterized in that an additional belt (12) operating parallel to the portioning belt (11) is moved, at least temporarily, into the falling path in such a manner that food slices (17) cut off from the block of food (6) fall along the falling path onto the additional belt (12), wherein the additional belt (12) is moved between a receiving position which protrudes into the falling path and in which food slices (17) cut off from the block of food (6) by means of the slicing device (2) fall onto the additional belt (12), and a release position which is spaced apart from the falling path and in which food slices (17) cut off from the block of food (6) by means of the slicing device (2) fall onto the portioning belt (11).
13. Method according to Claim 12, wherein the additional belt (12) is moved from the release position into the receiving position for receiving trim cuts or end pieces and, after a trim cut or end piece is received at the receiving position, is moved back into the release position, wherein the trim cut or end piece is transferred from the additional belt (12) in particular onto a transverse belt (14) running at an angle, and in particular at a right angle, to the main transport direction (100).
14. Method according to Claim 12 or 13, wherein at least two blocks of food (6) are sliced successively or simultaneously by means of the slicing device.
15. Method according to Claim 14, wherein the two blocks of food (6) comprise at least two different types of products, wherein food slices (17) of the one type of product are received by the portioning belt (11) and food slices (17) of the other type of product are received by the additional belt (12).
16. Method according to one of Claims 12 to 15, wherein food slices (17) are buffered on the additional belt (12) .
17. Method according to one of Claims 12 to 16, wherein food slices (17) are transferred from the additional belt (12) onto an infeed belt (13) which is arranged downstream of the additional belt (12) along the main transport direction (100), wherein the infeed belt (13) arranges the transferred food slices (17) for portion or format completion on an intermediate or discharge belt (11', 11'') arranged downstream of the portioning belt (11) along the main transport direction (100).
18. Method according to one of Claims 12 to 17, wherein at least one food slice (17) arranged on the additional or infeed belt (12, 13) is offset by means of the additional and/or infeed belt (11, 12) in the transverse and/or longitudinal direction in relation to at least one food slice (17) arranged on the portioning, intermediate and/or discharge belt (11, 11', 11").

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