EP3722057B1 - Slicing food products - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for slicing food products, in particular a high-performance slicer, with a single-lane or multi-lane product feed, which feeds either one product in one lane or simultaneously several products lying next to one another in parallel lanes in a feed direction of a cutting plane in which a cutting blade is particularly rotating and/or moved in a revolving manner, the product feed comprising a product support and a product guide arranged above it, which comprises at least one upper guide unit with an engagement surface facing the product support and extending in the feed direction, which is designed to entrain a product lying on the product support when it is fed in to engage its top.

Such a device is, for example, from DE 10 2012 214 741 A1 famous.

With such slicing devices, one or more food products are fed to the cutting plane so that the cutting blade moving in the cutting plane can cut off slices from the products. The cutting blade can be, for example, a sickle blade rotating only about a blade axis or a circular blade that rotates about a blade axis and also performs a planetary orbital movement about an axis of rotation running parallel to the blade axis. With such devices, which are also simply referred to as slicers, several hundred to several thousand slices per minute can be separated from a food product per lane.

In this case, a precise product feed is required in order to obtain a slice thickness that is predetermined by a control system. Precise product guidance, especially directly in front of the cutting plane, is therefore of particular importance. Consequently, efforts are made to have at least one front product area acted upon simultaneously by a lower product feed and an upper product feed, both of which should reach as close as possible to the cutting plane.

In practice, endless conveyor belts are usually used to feed food products to the cutting plane, which are also referred to as traction belts or traction drives, this designation being chosen in particular when an upper conveyor belt is meant. The problem is that in many cases, due to structural conditions, an upper traction band cannot reach directly in front of the cutting plane in the desired way. In such cases, you can use passive hold-down devices, for example, which do not actively convey the product, but at least press it against a lower, driven product support belt.

In practice, the lower product support is often divided into a comparatively short, driven product support belt that reaches to a cutting edge that interacts with the cutting blade, and a longer conveyor belt that is upstream of this product support belt. In many cases, this rear product support is passive, ie not driven, and can comprise, for example, a simple sliding surface or a free-running endless belt. In the case of multi-lane slicers, usually only the front product support belt is divided into several adjacent individual conveyor belts, each assigned to a lane, which can also be operated individually for each lane, whereas the rear product support extends over the entire feed width and is therefore intended for all lanes at the same time. If, during the cutting operation, a track-specific product feed occurs through a lower driven product support belt and an upper driven traction belt per track, the rear endless belt common to all tracks is usually not driven. Therefore, the common rear product support can also be formed by a sliding surface instead of an endless belt.

In many cases, a product holder designed as a gripper, for example, is provided in each lane, which grips the rear product area and participates in the product supply, but also fulfills other functions, in particular a disposal of product end pieces explained in more detail below. The slicer control system coordinates the operation of the front support belts, the upper traction belts and the individual product holders for each track.

In practice, the product holders mentioned are of particular importance in connection with loading processes, regardless of whether a single-track slicer or a multi-track slicer is available, which should be mentioned in connection with another requirement for product feeding:
If the cutting process is completed in one track, the end piece of the product in question that is still held by the product holder usually has to be separated. This takes place while the product holder is being moved back into its initial position in the feed area, for example in the area of the product support, through a gap or opening downwards. The gap or opening can exist, for example, between a front product support belt and a product support lowered into the loading position, which is also referred to as a loading rocker, and can have been formed by lowering the product support. Since during the cutting process and also when separating the product end piece, the product feed and thus also the product holder in practice is usually positioned at an angle, in particular at a feed angle of, for example, 30 to 80° to the horizontal, when separating the end piece it must be prevented that the end piece does not fall into the cutting plane after the product holder has been released. A slide is often provided for this purpose, which prevents the end piece from entering the cutting plane.

In many cases, a slide of this type should also serve as a protection against access during a loading process and also as a stop when a new product is inserted manually or automatically. The slider prevents the product from moving towards the cutting plane if the product holder grips the rear end of the product during preparation for the cutting process.

A slide can be advantageous if several products are to be cut open at the same time, since the slide can then serve as a stop for all products at the same time. However, if, as is often the case in practice, at least two adjacent products are of different lengths and are acted upon at their rear ends by two product holders, for example, which can or should only be operated together, i.e. not in a lane-specific manner, then there are gaps between the product holders and the slider clamped products of different lengths. A longer product is compressed more than a shorter product because neither the common slider nor the product holders forming a unit can compensate for the difference in length. This can lead to undesired deformations or even damage to the longer products, which must be avoided at all costs.

This problem, which is known in principle, could be counteracted with a completely track-specific product supply, which is not always possible and would in any case be associated with a great deal of effort. An alternative solution is in the already mentioned DE 10 2012 214 741 A1 suggested. There, a pivotable working unit is provided for each track between a locked position and a release position, in which the working unit performs a hold-down function. This working unit can consequently serve as a stop for the front end of the product in the locked position during the preparation of a cutting process, as a deflector for product end pieces at the end of a cutting process and also as protection against access. During a cutting operation, the working unit pivoted into the release position can serve as a hold-down device, which consequently reaches closer to the cutting plane than an upstream upper traction belt. The working unit can include a controlled, driven endless belt and thus serve as a front traction belt during a cutting process, so that in the area immediately in front of the cutting plane a front product area is safely and reliably engaged between the upper driven working unit and the lower product support belt and is fed to the cutting plane with high precision can be.

In other words, with the in DE 10 2012 214 741 A1 concept described, all the requirements placed on a single-lane or multi-lane product supply, including lane-specific operation, are met. The disadvantage, however, is the comparatively high outlay associated with the construction and control of the individual pivotable working units.

A device having the features of the preamble of claim 1 is made WO-2017/032640 A1 famous. In this known device, a stop means is rigidly connected to an upper conveyor belt and can only be rotated about an axis of rotation together with the conveyor belt.

It is therefore the object of the invention to create a slicing device of the type mentioned at the outset, the product supply of which meets the requirements explained above and at the same time can be constructed and operated as simply as possible and cost-effectively.

This problem is solved by the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, it is provided that the product guide comprises, in addition to the upper guide unit, at least one adjustable stop unit which is attached to the upper guide unit and which is in a stop position fulfills a stop function for a front end of a product moved against the stop unit, in that the stop unit blocks the product's feed path to the cutting plane and thus blocks the product and prevents further movement of the product to the cutting plane, which, in a release position different from the stop position, blocks the feed path to the cutting plane for the product, and which - in contrast to the one mentioned at the beginning WO 2017/032640 A1 - Is adjustable relative to the upper guide unit between the stop position and the release position.

So while in DE 10 2012 214 741 A1 an independent working unit is proposed, which is in particular independent of an upstream, whatever type of upper product guiding unit, the invention takes a different approach in that the adjustable stop unit is fastened to the upper guiding unit. The upper guide unit and the adjustable stop unit are consequently combined with one another, ie the adjustable stop unit is not independent of the upper guide unit in every respect. Nevertheless, in the stop position, the stop unit can perform all the required functions, since the feed path to the cutting plane is blocked in the stop position. When preparing for a cutting process, the stop unit can therefore serve as a stop for the front end of the product. At the end of a cutting process, the stop unit can act as a deflector for a product end piece. Furthermore, the stop unit can form a protection against access, in particular during a loading process.

A particular advantage of the invention is that the stop unit does not have to perform any hold-down or feed function in addition to the services to be provided in the stop position, because integration into the upper guide unit means that this unit, particularly in the form of a tractor belt, can be moved comparatively close to close to the cutting plane and in particular to reach directly in front of the cutting plane if this is desired and if the structural conditions allow it.

Nevertheless, the stop unit can perform other functions when it is not in the stop position, but instead releases the feed path to the cutting plane for the product in the release position. However, this is not mandatory, but represents a preferred development of the invention. An additional function can be, for example, lateral guidance of the product in the area immediately in front of the cutting plane. This is dealt with in more detail elsewhere.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are also specified in the dependent claims, the drawing and the following description.

An actuator can be provided for the stop unit, which can be controlled by a control device in order to adjust the stop unit between the stop position and the release position. The actuator can, for example, be pneumatic, electric or mechanical. The drive components required for this can be integrated relatively easily into the upper guide unit or assigned directly to it.

The product feed is preferably designed in multiple lanes, with the product guide for each lane comprising at least one upper guide unit with at least one stop unit. The product feed can preferably be operated on a track-by-track basis.

The adjustment movement of the stop unit between the stop position and the release position can be a pivoting movement. The pivoting movement then preferably takes place about a pivot axis which runs horizontally or perpendicularly to the engagement surface of the upper guide unit and/or to a feed plane defined by the product support.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that when the feed path is released, the stop unit moves neither up nor down, but to the side. This concept makes it possible, among other things, to use the stop unit in the release position as a lateral guide for the respective product. Irrespective of this, the fact can be used here that a plate-shaped design of at least one functional part of the stop unit can suffice for the functions to be fulfilled in the blocking position, which requires hardly any space transversely to the feed direction in the release position. The stop unit can be "slimmed" to a certain extent during the cutting operation.

In particular, the stop unit can be designed as a pivotable flap or can include such a flap. Such a flap represents a possible embodiment of a functional section of the stop unit. The flap can preferably be pivoted about an axis that runs perpendicular to the engagement surface of the upper guide unit and/or to a feed plane defined by the product support and is laterally offset in the respective track to the Lane center is arranged.

In one possible embodiment, the stop unit is designed with two wings, comprising two stop wings, each of which can be designed as a flap or can include such a flap. The two stop wings can preferably be pivoted in opposite directions between the stop position and the release position.

Provision is preferably made for the stop wings to jointly block the feed path in the stop position. The stop wings can preferably be moved into the release position at the same time.

Provision can furthermore be made for the stop wings to be pivotable about parallel axes running perpendicularly to the engagement surface of the upper guide unit and/or to a feed plane defined by the product support.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the stop unit fulfills a lateral guiding function for the product in the release position. In the release position, the stop unit can extend a lateral guide of the respective track provided for a respective product in the direction of the cutting plane. This lateral guide can be designed as a separating web laterally delimiting at least one track or as a central separating web between two adjacent tracks, with this web being able to be extended in the direction of the cutting plane and in particular to directly in front of the cutting plane by means of the stop unit in the release position.

With regard to possible positioning of the stop unit for the front end of the product, the stop unit can, for example, be located upstream of the front product support, viewed in the direction of feed. Furthermore, the stop unit can be located either in the end area or upstream of the end area of the upper guide unit, viewed in the direction of feed.

According to a further preferred exemplary embodiment, the stop unit comprises a plate-shaped functional section, e.g. designed as a flap, which is about a pivot axis running in the respective track, laterally offset from the center of the track and perpendicular to the engagement surface of the upper guide unit and/or to a feed plane defined by the product support 90° between the stop position, in which the functional section extends approximately perpendicularly to the feed direction, and the release position, in which the functional section extends approximately parallel to the feed direction.

Furthermore, two upper guide units can be provided for the track or for each track, to each of which a stop unit is attached, with the two stop units blocking the feed path together in the stop position. Especially with comparatively wide lanes, such as those provided when slicing ham or certain cheese products, two parallel upper tractor belts can be provided per lane, which convey the respective product together and each carry a stop unit.

Furthermore, it can be provided that two stop units or a two-wing stop unit with two stop wings are provided for the track or each track, which are designed to guide the front end of a respective product in the respective track during the slicing in the release position and/or align laterally.

Depending on the configuration, a stop unit or a stop wing can be designed as a fixed stop, the other stop unit or the other stop wing being controllable by means of a control device to move relative to the fixed stop.

The stop unit is preferably designed to serve as protection against access for a human hand, at least in the stop position. In particular, the stop unit protects against reaching into the cutting area of the slicer in the feed direction.

Furthermore, the stop unit can be designed to serve as a deflector for a respective product end piece, at least in the stop position. The deflector in the feed direction is particularly effective here. The slicer may have a tail disposal function such that a product tail is pulled back in front of the stopper unit, ie upstream of the stopper unit located product holder is released from this and falls down through an existing or temporarily formed gap in the area of the product support to be disposed of in this way. The stop unit serving as a deflector can reliably prevent the product end piece from falling into the still moving cutting blade in the event of disturbances in this process, for example if the product end piece is inadvertently released from the product holder prematurely.

As already mentioned, in practice, particularly in multi-lane operation, it can happen that longer products are excessively pinched during the preparation of a cutting process when product holders engage with the end regions of the individual products to be sliced. According to one exemplary embodiment, this problem can be countered in that the stop units are designed to be flexible in such a way that they can yield independently of one another in a predetermined manner under certain conditions, in order to avoid excessive stress on the products.

In particular, the or each stop unit can be designed in such a way that when a force acting in the feed direction is applied to the stop unit in the stop position by means of the front end of a respective product moving in the feed direction and this force exceeds a predetermined or adjustable threshold value, the stop unit Although flexible, namely movable or deformable in the feed direction by the force applied, it does not release the feed path for the product and thus continues to prevent further movement of the product to the cutting plane as long as it is not adjusted to the release position.

The product feed is preferably designed in multiple tracks, with the stop unit in each track being movable or deformable in the feed direction independently of the stop units in the other tracks by the applied force.

According to a possible exemplary embodiment, the upper guide unit is designed as a product feed, as a product guide or as a product hold-down device. Provision can also be made for the upper guide unit to be able to fulfill at least two of these functions or all three functions, in particular simultaneously.

The engagement surface of the upper guide unit interacting with the upper side of a respective product is preferably formed by a driven belt serving as a drive element for the product. Alternatively, the engagement surface can be formed by a stationary contact element, e.g. designed as a sliding surface, or a moving contact element, e.g. in the form of a free-running endless belt or in the form of one or more loose rollers.

The upper guide unit can be adjustable between at least two different functional positions independently of the stop unit. For example, these include a raised position during a loading process and a working position during the cutting operation, in which the guide unit is in contact with the respective product. The stop unit attached to the upper guide unit can be taken along by the upper guide unit.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the upper guide unit can comprise an endless circulating means, for example one or more bands, one or more belts or one or more belts, the endless means circulating around a plurality of rollers. For example, a rear roller in the feed direction can form the drive for the endless medium.

With such an upper guide unit, a front section of the endless means in the feed direction can be adjustable between the stop position and the release position and thus form the adjustable stop unit according to the invention, which is fastened to the upper guide unit according to the invention.

For example, a front section of an endless belt in the release position, as an extension of the upper guide unit, can guide the respective product directly in front of the cutting plane and block the product in the stop position.

In this case, the course of the endless means of the upper guide unit can be changed in order to realize the different positions of the stop unit.

For example, a deflection roller for the endless medium that is located furthest to the front in the feed direction can be mechanically connected via a support structure to a component that is further behind, e.g. another deflection roller, and can be pivoted together with the support structure around this component or around another axis between the stop position and the release position. Appropriate positioning, possibly with the mobility of one or more components guided in a predetermined manner, in particular deflections for the endless means during the adjustment movement, can ensure that the endless means has the necessary tension both in the release position and in the stop position.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the product support is divided into a front support ending directly in front of the cutting plane and a rear support, with the rear support preferably being adjustable between an upper feed position and a lower loading position.

This adjusting movement of the rear support is, in particular, a pivoting movement about a horizontal pivoting axis or a linear movement, in particular perpendicular to the engagement surface of the upper guide unit. In the case of a pivotable rear support, this is also referred to as a loading arm.

Fig. 1

schematisch in einer Seitenansicht eine Aufschneidevorrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung,

Fig. 2

schematisch eine Draufsicht auf die Vorrichtung von Fig. 1,

Fig. 3

schematisch eine Ansicht auf die Vorrichtung von Fig. 1 entgegen der Zuführrichtung,

Fig. 4, 5 und 6

jeweils schematisch in einer Seitenansicht Möglichkeiten für die Anbringung einer verstellbaren Anschlageinheit, und

Fig. 7

ein weiteres erfindungsgemäßes Ausführungsbeispiel einer verstellbaren Anschlageinheit an einer oberen Führungseinheit.

The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the drawing. Show it:

1

schematically in a side view a slicing device according to an embodiment of the invention,

2

schematically shows a top view of the device from FIG 1 ,

3

a schematic view of the device from FIG 1 against the feed direction,

Figures 4, 5 and 6

each schematically in a side view options for attaching an adjustable stop unit, and

7

another inventive embodiment of an adjustable stop unit on an upper guide unit.

In 1 is shown by a high-speed slicer according to the invention essentially the product feed 11, which - like the top view of 2 shows - is designed to be multi-lane, with the exception of a common loading rocker 21, which will be discussed in more detail below, all tracks are constructed identically and are operated independently of one another - namely track-individually can become. A control device 33 is responsible for the operation of the slicer and thus also of the product feed 11.

During a cutting process, the product feed 11 serves to feed the individual products 13 track-specifically to a cutting plane 15 in which a cutting blade 17, in particular a sickle blade or a circular blade, moves in order to cut off the products 13 slices. In this case, the knife 17 interacts with a cutting edge 39 which forms the end of a product support which defines a feed plane 41 which runs inclined to the horizontal.

The product support also includes a front support 19 for each lane, which is formed by a driven belt conveyor and is also referred to as a product support belt 19 . These product support bands 19 are comparatively short and reach up to the cutting edge 39 .

The product support also includes the loading rocker 21 already mentioned, which is upstream of the front product support belts 19 and which forms a common rear support for all lanes and is designed here as a belt extending over the entire width of the product support and thus across all lanes.

The loading arm 21 can be positioned between the in 1 illustrated upper supply position for the cutting operation and a lower loading position are pivoted, in which the bearing surface of the loading rocker 21 is in a horizontal loading plane 43.

The product feed 11 also includes an upper guide unit 25, which in this exemplary embodiment is designed as a driven conveyor belt, the underside of which forms an engagement surface 27 which interacts with the upper side of a product 13 located in the respective track. This sponsor will too referred to as upper tractor belt 25. Each track has a tractor belt 25 of this type.

Furthermore, a product holder 45 designed as a gripping device in this exemplary embodiment is provided in each lane. The product holder 45 interacts with the rear area of a respective product.

The structure of a slicer product feed described above is known in principle. The product feed 11 is operated in such a way that when the loading arm 21 is in the lower loading position, a new product 13 is placed on the loading arm 21 for each track—either manually or by a loading device of whatever type. The loading arm 21 with the products 13 on it is then placed in the 1 shown feed position pivoted. Before the start of the actual cutting operation, the product holders 45 are then brought into engagement with the rear areas of the products 13. Since the product holders 45 are moved against the rear product ends, product stops 29, described in more detail below, are provided for the front product ends.

As soon as the feed paths for the products 13 to the cutting plane 15 have been released following this preparatory phase, the cutting operation can begin. For this purpose, the products 13 are each conveyed in the feed direction F to the cutting plane 15 by means of their lower product support belt 19 , their upper tractor belt 25 and their product holder 45 . In each lane, the front product area is clamped between the upper tractor belt 25 and the lower product support belt 19, so that each product 13 is moved precisely into the cutting plane 15 with a speed profile that is individually specified by the controller 33, so that slices of a specified thickness can be cut off. The feed movement of the product holder 45 acting on the end of the product is in this case dependent on the conveying movements of the upper tractor belt 25 and the lower one Product support band 19 matched. It is also possible to leave the product holder 45 passive with regard to the feed in this phase of cutting open. In this case, the rear end of the product is only held in place by the product holder 45 for stabilization and guidance while it is being cut open.

In any case, i.e. regardless of what contribution the product holder 45 makes to the advancement of the product 13 during the cutting operation, the product holder 45 is used at the end of the slicing process to pull back a product end piece that has not been cut open from the cutting plane 15, to be precise into a discharge position , in which the product end piece, as soon as the product holder 45 releases it, can fall down through a discharge opening. This discharge opening can arise, for example, because a gap has formed between the front product support belt 19 and the loading rocker 21 previously pivoted into the lower loading position, via which the product end pieces can be separated. Alternatively or additionally, it is fundamentally possible for the product support belt 19 to be pivoted in such a way that a discharge opening is created.

The product holders 45 then move back to their starting position, so that by pivoting the loading arm 21, which has meanwhile been filled with new products 13, back into the in 1 shown feed position of the slicer is ready for a new cutting process.

Within such a cycle as has been described above, the stop unit 29 according to the invention fulfills a number of functions which are explained in more detail below.

In this exemplary embodiment, the stop unit 29 has two wings in each track (cf. also 2 ) and includes two stop wings 29a. Each stop wing 29a includes a plate-shaped flap 30 perpendicular to the feed plane 41 and about an axis of rotation 35 which is also perpendicular to the feed plane 41 (cf. 3 and 4 ) is pivotable.

In the respective track, the pivot axes 35 run laterally offset from the center of the track, ie one axis 35 is located on the left-hand side of the track and the other on the right-hand side. This means that the flaps 30 are each in their release position in the 1 , 2 and 3 is shown, aligned parallel to the feed direction F and run on one of the sides of the respective track, so that the stop unit 29 pivoted open in this way clears the path to the cutting plane 15 for the respective product 13.

The two stop wings 29a are attached to the upper tractor belt 25, namely on both sides of a carrier 47 arranged between the upper run and lower run of the belt. The carrier 47 is connected to the associated mechanism for the flaps 30 and protrudes - according to the respective track and product width - laterally out of the area of the belt. In this way, the stop unit 29 according to the invention is mechanically integrated into the upper product guiding unit 25 .

For each stop wing 29a, an in 1 only schematically indicated actuator 31 is provided. As already mentioned in the introductory part, the actuator can be pneumatic, electric or mechanical. For example, a pneumatic cylinder can be integrated into the upper tractor belt 25 . Practice has shown that the integration of an electric motor is also possible without any problems. The free space present in such a belt conveyor, which is preferably used for the upper tractor belt 25, can also be used for any type of mechanical drive. For example, a driven toothed rack can engage with a corresponding counter-toothing of a receptacle for the respective stop wing 29a. Here, a comparatively short linear movement of the toothed rack is sufficient to bring about a pivoting movement of the respective stop wing 29a, in particular by 90°. It is also possible to provide a lever arrangement for adjusting the stop wings 29a, which is designed, for example, to transmit an actuating movement for one or both stop wings 29a into the relevant track, starting from a housing (not shown) of the product feed 11.

In each track, the two stop wings 29a by means of their actuators by 90 ° between the in the 1 , 2 and 3 shown release position and a stop position are adjusted in opposite directions. In the locked position, the two flaps 30 lie in a common plane that runs perpendicular to the feed direction F. The two flaps 30 do not need to touch each other, and it is also not necessary for the two flaps 30 to reach the respective lower product support 19 . It is only necessary that in the stop position the two flaps 30 jointly block the feed path to the cutting plane 15 for the respective product 13 or a respective end piece in order to block the product 13 and prevent further movement to the cutting plane 15 or the end piece from getting to the cutting plane 15.

This stop position, which is also referred to as the blocking position, is assumed by the stop unit 29 in the above-explained working cycle of the slicer when the product holders 45 are to be brought into engagement with the product end regions after loading with new products 13 . The product holders 45 can press the respective product 13 against the flaps 30 that are in the locked position and thus engage in the intended manner in the end of the product. A flexibility function of the stop wings 29a, which is explained in more detail below, is advantageous for this operating phase and is a preferred embodiment of the stop concept according to the invention.

The stop wings 29a of each track are then pivoted into the blocking position after the product holder 45 has pulled back the respective product end piece in order to prevent the product end piece from falling into the Cutting plane 15 arrives. The two flaps 30 can serve together as a deflector, which directs a released product end piece into a respective discharge opening.

The individual feed paths to the cutting plane 15 can also be closed by means of the flaps 30 - or simply remain closed following the end piece disposal explained above - when new products 13 are made available by means of the loading rocker 21 . During this loading process, the closed stop units 29 then serve as protection against access from the supply side, in order to ensure the operational safety of the slicer in this way.

The optional resilience of the stop wings 29a mentioned briefly above serves to compensate for certain differences in length of at least two adjacent products 13 if the product holders 45 in the relevant lanes cannot or should not be moved against the rear product ends in a lane-specific manner. As already explained at the beginning, such differences in length can result in either the longer product being excessively compressed or the shorter product not being gripped correctly.

Resiliently designed stop wings 29a can compensate for such differences in length without giving up the blockage of the feed paths that is necessary for a secure gripping of the product ends.

The flexibility can be realized in different ways. For example, the resilience of the stop wing 29a can be achieved by spring preloading, in particular in combination with an end stop. Furthermore, the flexibility of the stop wing 29a can be realized by utilizing the spring effect of a pneumatic actuating element. In other words, the presence of a so-called pneumatic damping can be used here. Alternatively, it is possible to design the stop wing 29a itself to be elastically deformable, at least by a predeterminable amount or up to a predeterminable force, or to provide it with an elastically deformable pad or padding. Furthermore, it is possible to design the mounting or suspension of the stop wing 29a on the tractor belt 25 in an elastic or resilient manner and thus to make it flexible at least to a limited extent.

The flexibility means that the respective stop wing 29a can be moved or deformed in the feed direction F by the force applied by the front end of the product as soon as the force exceeds a predetermined or adjustable threshold value, but does not release the feed path for the product. The threshold value can be matched to the consistency of the respective product. In addition, the weight of the product and the forces that occur when loading and engaging the product holders 45 can be taken into account.

Another function of the stop unit 29 according to the invention is described below with reference to the Figures 2 and 3 explained:
The top view of 2 shows the common loading rocker 21 and for each of the four tracks the front product support belt 19. The axes of rotation 49 of the shafts, around which the respective belts rotate, are indicated by the dot-dash lines.

To simplify the presentation, in 2 all traces of the components of the product feed according to the invention explained above are not shown in full.

In the right lane in the feed direction F, the upper tractor belt 25 is shown with the carrier 47 for the two laterally attached stop wings 29a. For the sake of simplicity, only the two stop wings 29a are shown in the three other tracks.

A central separating web 37 serving as a lateral guide for the products is shown by way of example between the two inner tracks. Such a separating web 37 is provided between two adjacent tracks and on the outside of the right track and on the outside of the left track.

The mentioned additional function of the stop wing 29a according to the invention now consists in the fact that in the illustrated release position the stop wing 29a aligned parallel to the feed direction F extends the respective separating web 37 in the direction of the cutting plane 15 . In the release position, the stop wings 29a, i.e. the flaps 20, thus fulfill a lateral guiding function for the products 13 fed to the cutting plane 15.

this is in 3 illustrated using a track as an example. 3 also shows schematically a possibility for the mounting of the stop wings 29a on the support 47 of the upper tractor belt 25. The stop wings 29a are provided with shafts 42 running perpendicular to the feed plane 41 and thus perpendicular to the engagement surface 27 of the upper tractor belt 25 when this runs parallel to the feed plane 41 provided, which are pivotally mounted on bearings 51 of the upper tractor belt 25 about the axes 35 already mentioned. The actuators 31 for the stop wings 29a, which can act on the shafts 52, for example, are only shown schematically for the sake of simplicity.

In a preferred embodiment, one stop wing 29a is designed as a fixed stop and the other stop wing 29a as a variable side stop in each track. In the release position, the stop wing 29a, which is designed as a fixed stop, runs exactly at a fixed predetermined angle, preferably at a right angle, to the cutting plane 15. The fixed stop is preferably the stop wing 29a against which the front product end hits during the cutting operation due to the movement of the cutting blade 17 is pressed. The stop wing 29a serving as a variable side stop can be brought into a pivoted position or actively controlled in such a way that the product 13 is pressed against the fixed stop at least temporarily, for example during initial alignment, by means of the variable side stop. After such an alignment, the variable side stop can be moved back, as a result of which the product 13 is relaxed again. Alternatively, the product 13 can be permanently clamped by the two flaps 30 located in the release position, for example against an intended spring preload. The two flaps 30 then constitute lateral sliding and guiding surfaces which are temporarily or permanently in contact with the product 30. An exact alignment of the front product end in relation to the position of the cutting knife 17 can be achieved in this way by means of the flaps 30.

With the exception of the last function explained above of a product guide on both sides, for which two stop wings 29a, preferably pivotable in opposite directions, are required per track, the other functions explained above of the stop unit 29 according to the invention can also be fulfilled by a single-wing stop unit 29, whose vertical to the feed plane 41 extending pivot axis 35 is arranged on one side of the respective track. The flap 30 provided in this single-leaf configuration is then made so large that it covers a larger part of the track width in the blocked position than in a two-leaf configuration and in particular beyond the middle of the track in the direction of the other side of the track. A lateral guidance function, in particular as an extension of a separating web, can also be implemented with such a single-wing stop unit 29—then of course only on one side of the respective track. The stop unit 29 can either extend a side stop or direct the product to the side stop on the opposite side of a track from the flap stop.

4 shows an exemplary embodiment of the invention in which the stop unit 29 does not move to the side, ie cannot be pivoted about an axis running perpendicularly to the feed plane 41 . Instead, the flap 30 can be pivoted about a horizontal axis 35, starting from the solid line in FIG 4 blocking position shown upwards into the release position shown in dashed lines. In this release position, the flap 30 can run as an extension of the engagement surface 27 of the upper tractor belt 25 . This stop unit 29 is in turn attached to the carrier 47 of the tractor belt 25.

figure 5 Fig. 14 shows an example where a single-wing or double-wing stop unit 29 is attached to the lower product support belt 19, e.g. to a support of one of the shafts 45 for the belt. In each track, the product support belt 19 can have a stop wing 29a or two stop wings 29a—in this respect analogous to that in FIGS Figures 1 to 3 solution shown - be provided.

6 shows another example for the attachment of a stop unit 29, which in turn is either single-leaf or double-leaf. In this example, the stop unit 29 has its own in 6 not shown upper tractor belt 25 independent carrier 53 is provided. The positioning of the stop unit 29 by means of this carrier 53 takes place again in an upstream end region of the front product support belt 19 with respect to the feed direction F. In this example, there is no mechanical integration into the upper tractor belt 25 as in the exemplary embodiments of FIG Figures 1 to 4 or in the lower product support band 19 as in the example of figure 5 . Nevertheless, a direct assignment to the respective track, the respective product support belt 19, the respective loading arm 21 and the respective upper tractor belt 25 is realized here.

In the designs of Figures 5 and 6 , as explained above, are from the examples of Figures 1 to 3 as well as the 4 independent concepts for which independent protection is also claimed in each case.

The upper guide unit 25 according to 7 can, for example, in a product feed 11 according to 1 be used and replace the guide unit 25 there. the inside 7 Actuating drive 31, not shown, is then used to adjust stop unit 29, which is described in more detail below.

The guide unit 25 here comprises an endless conveyor belt which is driven by a drive roller 59 and runs around a number of non-driven deflection rollers 61, 63, 65 and 67. The foremost deflection roller 67, together with a supporting structure 57 by which it is carried and by means of which it is connected to the nearest deflection roller 65, is pivotably mounted about the axis of rotation 65a of this nearest deflection roller 65. The above-mentioned actuator 31, which is not shown here, is used for this purpose.

This adjustability makes it possible to use a front section of the conveyor belt as a stop unit 29 when the foremost roller 67 and the support structure 57 are in the positions shown in FIG Figure 7 stop position shown in solid lines are pivoted. In the release position shown in dashed lines, the stop unit 29 is an extension of the guide unit 25 in the direction of Cutting plane 15 is, so that the product, not shown here, is guided by means of the upper guide unit 25 and the stop unit 29 fastened to it to just in front of the cutting plane 15.

Reference List

11

product feed

13

product

15

cutting plane

17

cutting knife

19

front pad, product pad band

21

rear support, loading arm

25

upper guide unit, tractor belt

27

engagement surface

29

stop unit

29a

stop wing

30

Functional section, flap

31

actuator

33

control device

35

pivot axis

37

side guide, divider

39

cutting edge

41

feeding level

43

loading level

45

product holder

47

carrier

49

axis of rotation

51

camp

52

Wave

53

carrier

55

Wave

57

supporting structure

59

drive roller

61

pulley

63

pulley

65

pulley

67

pulley

f

feeding direction

Claims (15)

1. An apparatus for slicing food products, in particular a high-performance slicer, comprising a single-track or multi-track product feed (11) which feeds either one product (13) in one track or simultaneously feeds a plurality of products (13) disposed next to one another in parallel tracks in a feed direction (F) to a cutting plane (15) in which a cutting blade (17) moves, in particular in a rotating and/or revolving manner,

   wherein the product feed (11) comprises a product support (19, 21) and a product guide arranged above it,

   wherein the product guide comprises at least one upper guide unit (25) having an engagement surface (27) which faces the product support (19, 21), which extends in the feed direction (F) and which is configured, when a product (13) disposed on the product support (19, 21) is being fed, to enter into engagement with the upper side of said product (13), wherein, in addition to the upper guide unit (25), the product guide comprises at least one adjustable abutment unit (29)

   - which is fastened to the upper guide unit (25),

   - which, in an abutment position, fulfills an abutment function for a front end of a product (13) moved against the abutment unit (29) in that the abutment unit (29) blocks the feed path to the cutting plane (15) for the product (13) and thus blocks the product (13) and prevents a further movement of the product (13) to the cutting plane (15), and

   - which, in a release position different from the abutment position, clears the feed path to the cutting plane (15) for the product (13),

   characterized in that

   the abutment unit (29) is adjustable relative to the upper guide unit (25) between the abutment position and the release position.
2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
   wherein an actuating drive (31) is provided for the abutment unit (29) and can be controlled by means of a control device (33) to adjust the abutment unit (29) between the abutment position and the release position.
3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2,
   wherein the product feed (11) is of multi-track design and the product guide comprises at least one upper guide unit (25), which has at least one abutment unit (29), for each track, wherein the product feed (11) can preferably be operated individually per track.
4. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the adjustment movement of the abutment unit (29) between the abutment position and the release position is a pivot movement, wherein the pivot movement preferably takes place about a pivot axis (35) which extends horizontally or perpendicular to the engagement surface (27) of the upper guide unit (25).
5. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the abutment unit (29) moves neither up nor down, but rather moves to the side when the feed path is being cleared.
6. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the abutment unit (29) is configured as a pivotable flap or comprises a pivotable flap (30) that is preferably pivotable about an axis (35) which extends perpendicular to the engagement surface (27) of the upper guide unit (25) and which extends laterally offset from the track center in the respective track.
7. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the abutment unit (29) is of a two-winged design and comprises two abutments wings (29a) which are preferably each configured as a flap (30) or comprise a flap (30).
8. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the abutment unit (29) fulfills a lateral guide function for the product (13) in the release position, and/or wherein the abutment unit (29) lengthens a lateral guide (37), provided for a respective product (13), of the respective track in the direction of the cutting plane (15) in the release position.
9. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   wherein the abutment unit (29) comprises a plate-shaped functional section (30) which can be pivoted by approximately 90° about a pivot axis (35), which extends laterally offset from the track center in the respective track and extends perpendicular to the engagement surface (27) of the upper guide unit (25), between the abutment position, in which the functional section (30) extends approximately perpendicular to the feed direction (F), and the release position in which the functional section (30) extends approximately in parallel with the feed direction (F).
10. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    wherein two upper guide units (25), to each of which an abutment unit (29) is fastened, are provided for the or each track, wherein the two abutment units (29) jointly block the feed path in the abutment position.
11. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    wherein two abutment units (29) or a two-winged abutment unit (29) having two abutment wings (29a) are provided for the or each track and are configured, in the release position, to guide and/or to laterally orient the front end of a respective product (13) in the respective track during the slicing.
12. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    wherein the abutment unit (29) is configured to serve as an intervention protection for a human hand at least in the abutment position, and/or wherein the abutment unit (29) is configured to serve as a deflector for a respective product end piece at least in the abutment position.
13. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    wherein the or each abutment unit (29) is configured such that when a force acting in the feed direction (F) is applied to the abutment unit (29), which is in the abutment position, by means of the front end of a respective product (13) moved in the feed direction (F) and this force exceeds a predefined or settable threshold value, the abutment unit (29) is indeed yielding, namely movable or deformable by the applied force in the feed direction (13), but does not clear the feed path for the product, and thus continues to prevent a further movement of the product (13) to the cutting plane (15), as long as said abutment unit (29) is not adjusted into the release position, in particular wherein the product feed (11) is of multi-track design and the abutment unit (29) can be moved or deformed in each track by the applied force in the feed direction (F) independently of the abutment units (29) in the other tracks.
14. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    wherein the upper guide unit (25) is configured as a product feed, as a product guide or as a product holding-down device, and/or wherein the upper guide unit (25) is adjustable between at least two different functional positions independently of the abutment unit (29).
15. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the product support is divided into a front support (19), which ends directly in front of the cutting plane (15), and a rear support (21), wherein the rear support (21) is adjustable between an upper feed position and a lower loading position.

Images