FR2909916A1 - Food product e.g. elongated bread, cutting device, has additional cutting units carrying longitudinal slicing of bread to split bread into several contiguous sections, when bread is disposed into open lower end of warehouse - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a motor unit transmitting a to and fro alternative movement with required amplitude to a warehouse (2) i.e. elongated metal part, such that a lower end of a bread (P) is supported on a plate (15) and coincides with a blade. A cutting plane of the blade extends transversely with respect to a direction of the movement and perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (Z-Z') of the bread. Additional cutting units (3, 4) carry longitudinal slicing of the bread to split the bread into multiple contiguous sections, when the bread is disposed on an open lower end of the warehouse.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for cutting products

  particularly in the form of elongated breads, otherwise known as bars. These may be meat products such as sausage, ham, andouille, cheese, or products of vegetable origin such as fruits or vegetables. The present applicant manufactures and markets for a number of years a device of this type which comprises: a frame on which at least one receiving store 10 is mounted with a bread of a food product, this store having the form of an elongated compartment, generally directed from top to bottom, this magazine being adapted to receive said bread with the possibility of sliding, so as to direct it towards and beyond its open lower end, under the effect of its own weight; a generally horizontal plate, disposed at a distance from the lower end of the magazine, and a cutting blade disposed in the vicinity of this plate; means capable of printing a reciprocating back and forth movement of said magazine, of sufficient amplitude for the lower end of the bread which extends beyond the lower end, to bear on said plate then to meet, In other words, it interferes with the blade, whose reciprocating plane extends transversely with respect to the direction of said reciprocating movement and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bread. Another device structure which substantially fulfills the same functions as the previous one, is disclosed in US-A-4,436,012. Such a device proves particularly convenient, as it allows for automatic and fast cutting of slices. of food products whose surface is equal to that of the cross-section of the breads. It is generally provided under this device conveyor means of the conveyor belt type, which receive the slices thus cut. More specifically, packaging or food-type supports (sandwich bread or pizza dough), arranged on the conveyor, generally receive these slices. 2909916 2 If the running speed of the conveying means is perfectly synchronized with that of the "balance" constituted by the store, there is a regular distribution of slices in the packaging or on the food media.

  When these supports are sandwich or pizza dough, it is sometimes desirable that small pieces of food products can be placed there. But it happens that we want to garnish the pizza, for example, not slices, but slices or cubes of products (such as diced ham).

  This is also often the case for salads or sandwiches. In the current state of the art, the slicing device described above does not fulfill this function. The present invention therefore aims to solve this problem by improving the device presented above so as to allow it, without major modification, to cut food products into pieces whose surface is a fraction of the section slices that are delivered so far. The present invention thus relates to a device for cutting food products which are in the form of elongated loaves, which comprises: - a frame on which is mounted at least one receiving store of a bread product, this the magazine having the shape of an elongate compartment, generally directed up and down, this magazine being adapted to receive said bread with the possibility of sliding, so as to direct it towards and beyond its open lower end, under the effect of its own weight; - A generally horizontal plate, disposed at a distance from the bottom end of the magazine and a cutting blade disposed in the vicinity of this plate; means capable of printing a reciprocating back and forth motion of said magazine, of sufficient amplitude for the lower end of the bread which extends beyond the lower end, to bear on said plate then to meet, In other words, it interferes with said blade whose transverse plane extends transversely with respect to the direction of said reciprocating movement and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bread. According to the invention, this device comprises additional cutting means which perform a longitudinal slicing of the bread, during its transit through the store, below its open lower end, and thus break said bread into several contiguous sections. Thus, insofar as these additional means perform the longitudinal slicing of the bread, that is to say parallel to its longitudinal axis, 5 while it is still in the store, it is somehow "prisoner" said store which then constitutes a contention member. Therefore, the fraction of bread that extends beyond the lower end of the store, even if it has already been split by the additional means, remains in the form of a compact unit which in no way compromises the last cut made by the cutting blade made in the vicinity of the plate. According to a preferred embodiment: - said receiving magazine is pivotally mounted on said frame, about a generally horizontal axis; 15 - this store extends perpendicularly to said and is directed downwards; said means are able to print said magazine reciprocating back and forth about said axis in a circular arc of sufficient amplitude so that the lower end of the bread which extends beyond the lower end, takes support on said plate then encounter, ie interferes, during said reciprocating movement, with the blade whose cutting plane extends transversely with respect to said arc and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bread, Advantageously, said Means are oriented in such a way that the slicing is carried out according to at least one plane, referred to as a "longitudinal plane", parallel to the plane of movement of the magazine, during its reciprocating movement. But said means may be oriented so that the slicing is performed in at least one plane, called "transverse plane", perpendicular to the movement plane of the magazine during its reciprocating movement. In both cases, the final cutting of the bread is carried out according to a plurality of slats. According to another embodiment, the device comprises first and second additional cutting means, the first means being oriented such that the slicing is performed according to at least one plane, called "longitudinal plane", parallel to the plane during the movement of the magazine, during its reciprocating movement, while the second means are oriented in such a way that the slicing is carried out according to at least one plane, referred to as a "transverse plane", perpendicular to the movement plane of the magazine, when of his reciprocating motion. In this case and according to the arrangement of the additional means, one can obtain small pieces of food products, cubic or parallelepiped shape. According to other advantageous and non-limiting features of the invention: said means, respectively said first means comprise at least one cutting blade whose opposite ends are fixedly mounted relative to the frame, this blade passing right through said store by appropriate openings; - Said means, respectively said second means 15 comprise at least one cutting blade movably mounted relative to the frame, in a reciprocating transverse movement, this blade passing through said magazine through appropriate openings; said blade is secured to support means, mounted movable relative to the frame, in a reciprocating transverse movement; Said means are movable with respect to two identical cam paths disposed facing each other and fixed to the frame, these paths having an orientation which has longitudinal and transverse components, which give the assembly blade / support means, a back and forth motion of transverse orientation; said means are in the form of a frame, which is slidably mounted in the transverse direction relative to a part integral with said magazine; - This store has a clear structure, for example consisting of an assembly of metal son. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description. It will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a simplified view, from the side and in section, of a device according to the invention provided with additional longitudinal cutting means; FIG. 2 is a simplified view, from above and in section, of the device of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is also a simplified view, from above and in section, of a device according to the invention provided with additional cutting means, arranged in a transverse orientation, the assembly bearing these additional means being represented. in two extreme positions; FIG. 4 is a simplified front view of the device of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, the device being provided here with first means producing a "longitudinal" section, and second means forming a "transverse" section; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a part of a device provided with additional cutting means arranged in a transverse orientation; Figures 7 and 8 are diagrams showing how a slice of ham is cut with a device according to the invention, depending on the orientation of the cutting means. Throughout the present description, when we use the term "longitudinal" in relation to the bread of food product that is proposed to cut, we will refer to the largest dimension of this bread. In all other cases and unless otherwise stated, the term "longitudinal" will be used with reference to the pendulum movement of the magazine of the device according to the invention. A displacement or longitudinal movement will therefore be considered to take place parallel to this rocking movement. On the other hand, the term "transverse" will refer to an orientation or motion that takes place perpendicular to this pendulum movement, or approximately. The device shown in Figure 1, as well as Figures 2 to 5, has a structure that is generally known per se. It comprises a metal frame 1 which is substantially in a rectangular parallelepiped of vertical orientation.

  It comprises a massive lower part 11 carried by a set of feet 10, which encloses all the motor means necessary for the operation of the kinematic means of the device. The upper part consists essentially of an assembly of metal beams, namely vertical beams 12 and horizontal beams 13, longitudinal 13 and transverse 14, respectively.

5 10 2909916 6 They in a way materialize the edges of the upper part of the parallelepiped which has been mentioned above and delimit a vast interior space. As shown more particularly in Figures 2 to 5, in this space extend two parallel magazines 2. In embodiments not shown here, this number could be different. Thus, it could be one or more than two. Thus, when further in the description, we will describe Figure 6, we will deal with four stores 2.

These stores are elongated metal pieces, generally of parallelepiped shape. In alternative embodiments, these magazines may have a circular or oval section. They consist here of a welded assembly of a set of metal wires 20, which gives them a slatted structure.

According to a variant not shown, these magazines may have a substantially solid and continuous wall. In any case, the upper 21 and lower 22 ends of the magazines are open. Their dimensions and shape are adapted according to those of the bread of food product that they are intended to receive. In any case, they are chosen in such a way that, once the food product bread has been put in place, the store carries out a "contention" of it while allowing it to slide in the direction and through the lower end 22, under the effect of its own weight. This means that as far as possible, there is minimal clearance between the periphery of the bread and the walls of the magazine 2. In FIG. 1, a bread P has been shown in place in a magazine 2, in the form of a contoured silhouette in broken lines. Between the two upper longitudinal beams 13 extends a transverse shaft 130 of axis X-X ', on which are wedged the magazines 2. This assembly 30 is made in the upper part of the stores, so that they are somehow "suspended" from this tree, perpendicular to it and downward. Thus, the shaft 130 and associated stores 2 form a single set. The opposite ends of the shaft 130 are received, by means of appropriate bearings, in the beams 13 and connected to motor means M, not shown here, which are adapted to give the shaft 130 an alternating motion of come and go around himself. In other words, these means impart to the magazines 2 a longitudinal reciprocating movement (or pendulum movement), according to an arc whose amplitude remains within the limits of the space delimited by the beams of the frame. This pendulum movement is symbolized by the double arrow f in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5. The frame furthermore comprises, for each magazine 2, a horizontal plate 15 whose height is adjustable by means of at least one tab 150 10 appropriate. Each plate extends substantially from the front edge of the frame (on the left of Figure 1) to substantially half the depth thereof, that is to say where, during their pendulum movement, stores 2 have their lower end 22 in the lowest position.

At this level, that is to say just beyond the end of the trays 15 extends a cutting blade 16, whose cutting plane is horizontal and turned towards the plates 15. Preferably, this blade is part of an endless band. It extends at a slightly elevated level with respect to the upper face of the trays 15. It is this difference in level which will determine the thickness of the slices of food products cut by the blade. The position of the trays 15 being adjustable, it is possible to choose in advance the thickness of the slices that one wishes to obtain. This can be different from one tray to another. Behind the blade 16 is another tray 17 which has an arcuate profile, convexity facing upwards. Its front edge is below the blade 16. It serves as a guide for it. Taking account of Figure 1, it is easily understood that as a result of the pendular movement of the magazine 2 in the direction of the double arrow f, the bread P of food product resting on the plate 15, is moved towards the blade which operates a cut in its thickness. The magazine is then moved on the tray 17 or the bread undergoes a slight upward movement, relatively to the store while the slice that has just cut falls in the space between the plate 15 and the blade 16. Non means represented as a treadmill conveyor, 3: 5 allow to recover the slice thus obtained. This is the state of the art in this field.

According to the invention, the device comprises additional cutting means which realize a longitudinal slicing of the bread P during its transit in its magazine 2, below its open lower end 22. These means are thus arranged in such a way that the slicing is oriented in at least one direction parallel to the longitudinal axis ZZ 'of the bread. Figures 1 and 2 provide an understanding of the structure of a first embodiment of these means. In this case, this is a series of three cutting son 3, horizontal and parallel to each other. It could, of course, be provided blades 10 to replace these son. In this case, their cutting edge is turned towards the top of the magazine 2. The son extend parallel to the axis YY 'that is to say, parallel to the pendulum movement suffered by the stores 2. On examination of FIG. 2, it can be seen that each magazine 2 has three associated cutting wires 3. Their opposite ends are fixed to the frame, by means of a mounting piece 30 and a bolt system. Any other fastener can of course be used, with a preference for those that allow easy disassembly son, especially for their replacement.

These cutting wires 3 are arranged in such a way that they pass right through the magazines 2, through the openings which separate their constituent wires 20. In the embodiment where the magazines consist of a sleeve with a solid wall it is then provided in these walls appropriate openings that allow the passage of son (the cut.

These yarns are oriented in such a way that they can be sliced along planes referred to as longitudinal planes PL parallel to the plane of movement of the magazine 2 during its reciprocating balance movement. This means that as the sliding movement of the breads P inside the magazines, they rely on the cutting son 30 and, thanks to the pendulum movement, it. there is a longitudinal slicing of the food product, within the store. Figure 7 shows the result of this slicing (this time using four cutting wires). It can be observed in this figure that the cutting wires make it possible to obtain 3.5 five lamellae of food product, referenced L1 to L5.

As already stated above, the magazines 2 perform a compression of the product bread P inside thereof. Consequently, the material emerging slightly from the lower end of the magazines 2, although divided into several blocks by means of the threads 3, retains a certain compactness which nevertheless enables the blade 16 to perform its work, without these blocks will disperse before interfering with it. In the end, the conveying means receive not an entire slice of product P, but a set of slats. FIGS. 3 and 4 show an alternative embodiment in which the additional cutting means are oriented in such a way that the slicing is performed in at least one plane, referred to as the transverse plane PT, perpendicular to the plane of the displacement. stores 2 during their reciprocation. As in the previous embodiment, we are dealing with a set of cutting son 4, horizontal and parallel to each other. These cutting son have their ends attached to similar fasteners 41, which are associated rollers 42. These rollers have their axis of rotation perpendicular to the cutting son 4, in this case extending along a vertical axis.

Furthermore, and as shown in these figures, two cam tracks 5 and 5 'are provided on the frame 2 and arranged to cooperate with the rollers 42 mentioned above. These cam paths have a profile such that they are angled, which means that they have an orientation that has both longitudinal and transverse components. FIG. 3 shows in its two extreme positions the assembly formed by the cutting wires 4 and the pieces 41. As in the previous case, the cutting wires 4 pass right through the magazines 2.

During their rocking movement in the direction of the double arrow f, these magazines 2 drive with them the cutting son 4 which, given the presence of the rollers running on the raceways 5 and 5 ', undergo a translation. at an angle which is symbolized by the double arrow g. In addition, due to the reciprocating (swing) movement given to the magazines 2 by the shaft 130, the cutting wires 4 are therefore subjected to a reciprocating movement with respect to these magazines. 2909916 to This transverse movement thus makes a cut bread P food product. In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the device combines both the cuts of the wires 3 and the wires 4.

Thus and unlike the two embodiments described above, not product slats P but a series of small pieces of rectangular or square section, such as those referenced D1 to D5 and D8 in FIG. Of course, in this embodiment, the cutting wires 3 and 4 extend at vertically offset levels. Depending on the number of cutting threads and their mutual spacing, it is of course possible to choose the number and shape of the pieces that will be obtained. In Figure 6 is shown an embodiment of the invention which also allows for transverse cuts. Here, the son 4 are integral with a rectangular frame 6 of rectangular shape, the long sides extend transversely. On each of these long sides, the frame is provided with sleeves 60, also of transverse orientation.

These sleeves are slidably mounted along a bar 25 secured to support plates 24 associated with the magazines 2. The sleeves 60 here serve as support means for the frame, during its reciprocal movement back and forth. In an embodiment not shown, the raceways 25 and 5 'could have a section "U" and an arcuate profile, the rollers 41 being received within this "U". This makes it possible to dispense with the support means 60 described above. Throughout the present application, the term "food product bread" must be understood not only in the sense of a block or unitary bar of a food product, but also in the sense of a whole of products "piled up" in the store, these products having no real mechanical cohesion between them. Thus, it may be vegetables, fruits, or a mixture thereof, possibly with meat products. 35

Claims (11)

  1. Device for cutting food products which are in the form of elongated loaves (I '), which comprises: - a frame (1) on which is mounted at least one receiving store (2) of a bread (P ) of food product, the store having the form of an elongate compartment, generally directed up and down, the store (2) being adapted to receive said bread with the possibility of sliding, so as to direct it to and beyond its open lower end (22), under the effect of its own weight; a generally horizontal plate (15) disposed at a distance from the lower end (22) of the magazine (2), and a cutting blade (16) disposed in the vicinity of this plate; means (M) able to print to said magazine (2) a reciprocating back and forth movement of sufficient amplitude so that the lower end of the bread (P) which extends beyond the lower end (22); ) bears against said plate (15) and meets, ie interferes, during said reciprocating movement, with the blade (16) whose cutting plane extends transversely to the direction of said reciprocating movement and perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the bread (P), characterized in that it comprises additional cutting means (3, 4) which perform a longitudinal slicing of the bread (P) during its transit through the store (2) , below its open lower end (22), and thus break said bread (P) into several contiguous sections.   2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that: -said receiving magazine (3) is pivotally mounted on said frame, 25 about a generally horizontal axis (X-X '); - This store extends perpendicular to said axis (X-X ') and is directed downwards; said means are able to print said magazine (2) reciprocating back and forth about said axis (X-X ') in an arc of a circle of sufficient amplitude so that the lower end of the bread (P) which is extends beyond the lower end (22), bears on said plate (15) and then meets, ie interferes, during said reciprocating movement, with the blade (16) whose plane 2909916 12 of cut s' extends transversely with respect to said arc of a circle and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bread (P),   3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said means (3) are oriented such that the slicing is performed in at least one plane, called "longitudinal plane" (PL), parallel to the plane of moving the magazine (2) during its reciprocation 5   4. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said means (4) are oriented such that the slicing is performed in at least one plane, called "transverse plane" (PT), perpendicular to the plane of moving the magazine (2) during its reciprocating movement.   5. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises first (3) and second (4) additional cutting means, the first means (3) being oriented so that the slicing is performed according to at least one plane, referred to as "longitudinal plane" (PL), parallel to the plane of movement of the magazine (2), during its reciprocating movement, while the second means (4) are oriented so that the slicing is made according to at least one plane, referred to as "transverse plane" (PT), perpendicular to the plane of movement of the magazine (2), during its reciprocating movement   6. Device according to claim 3 or 5, characterized in that said means, respectively said first means comprise at least one cutting blade (3) whose opposite ends are mounted fixed relative to the frame (1), this blade ( 3) passing right through said magazine (2) through appropriate openings.   7. Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said means, respectively said second means comprise at least one cutting blade (4) movably mounted relative to the frame (1), in a movement 2.5 back and forth transverse, this blade (4) passing through said magazine through appropriate openings.   8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said blade (4) is secured to support means (41; 6) mounted movable relative to the frame (1), in a reciprocating movement. 30   9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that said support means are movable relative to two cam tracks (5, 5 ') arranged opposite one another and which are fixed to the frame ( 1), these paths (5,5 ') having an orientation which has longitudinal and transverse components, which provide the blade assembly (4) / support means (41; transverse orientation.   10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that said means have the form of a frame (6), which is slidably mounted in a transverse direction relative to a part (25) integral with said magazine (2).   11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said magazine (2) has a clear structure, for example consisting of a wire assembly (20). 10