GB2267027A

GB2267027A - Cutting machine for food products

Info

Publication number: GB2267027A
Application number: GB9305714A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Juergen Wegscheider; Michael Wolff; Herbert Adler
Original assignee: Natec Reich Summer GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Natec Reich Summer GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1992-04-29
Filing date: 1993-03-19
Publication date: 1993-11-24
Also published as: ITMI930782A0; JPH0732293A; ITMI930782A1; JP2911085B2; GB9305714D0; IT1264159B1

Abstract

A cutting machine for cutting food products comprising two conveyor belts (15, 16) at least one of which has an adjustable conveying length. The conveyor belts are aligned in a common conveying direction and a first belt (15) is disposed next to a circular knife (4) where the product is discharged after being cut. In order to improve the productivity of the cutting machine, irrespective of the size of the stack (12) of product to be formed, the conveying length of at least the first belt (15) is adjustable. The two belts may intersect each other and be constituted by a plurality of interdigitated strips (50, 51). The adjustment of length in the conveying direction in such an arrangement is effected by moving the location at which the belts intersect. <IMAGE>

Description

CUTTING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a cutting machine comprising first and second conveyor belts aligned in a common conveying direction and a cutting device disposed next to the first conveyor belt. In the case of cutting machines for cutting food products, a stack of product must either be straight and relatively cuboidal or must be shingled, i.e. the individual slices of product are superposed like shingles when laid on a conveyor belt disposed at an outlet side of the cutting machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Hitherto it has been known to use two conveyor belts aligned in a common conveying plane, one belt being disposed next to a circular knife and serving as a discharge belt. Slices of product cut off by the knife fall on to the belt and, depending on whether the belt is driven during the cutting process, either form a straight cuboidal stack (when the discharge belt is stationary) or a shingled stack (when the discharge belt is driven).

Hitherto, however, it has been known only to give an invariable conveying length to the discharge-belt, which is disposed next to the circular knife and on to which the slices of product fall. This has disadvantages. If the discharge belt is given a fixed conveying length, the cutting output cannot be optimised.

If for example it is desired to form a straight cuboidal stack of product, the discharge belt is first kept stationary and the slices are superposed and form a straight stack until the desired height is reached. The drive of the first belt (the discharge belt) is then switched on and the straight stack is transferred to the adjacent second conveyor belt, which is disposed in the conveying direction downstream of the discharge belt.

If the discharge belt is given a fixed length, it is necessary to wait during the journey from the first belt to the second belt, until the stack of product has been conveyed from the first belt to the second belt, before a new stack of product can be formed. During this time cutting is impossible, i.e. the circular knife makes a number of idle cuts and this adversely affects the productivity of the cutting machine.

Another disadvantage is that even when the stacks of product are shingled, the first conveyor belt (the discharge belt) disposed next to the circular knife has to be given a relatively long conveying length, sufficient to form either long shingled stacks of product or short shingled stacks.

The conveyor belt therefore has to be designed for a maximum length, so that long shingled stacks can also be formed.

If only a short shingled stack is required, the cutting power is wasted, because time is needed for the short shingled stack at the beginning of the conveyor belt, which is relatively long, to be transferred to the downstream second belt in the conveying direction.

During this transfer time also, the circular knife has to cut idly, and this likewise reduces output.

SUE-PRY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the invention to improve the output of a cutting machine of the aforementioned type irrespective of the size of the desired stack of product.

The invention is realised by the provision of a cutting machine for cutting food products - comprising a first conveyor belt having a conveying length, a second downstrea4onveyor belt having a conveying length, and a cutting device wherein the first conveyor belt is disposed next to the cutting device and aligned in a common conveying direction with the second conveyor belt, the conveying length of at least the first conveyor belt being adjustable.

One important feature of the invention is that the conveying length of at least the first belt (the discharge belt) is adjustable.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, accordingly, the conveying length of the second downstream conveyor belt is also adjustable.

The first belt has to be given an adjustable length according to the invention, since this technical teaching can substantially improve the output of the cutting machine. If for example a straight, cuboidal stack of product is to be formed, the first belt can be given the minimum conveying length, so that as soon as the stack is formed it can be conveyed very quickly to the second downstream belt. This results in only a short interruption of cutting, i.e. during the short time required for transferring the just-formed stack from the first belt, which is relatively long, to the second belt, after which the next stack of product can immediately be formed on the now empty first belt.

For the same application, the same feature can also be provided in the case of a shingled stack of product, since the conveying length of the first belt (the discharge belt) is always adjusted for use in optimum manner, i.e. in the case of shingled stacks, the length of the first belt is adjusted so that there is just room on the conveyor belt for the desired length of shingle, i.e. so that the shingle length is adjusted to the belt and the belt is not made longer than the required shingle length. It also results in a short time for transferring the shingled stack of product from the first belt to the downstream second belt, thus likewise substantially increasing the cutting capacity.

Preferably the conveying length of the downstream second belt is adjusted in a complementary manner to the conveying length of the first belt, so that the two belts form an aligned substantially uninterrupted conveying plane.

If therefore the conveying length of the first belt is shortened, the conveying length of the downstream second belt will be correspondingly lengthened, to obtain an aligned flat substantially uninterrupted conveying plane and avoiding the risk of tilting the stack of product when formed.

In another embodiment, the conveying length of the second belt can always be constant, in which case the first belt, which has variable conveying length, will overlap the second belt. Admittedly there is then a risk that the stack transferred from the first belt to the second belt may tilt and possibly be accidentally displaced. This risk, however, is acceptable in the case of low stacks or shingled stacks.

It is therefore only necessary according to the invention for the conveying length of the first belt to be adjustable, whereas in another preferred embodiment of this inventive idea the conveying length of the second belt is complementarily adjustable, though this is only a preferred feature.

In a constructional embodiment of the inventive idea, therefore, guide rollers forming the transfer region between the first belt and the second belt and lying parallel to the conveying plane are mounted to be displaceable in the conveying direction and in the opposition direction.

When the guide rollers are adjusted, the conveying path lengths of the belts are lengthened or shortened, and accordingly compensating rollers are provided which are mounted to be displaceable in suitable guides, so that the compensating rollers can be simultaneously adjusted and always ensure that a constant tension of the conveyor belts is maintained.

The compensating rollers therefore compensate the aforementioned alteration in conveying path length of the conveyor belts in the conveying plane.

Figs. 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings show a second embodiment of a cutting machine comprising two conveyor belts. The overall lengths of the two belts are not adjustable. Instead, the two belts are interlaced in one another, i.e. overlap. As a result of the overlapping, an overlap region can be defined, and the material in transit is transferred from the first belt, disposed next to the cutting machine, to the second belt via the overlapping region between the two belts.

The overlapping region is characterised in that the two conveying belts overlap and are disposed at an angle to one another, i.e. the conveying plane of the first belt is disposed at a slight angle to the conveying plane of the second belt.

This covers a number of embodiments of the invention.

In a first embodiment, the conveying angle of the first belt is adjustable, in order to vary the position of the overlap region between the two interlaced conveyor belts. By varying the position of overlap region the conveying length of the first belt may be adjusted.

In a second embodiment, not shown in the drawings, the conveying angle of the second belt is adjustable in order similarly to vary the interlocking (the overlap region) between the belts.

In a preferred embodiment the mechanism for adjusting the angle of the conveying plane of the first and second belt is constructed substantially so that one guide roller disposed inside the second conveyor belt is pivotably displaceable. Preferably for the purpose of pivoting, the last-mentioned roller is rotatably mounted on a corresponding pivotally-mounted lever, and the pivoting direction of the lever itself is adjustable by a suitable spindle means.

Of course, instead of the manual spindle adjustment, the lever can be pivoted by other mechanisms, e.g. an electromagnetically actuated pivoting facility, or pivoting via a suitable eccentric drive or the like.

An important feature of all examples of the second embodiment is that the two belts interlace and a guide roller of the first belt is disposed inside the second belt and is displaceably mounted so as to be pivotable about a horizontal axis.

In this manner the overlapping region between the interlocking belts can be altered. This has the advantage that the conveying length can be adjusted in optimum manner by means of a relatively simple compact construction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments.

In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a cutting machine according to a first embodiment of the invention forming a straight stack of product; FIG. 2 shows the same arrangement as in Fig. 1, with conveyor belts adjusted in length and with the straight stack replaced by a shingled stack; FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side view of a conveyor belt arrangement in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention in a first position; FIG. 4 shows the conveyor belt arrangement shown in Fig. 3 in a second position; and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the arrangement depicted in Figs. 3 and 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Fig. 1 shows a cutting machine substantially comprising a drive unit 1 comprising a drive shaft 2 driven in rotation by a drive (not shown). The shaft 2 is non rotatably connected to an eccentric disc 3 which bears a shaft 5, eccentrically relative to the drive shaft 2, and on which a circular knife 4 is mounted and driven in rotation.

A baseplate 26 of the cutting machine is formed with a through opening 2 for the product which is to be cut. The product lies in a forwardly inclined plane 7 and is guided in the direction of arrow 8 towards the through opening 6.

It thus comes within range of the circular knife 4, which makes the cut in cooperation with a stationary counter-knife 9. In known manner the circular knife 5 moves in a planetary orbit, as a result of the rotating drive of the eccentric disc 3.

The entire arrangement is held at an adjustable angle in a pivot 11 on a base frame 10.

A first conveyor belt 15 in the form of a discharge belt is disposed underneath the counter-knife 9. Belt 15 has top guide rollers 17, 18 and the entire belt is acted upon by a drive 23.

When the belt 15 is still, the product cut by the circular knife 4 falls in slices on to the conveying plane 14 of belt 15 and thus forms a straight cuboidal stack 12.

When the stack 12 has reached the required height, it is conveyed in the direction of arrow 13 to a neighbouring adjacent second conveyor belt 16. To this end, the drive 23 of the first belt 15 is switched on and the stack of product is thus transferred in the direction of arrow 13 to the second conveyor belt 16.

The second belt 16 likewise has guide rollers 19, 20 in the conveying plane 14 and is driven by a separate drive 24.

Scales, another conveyor beltr or another conveying means (not shown) can be connected behind the second conveyor belt 16.

One important feature is that the conveying length 21 of the first belt 15 is shortened so that the stack of product 12 substantially fills the entire conveying length of belt 15 and there is thus only a short distance for transferring the stack 12 in the direction of arrow 13 to the downstream second belt 16.

This substantially increases the productivity of the cutting machine, since the circular knife has to make only brief idle cuts during the rapid transfer of the stack 12 from the first belt 15 to the second belt 16, and after the first belt 15 has been emptied a new stack 12 can immediately be formed.

Since the conveying length 21 of the first belt 15 is made relatively short, the second belt 16 is given a relatively long conveying length 22 in compensation, but this does not influence the output of the cutting machine.

If on the other hand, as in Fig. 2, a relatively long shingled stack 12' is required, the productivity of the machine is likewise improved in that the conveying length 21' is now increased so that the shingled stack exactly fills the conveying length 21' of belt 15. This results in another important advantage, in that a relatively short time is required for transferring the stack 12' to the downstream second belt 16, i.e. because the length of the first belt 15 has been exactly adjusted to the length of the shingled stack 12'.

According to an important feature, therefore, the guide rollers 17, 20 in the delivery region between the first belt 15 and the second belt 16 are made adjustable by sliding in guides in the conveying direction and in the opposite direction (the direction of arrow 13), so that the conveying length 21, 21' and 22, 22' of the two belts 15, 16 is made adjustable.

The guide rollers 17, 20 are therefore made adjustable at positions 17', 20' in the direction of arrows 25.

In order to compensate the change in the belt length, it is proposed to provide compensating rollers 27, 28 at movable positions 27', 28'.

According to another feature of the invention, the conveying elements 29 receiving the two belts 15 and 16 are releasably connected by a suitable coupling 30 to the base frame 10 of the cutting machine. This has the advantage that the entire conveying component 29 can be replaced by another conveying component, e.g. having only one belt. An additional conveying component with a single belt is used e.g. if it is only and exclusively required to form shingled stacks 12' and their length is always constant.

In Fig. 3, a first conveyor belt 35 is made up of individual parallel bands 51 guided over a rear roller 18 disposed next to the cutting machine and also guided over a pivotably displaceable front roller 17. Likewise belt 36 is made up of individual parallel bands 50.

The rear guide roller 18 is driven in rotation, by a belt 52 which runs over a drive (not shown) and loops round a drive wheel non-rotatably connected to the rear drive roller 18.

Fig. 3 also shows three pivoted positions of the entire cutting machine, the positions being diagrammatically indicated by the various pivoted positions of the counter-knife 9, 9', 9".

The second conveyor belt 36 has a rear guide roller 20 and a front guide roller 19. The rear roller 20 is likewise driven by a belt 53 which runs over a drive motor (not shown).

The guide rollers 18, 19, 20 are rotatably mounted in the region of side parts 33, 34 of a machine casing, the side parts 33, 34 being held together by suitable bolts 41.

A securing shaft 37 is also provided and secures the entire unit, i.e. the side plates 33, 34 and the guide rollers, to a baseplate 31. The baseplate 31 is covered by a cover 32 on one side.

The securing shaft 37 extends through a recess in one side part 34, where it is non-rotatably connected to a rotary knob 38. At the other side, the securing shaft 37 likewise extends through a recess in the side part 33 and also engages in a threaded bore, in line with the recess, in the baseplate 31, via a threaded bolt 39.

The guide rollers are mounted in the side parts 33, 34 on suitable bearings 40.

The guide roller 17 of the first conveyor belt 35 is disposed in the interior of the second conveyor belt 36, i.e. under the conveying plane of the second belt 36, resulting in an overlap in the overlap region 54 between the belts 35 and 36.

The guide roller 17 of the first belt 35 disposed inside the second belt 36 is mounted around a pivot so as to be pivotable in the directions of arrows 55, 56 the pivot being coaxial with and in the region of the guide roller 18.

A first lever 42 is pivotably mounted on the guide roller 18 and is connected at an angle to a second lever 43 formed at its front free end with a slot 44 in which the shaft of the guide roller engages with clearance.

An adjusting lever 45 is mounted for vertical movement in a recess 49 in the region of the side part 33.

It has a slot 44 which surrounds the shaft of the guide roller 17. A spindle 48 engages the bottom part of the adjusting lever 45 and is adjustably received in a spindle nut 57. At the opposite side from the spindle nut 57, the spindle 48 can be secured by a lock nut 47. The spindle 48 is also non-rotatably connected to a handle 46. If the handle 46 is operated, the spindle 48 can be adjusted substantially vertically in the stationary spindle nut 57, thus adjusting the lever 45 along a vertical axis. By this means the lever 43 is selectively pivotable in the direction of arrows 55 and 56 around the centre of rotation of the shaft of the guide roller 18, and thus the entire guide roller 17 is pivoted more or less into the region of the second conveyor belt 36.

Fig. 3 shows the two conveyor belts when the conveying length 60 is made relatively long and the overlap region 54 is distant from the cutting machine, whereas Fig.

4 shows an adjusting position with a guide roller pivoted downwards in the direction of arrow 56, so that the overlap region 54' is near the cutting machine, with a consequently short conveying length 60' between the first belt and the second belt.

Claims

WET IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A cutting machine for cutting food products comprising a first conveyor belt having a conveying length, a second downstream conveyor belt having a conveying length, and a cutting device wherein the first conveyor belt is disposed next to the cutting device and aligned in a common conveying direction with the second conveyor belt, the conveying length of at least the first conveyor belt being adjustable.

2. A cutting machine according to claim'l, wherein the conveying length of the second downstream conveyor belt is also adjustable.

3. A cutting machine according to claim 2 wherein the conveying length of the second conveyor belt is complementarily adjustable with the conveying length of the first conveyor belt, the two conveyor belts forming an aligned conveying plane, and the length of the second conveyor belt is lengthened complementarily with the shortening of the first conveyor belt, to maintain a substantially continuous conveying plane.

4. A cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the conveying length of the second conveyor belt is not adjustable and the first conveyor belt overlaps the second conveyor belt.

5. A cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein guide rollers which are located in a transfer region between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt and which lie in a common conveying plane, are mounted to be displaceable in the conveying direction and in the opposite direction, and compensating rollers are provided which are repositionable in order to compensate for movement of the guide rollers.

6. A cutting machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each conveyor belt comprises a plurality of bandlike elements wherein the bands of the two belts are interleaved and belt roller displacement means are provided to adjust the point at which the two belts intersect and thereby vary the conveying lengths of the two conveyor belts.

7. Cutting machine substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3, 4 and 5.