WO2013110689A1

WO2013110689A1 - Apparatus for slicing and packaging bread

Info

Publication number: WO2013110689A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/051299
Authority: WO
Inventors: Reinald Weiss
Original assignee: R. Weiss Verpackungstechnik Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2012-01-24
Filing date: 2013-01-24
Publication date: 2013-08-01
Also published as: DE102012100586A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for slicing bread (B) and then packaging the cut slices (S) which comprises: at least one blade (14), preferably a rotating circular blade; a feed section (3) feeding the bread (B) to be sliced to the blade (14); a removal section (4) receiving the cut slices of bread (S); and at least one device (22, 23, 24) conveying the bread (B) and the cut slices (S) from the feed section (3) to the removal section (4). The apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that a lifting tray (5, 35) is provided in the removal section (4), said lifting tray being capable of lifting the cut bread slices (S) once they are cut.

Description

Device for cutting and packaging bread

The invention relates to a device for cutting bread and for subsequent packaging of the sliced bread slices according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such machines are known. They are mostly used in bakeries to offer customers freshly cut bread. A known type of bread slicing machine works with a circular blade, which circulates circularly by means of an eccentric and in this case emerges from a cutting gap in each case cuts off a slice of the slowly continuously or clocked forward pushed bread and then dips back into the cutting gap. In the known bread slicing machines, the sliced bread is removed from the machine and placed on a so-called tongue in order to be able to put a bag over the sliced loaf.

A disadvantage of these known bread slicing machines is the relatively complicated and not completely safe operation, since the operator has to reach deep into the machine to take out the sliced bread.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bread slicer according to the preamble of claim 1, which has a higher ease of use and a higher operating safety.

This object is achieved in a bread slicer of the type mentioned by the features of claim 1.

The advantages of the invention are to be seen in particular in the fact that the sliced bread slices do not have to be manually raised after cutting, and therefore they can not slip out of the hand of the operator, for example. Also, the operator does not have to go down into the Grasp the machine so that a risk of injury can be completely ruled out. This can not be guaranteed in the known machines, for example, not in the event that the knife does not work properly and, for example, does not dive in the kerf.

Advantageously, the lifting table is at least partially linear, preferably in the vertical direction, designed to be movable. A vertical up and down the lift table requires only very little space in the housing of the device, so that this can be made relatively small overall. Also, a vertical lifting mechanism can be technically relatively simple and inexpensive, but still robust, realized. In addition, easy accessibility to the lifting elements is guaranteed. For the reasons mentioned above, the lifting table is preferably designed to be vertically movable over its entire travel path.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the lifting table has a substantially closed surface, on which the sliced bread slices are first guided, before the lifting table is lifted together with the sliced bread slices.

According to a preferred alternative, the area in the discharge section to which the sliced bread slices are guided and the lift table are different devices. In particular, it is preferred that the said receiving surface for the bread slices is fixed, while the lifting table has one or more bars (which could also be called tines) which are mounted below the receiving surface during the cutting process. In the following, there will always be talk of a plurality of rods; but it is readily possible to provide even a rod, which must then have the appropriate width to provide a sufficiently large mating surface for the slices of bread to be lifted. The rods each preferably extend over the entire length of the cut bread. Upon completion of the cutting operation, as the lift table is raised, the bars pass through correspondingly formed openings in the stationary receiving surface, the sliced bread slices being lifted by the bars. Due to the functional separation of the receiving surface and the lifting table, an overall more stable construction can be achieved. In addition, the packaging of the sliced bread slices is easier to realize because a bag is easier to put over bars than over a large closed area.

The said bars are advantageously oriented substantially in the direction of the bread of the bread. In this case, then the sliced bread slices are substantially perpendicular to the bars and thus can not slip into the spaces between the bars and fall down. In addition, a bag can be parallel to the rods over the sliced bread slices and the rods put in order to subsequently deduct the bag together with the discs in the opposite direction again.

It has proved to be advantageous if the lifting table has a total of three to six rods, which extend over the entire length of the cut bread.

On the underside of the rods preferably each support means is provided, with which in turn a device for raising and lowering the rods is connected. The support means for the rods are in this case preferably connected to each other, so that only a single device for moving the rods is necessary.

The lifting mechanism for the lifting table can be realized in various ways. Here come, for example, one or more lifting cylinders or at least one substantially vertical rack on the lifting table, which is driven by a stationary gear, or a Chain drive for lifting and lowering the lift table in question. Other common drive mechanisms are also possible.

The plane of the lifting table on which the slices of bread are raised is, whether formed closed or defined by bars, preferably inclined with respect to a horizontal surface, preferably towards the operator or to the front of the device. This embodiment allows a simpler removal of the sliced bread slices that can fall into the device even with an awkward hand movement barely backwards (away from the operator).

Furthermore, the lifting table preferably has a side support which projects upwards from the support, preferably at its edge directed towards the operator or to the front of the device. The side support is advantageously inclined at substantially the same angle with respect to the vertical (towards the operator) as the support plane is inclined relative to the horizontal, so that both essentially form an angle of 90 °. Such a configuration facilitates access to the sliced bread and realizes a secure storage of the bread slices when lifting.

The lifting table is preferably freely accessible over substantially its entire length from one of its end faces, ie from one of the end faces or ends of the cut bread. Thus, from this side a bag can be slipped so far over the raised lifting table that all sliced bread slices are detected to pull these slices as a whole in the bag from the lifting table. The only hand movement of the operator is thus in this handling of the bag. The bread slices themselves no longer have to be touched, so that hygienic advantages result in addition to the simple handling. Overall, after inserting and fixing the bread in the machine before the start of the cutting process, no manual contact of the bread longer necessary. The surface of the lift table on which the sliced bread slices are raised preferably has openings through which bread crumbs, but not slices of bread, may fall down. In this way it can be prevented that bread crumbs get into the bag. In addition, no crumbs accumulate on this surface with repeated cutting. In the embodiment of the bars described above, the spaces between the bars represent said openings. In the solution with the substantially closed surface of the lifting table, which serves both as a receiving surface for the bread slices after the cutting process as well as the surface to be lifted, are the openings smaller and preferably arranged in the region of the abutting edge of the receiving surface with the wall support, which may also be formed flat.

Preferably, the lift table is automatically raised after completion of the cutting operation. For this purpose, a controller is provided, which raises the lift table after registering the switch-off signal of the knife.

In addition, at least one hood which covers the device upwards is preferably present, this hood after termination of the

Cutting action is pivoted upward in an open position to release access to the sliced bread slices. The lifting of the hood can be done simultaneously or before or after lifting the lift table.

Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized by the features of the subclaims.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to figures. Show it:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention, schematically illustrated;

Figure 2 is a view obliquely from below on the lifting table; Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the embodiment according to the figure 1 in the cutting operation;

FIG. 4 shows the device according to FIG. 3 with raised lifting table and opened hood;

Figure 5 is a schematic side view of a second embodiment (several parts omitted with respect to Figures 3 and 4);

FIG. 6 shows the device according to FIG. 5 with raised lifting table and opened hood;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the Abführabschnitt the device according to Figures 5 and 6; and

Figure 8 shows a part of the lifting table of Figures 5-7 in side view.

FIGS. 1-4 show a first embodiment of a cutting device 1 according to the invention. 1 shows schematically a plan view of the device 1 with a housing 2, in which in particular a feed section 3 and a discharge section 4 are provided and which can be closed by a hood 17. The feed section 3 comprises a flat receiving surface 21 on which the bread B to be cut is placed. Furthermore, in the feed section 3, a claw 22 which can be pivoted up and down is arranged on a push arm 23 which runs perpendicular to the direction of advance of the bread. By manual or automatic swinging down the claw 22 is pressed into the facing her end of the loaf of bread B. The push arm 23 and with it the claw 22 are motor-driven (motor not shown) movable along a linear rail 24 extending in the direction of thrust in order to push the bread B in the direction of a circular knife 14 (see arrow P). The claw 22, the push arm 23, the rail 24 and the feed motor (not shown) are essential elements of the means for transporting the bread B from the feed section 3 to the knife 14. In Figure 1, two different positions of the push arm 23 are shown: in solid lines, the initial position is shown, while a middle position is shown in dashed lines.

The bread B is preferably timed to each cut off the slice thickness clocked to the knife 14. The last cut slice S and all previously cut slices S are pushed through the slab thickness B which follows the slice thickness B into the discharge section 4.

The circular blade 14 is mounted in a vertical plane and runs when circulating out of a gap 29, which separates the feed section 3 from the discharge section 4, out and back into this. As can be seen from the schematic representation according to FIG. 3, the circular blade 14 is mounted eccentrically about a shaft 15 for this purpose. By way of example, three different positions of the circular blade 14 are shown in this figure, two of them with dashed lines. It can be seen in particular that the circular blade 14 is able to cut the bread B into slices S. The exact eccentric mechanism is not shown; However, the skilled person is familiar with corresponding constructions. They are not essential to the invention in the context of this invention.

The discharge section 4 comprises, in particular, a stationary base surface 13, preferably of stainless steel, over which a vertically movable lifting table 5 is arranged according to the invention. The lifting table 5 has a Bedienerbzw. Front 1 a of the device 1 (see Figures 1 and 3) with respect to a horizontal plane inclined support surface 6 and a side support 7, which rises as a closed surface of the front side longitudinal edge of the support surface 6. The side support 7 is in this case inclined relative to a vertical plane to the front side 1 a. Support surface 6 and side support 7 are in this case substantially perpendicular to each other. Likewise, the support surface 21st in Zuführabschnitt 3 the same inclination as the support surface 6 in the discharge section 4; a side support 30 in the feed section 3 for the uncut bread B (only indicated in FIG. 1) runs in the same plane as the side support 7.

The support surface 1 a can also be inclined away from the knife 14 with respect to a horizontal plane downwards, thus forming an inclined plane on which the sliced slices S slide into regions of the discharge section 4 remote from the knife.

In the support surface 6 openings 8 are provided with a semi-oval cross section, which are provided according to the embodiment shown in the region of the contact line between the support surface 6 and side wall 7. Through these openings 8 bread crumbs can fall down.

The schematic representation according to FIG. 2 shows a front view of the lifting table 5 (seen from obliquely below the interior of the device 1). In addition to the said support surface 6 and the side support 7, a vertical section 9 extending from one of the two transverse or end sides of the support surface 6 and extending downwards can be seen. At this vertical portion 9, a rack 10 is arranged, in which a stationary gear 1 1 engages (s., Figures 3 and 4). By means of the gear 1 1, the rack 10 and thus the entire lifting table 5 can be moved vertically between a lower operating position for cutting the bread B (Figure 3) and an upper end position for packaging the bread B (Figure 4).

In Figure 4, further elements of the cutting device 1 are shown. Shown is a controller 20, on the present two motors 12, 16 and a lifting unit 18 are controllable. The motor 12 is connected to said gear 1 1 and the motor 16 to the shaft 15 for the circular blade 14. The lifting unit 18 is connected to a pneumatic cylinder 19, with which the hood 17 can be opened and closed. The controller 20 is designed, for example, such that the hood 17 can not be opened during the cutting process (FIG. 3), ie when the knife 14 is running. Upon completion of the cutting operation, the hood 17 is automatically raised by means of the lifting unit 18 and the pneumatic cylinder 19 in the open position and the lifting table 5 by means of the motor 12 and the gear / rack combination 10, 1 1 automatically moved to its upper end position (Figure 4) , Also, a manual opening of the hood 17 may be provided after completion of the cutting process.

In the upper end position of the lifting table 5 shown in FIG. 4, a bag T, which is indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 2, can be slipped over an end face of the lifting table 5 together with the bread slices (not shown). This is possible because the vertical section 9 is arranged on one of the transverse or end sides of the bearing surface 6 and the lifting table 5 is thus accessible over its almost entire length for such a slipping over of a bag T. In this way, located on the support surface 6, sliced bread B can be wrapped in its entirety by the bag and pulled from the lifting table 5, to subsequently close the bag. The bread B itself does not need to be touched by the operator.

FIGS. 5-8 show a second embodiment of the device 101 according to the invention. The representation of FIGS. 5 and 6 essentially corresponds to that of FIGS. 3 and 4, wherein FIGS. 5 and 6 omit the illustration of the circular blade 14, the motors 12, 16 and others for the sake of clarity. The essential difference between the two embodiments is that the lift table 35 of the second embodiment is formed differently. According to the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6, the lifting table 35 does not comprise a substantially closed surface, but three bars 31 which run parallel in the direction of thrust of the bread B or of the bread slices S. Another, higher-lying rod serves as a side support 37, similar to the side support 7 of the first embodiment.

The bars 31 are located during the cutting operation below the support surface 36 fixed according to the present second embodiment, on which the sliced bread slices are intermittently transported by the linearly displaceable claw 22 (see Fig. 1).

The support surface 36 has three openings 38 for the bars 31, whose outer contours they correspond; however, a circumferential gap is provided between the edges of the openings 38 and the bars 31, respectively. After completion of the cutting process and plunge of the circular blade 14 under the support surface 36 of the lift table 35 moves with the rods 31 and the side support 37 upwards, the slices S are lifted by the rods 31, so leave the support surface 36; this situation is shown schematically in FIG.

As can also be seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the plane formed by the bars 31, on which the panes S are raised, is essentially horizontal, while the stationary supporting surface 36 has a slope, similar to the movable supporting surface 6 of the first embodiment. An inclination of the plane formed by the rods 31 is of course also possible.

The likewise rod-shaped side support 37, which could also be designed as a substantially closed wall, is moved together with the rods 31 up and down. In this case, it passes through an opening 38 a in the cladding 33 on the front side of the device 101. This construction ensures that the slices S can slide through the claw 22 along the panel 33 during advance transport. After cutting then moves the side support 37 (together with the rods 31) upwards, with the discs S can then be supported on the side support 37 on the user-facing side. FIGS. 7 and 8 show details of the second embodiment of the device according to the invention. FIG. 7 shows the discharge section 4 in plan view, with essentially only those elements being shown which differ from the first embodiment. Also, the slices S are shown here only in outline. In particular, it can be seen in FIG. 7 that the bars 31 run parallel to the front side of the device 101 and are at a distance from one another, which allow secure support of the bread slices S from the underside thereof. The length of the rods 31 is designed so that they can also detect all slices S of longer loaves always complete.

Also shown is an end stop 34 for the first cut slice of bread positioned close to the knife 14 at the beginning of the cutting operation and along a direction P in the direction P (FIG. 4) by means of an arm 40 extending vertically to the direction P and driven by a motor (not shown). see Figure 1) extending rail 41 together with the claw 22 is moved in the same direction by the same or a slightly greater distance than the disc thickness in the same direction. The sliced bread slice S is pushed by the pushed, cut end of the loaf B against the end stop 34, and prevents their extensive tilting or ensures the cohesion of the disc package. When the bread B is completely cut, the end stop 34 is outside the travel of the bars 31 (see Figure 7). The back and forth displacement of the end stop 34 is indicated by the double arrow in Figure 7.

Incidentally, such an end stop 34, which can be moved away from the blade 14 and toward the blade 14, can of course also be provided in the device 1 according to FIG. 1 and serve for compacting the disk package. In the figure 8, a part of the lifting table 35 is shown in side view from the front of the device 101. The horizontally extending rod-shaped side support 37 is connected to a decentralized vertical strut 32, which merges in its extension down into a rack 10. (Incidentally, this is shown in the correct orientation only in Fig. 8; in Figs. 3-7, the respective rack 10 is shown rotated 90 degrees to the viewer for the sake of clarity.) Behind the side support 37 is one of the three bars 31 to see, on the respective underside also each a vertically oriented vertical strut 32 is arranged. As can be seen from the schematic Figures 6 and 7, the vertical struts 32 of the side support 37 and the rods 31 are connected to each other via a substantially horizontal Traverse 39. The traverse 39 remains below the stationary support surface 36 even when the lifting table 35 is raised (see FIG.

The vertical struts 32 may also be arranged centrally below the bars 31 and have a different width, for example a substantially greater width.

The elements 31, 32, 37, 39 are preferably made of stainless steel and advantageously welded together. There are, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, numerous alternative designs for the placement and progression of the bars 31. A coupling of side support 37 and rods 31 is also not necessary. Also, not necessarily a side support 37 is provided.

By virtue of the at least sectionally vertical movability of the lifting table 5 or 35 according to the invention, a very compact, trouble-free and easy-to-use cutting device with a comfortable, hygienic packaging possibility of the cut bread can be realized. The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment. Modifications within the scope of the claims are possible at any time. Thus, for example, it is possible that, instead of the three bars illustrated in FIGS. 5-8, only one bar is provided, but then wider, which passes through a corresponding opening in the stationary support surface 36 in order to lift the sliced slices S.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Cutting device (first embodiment) a Front side of the device

b Back of the device

casing

feeding

discharge section

Lift table

bearing surface

side support

Openings in the support surface

vertical section

0 rack

1 gear

2 engine

3 Fixed base area

4 circular knives

5 wave

6 engine

7 hood

8 lifting unit

9 pneumatic cylinders

0 control

1 receiving surface of the feed section

2 movable claw

3 push arm

4 rail

9 gap

30 side support

31 bars

32 vertical struts

33 cladding

34 end stop

35 lift table

36 bearing surface

37 side support

38 openings

38a opening

39 traverse

40 arm

41 rail

101 cutting device (second embodiment)

B bread

S bread slices

T bag

Claims

Patent claims

1 . Apparatus for slicing bread (B) and then packaging the sliced bread slices (S), comprising at least one knife (14), preferably a rotating circular knife, with a feed section (3) for feeding the bread (B) to be cut to the knife ( 14), with a discharge section (4) for receiving the sliced bread slices (S) and at least one means (22, 23, 24) for transporting the bread (B) and the sliced bread slices (S) from the feed section (3) into the Abführabschnitt (4), characterized in that in the Abführabschnitt (4) a lifting table (5; 35) is provided, with which the sliced bread slices (S) can be raised following the cutting operation.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the lifting table (5; 35) is formed at least partially linear, preferably in the vertical direction, movable.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting table (5; 35) is designed to be vertically movable on its entire track.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting table (5) has a substantially closed surface on which the sliced bread slices (S) are pushed and then raised.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 -3, characterized in that the lifting table (35) has one or more rods (31), which during the cutting process below a preferably fixed storage surface (36) on which the sliced bread slices (S) be pushed, rest and that the rod (s) (31) after completion of the cutting process at startup of the lift table (35) through corresponding openings (38) in the storage area (37) and thereby lift the sliced bread slices (S).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the rod (s) (31) are oriented substantially in the pushing direction of the bread (B).

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that two to six rods (31) are provided.

8. Device according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that on the underside of the rods (31) each have a support means (32) is provided, with which a means (10) for raising and lowering the rods (31) coupled is.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one lifting cylinder, a rack (10) or a chain drive for raising and lowering the lifting table (5, 35) is provided.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting table (5; 35) a relative to a horizontal surface inclined support surface (6; 36) for the sliced bread slices (S) and one, preferably inclined relative to the vertical side wall (7 ), on which these slices of bread (S) abut.

1 1. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting table (5; 35) is freely accessible over substantially its entire length from one of its end faces.

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length and depth of the lifting table (5; 35) is selected such that a correspondingly large selected bag (T) on the lifting table (5; 35) and the sliced bread slices ( S) can be slipped to pull these discs (S) as a whole in the bag from the lifting table (5; 35).

13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the lifting table (5; 35) openings (8; 38) are provided through which bread crumbs can fall down.

14. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting table (5, 35) is automatically raised after completion of the cutting process.

15. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises at least one hood (17), which is capable of covering the device on the upper side, and that the hood (17) is automatically pivoted into an open position after completion of the cutting operation, to release the access to the sliced bread slices (S).