WO2019048228A1

WO2019048228A1 - Device and method for cutting food bars

Info

Publication number: WO2019048228A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/072513
Authority: WO
Inventors: Albert Hartmann
Original assignee: Gea Food Solutions Germany Gmbh
Priority date: 2017-09-05
Filing date: 2018-08-21
Publication date: 2019-03-14

Abstract

A slicing device for food bars is proposed, wherein the slicing device has a cutting device, in particular a moving cutting knife, wherein the slicing device has a cooling device for food bars to be sliced, wherein the cooling device has at least a first nozzle for outputting coolant, characterized in that the first nozzle is arranged in a cutting region assigned to the cutting device. Furthermore, a corresponding method for slicing food bars is proposed.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Title APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CUTTING FOOD BAR

PRIOR ART The present invention is based on a slicing device for

Food bar, wherein the slicing device has a cutting device designed as a rotating blade, wherein the slicing device has a cooling device for food bars to be sliced, wherein the cooling device has at least one first nozzle for discharging coolant.

Such slicing devices or methods are well known from the prior art, for example from the patent application DE 100 01 338 A1. In these so-called "slicers" bar-shaped or differently shaped food bars, for example sausage, cheese, ham, raw ham or the like with a very high cutting performance, for example up to 1, 000 cuts per minute or more, are sliced The food bar is transported in the direction of a moving, preferably rotating, cutting knife that cuts food slices from the front end of the food bar, whereby the food bar is moved by a means located above the food bar, for example a belt, in the direction of the cutting knife Furthermore, the rear end of the food bar is engaged with a gripper before or during the cutting, in particular to stabilize and / or prevent the food bar when it is already comparatively wide open to dispose of the leftover piece. However, the slicing devices according to the prior art have the disadvantage that the food bar pre-cooled or even

must be flash frozen to ensure optimum cutting quality and filing to ensure sliced food gel. This makes the slicing process lengthy and complicated.

Disclosure of the invention

It is an object of the present invention a slicing apparatus and a corresponding method for slicing food bars

to provide improved cutting quality and storage of the

Food bars without precooling and Schrockfrosten allow.

The object of the present invention is achieved by a

Slicing device for food bars, wherein the slicing device has a cutting device designed as a rotating blade, wherein the slicing device is a cooling device for aufzuschneidende

Food bar, wherein the cooling device has at least a first nozzle for the discharge of coolant, characterized in that the first nozzle is arranged in a cutting device associated with the cutting region.

This makes it possible according to the invention to cool the food bar immediately before and during the cutting process. A temperature deviation, in particular a heating, of the food bar by the transport of the food bar from the cooling device to the cutting device is thus advantageously avoided. The slicing of food bars takes place

According to the invention advantageously at a defined temperature of

Food bar. The food bar can be cooled to a temperature that ensures optimal cutting quality and storage of the cut

Food bar enabled. Also can be dispensed with additional cooling devices, in particular additional device for Schrockfrosten.

Furthermore, the bacteria development in the cutting area is advantageously reduced by the cooling in the cutting area of the slicing. The regulation of the cooling capacity could be done, for example, by a valve, in particular automatically. It is also conceivable that the slicing a

Having a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the food bar, wherein preferably the regulation of the cooling power takes place as a function of the temperature measured with the temperature sensor.

The slicing apparatus has a cutting knife which separates food slices from the front end of a food rack. The

Food product is preferably on a support and is transported intermittently or continuously in the direction of, preferably rotating, cutting blade. The thickness of the respective food disc is determined by the feed of the food bar between two cuts. The rear end of the food product is optionally gripped by a gripper prior to or during slicing to stabilize the food product, especially if its slicing is already relatively advanced, and / or to dispose of the remaining tail. According to the invention it is now possible to cool the food bar during or immediately before cutting. For this purpose, the slicing device has at least one nozzle for ejecting a

Coolant on. The coolant is preferably liquid or gaseous. The nozzle according to the invention is arranged in a cutting region of the slicing device. The cutting area comprises the areas of the slicing device in which the food bars are cut. The cutting region preferably comprises the cutting device itself and its associated pad, on which the food bar is arranged during cutting.

Preferably, the nozzle is oriented such that an inflow of the

Food bar by the coolant is possible. It is conceivable that the

Slicer is suitable to cut a plurality of food bar at the same time. Accordingly, the first nozzle is placed so that cooling of the plurality of food bars is possible. In a preferred embodiment, the slicing apparatus has a plurality of first nozzles for discharging coolant. These are arranged, for example, in the cutting area such that a plurality of food bars can be cooled to substantially the same temperature.

Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are the

Subclaims, as well as the description with reference to the drawings removable. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the slicing device has a cutting bar within the cutting area, the first nozzle being arranged in a cutting bar area. This advantageously makes it possible to cool the food bars directly in the area in which the cutting takes place. Furthermore, the arrangement of the first nozzle in the cutting strip area also cools the cutting strip, which improves the sliding properties of the food bars in the cutting strip area. In particular, the cutting bar is associated with the cutting device. The cutting bar forms the underlay for the cutting device, for example for a moving cutting blade of the cutting device. Preferably, the cutting blade is rotatably arranged. The cutting strip area in the sense of the present invention comprises at least the cutting bar, as well as its adjacent areas. Preferably, the first nozzle is arranged in the cutting bar.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the slicing apparatus comprises a food slat feeding belt, the cooling apparatus comprising at least a second nozzle for discharging coolant, the second nozzle being disposed in a feeding belt area

Slitting is arranged. This makes it possible according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention to additionally cool the food bar before cutting. According to this preferred

Embodiment of the present invention, the slicing apparatus is adapted to carry out a two-stage cooling of the food bars and thus to further increase the cooling capacity. In particular, the slicing device has a feed belt which transports the food bars in the direction of the cutting device. For example, the feeding belt is a

Conveyor belt, alternatively also a roller, in particular a traction roller. In a preferred embodiment, the feed belt is designed as an endless belt. The feed belt is present on the food bar before and / or during the

Slicing at least temporarily on and / or transports it in the direction of the cutting device. Preferably, the endless belt is so-called

Traction belt, in particular as Endlostraktionsband executed, ie its surface facing the food bar acts frictionally, positively and / or non-positively together with the corresponding surface of the food bar. In a preferred embodiment, the slicing apparatus has a plurality of second nozzles for discharging coolant. These are arranged for example in the Zuführbandbereich that a plurality of food bars can be cooled substantially at the same temperature.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the slicing device has a food bar support, wherein the cooling device has at least one third nozzle for discharging coolant, wherein the third nozzle is arranged in a food bar contact area of the slicing device. As a result, it is according to a

preferred embodiment of the present invention possible the

In addition, to cool food bars before cutting in the support area.

According to this preferred embodiment of the present invention, the

Slicing suitable to carry out a two-stage or, together with a cooling in the Zuführbandbereich three-stage, cooling the food bar and thus to further increase the cooling capacity. In particular, the

Slicing on a food bar support area over which the food bar introduced into the slicer and from which they are fed by means of the feed belt of the cutting device. In a preferred embodiment, the slicing apparatus has a plurality of third nozzles for discharging coolant. These are arranged, for example, in the food bar support area such that a plurality of

Food bars can be cooled to substantially the same temperature.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the first, second and / or third nozzle for ejecting a

Cryogens is suitable. In this way, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to efficiently reduce the food bars to extremely low levels immediately before and / or during the cutting process

To cool temperatures. Cryogens in the context of the present invention are, for example, in particular in liquid form: helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, Oxygen, and, in particular in frozen form, carbon dioxide (dry ice). However, other cryogens are conceivable. Extremely low temperatures in the context of the present invention are temperatures that are due to cooling

Coolant temperatures preferably less than 0 ° C, more preferably by cooling with coolant temperatures of and below the sublimation point of frozen carbon dioxide, i. of -78.5 ° C, can be achieved.

Further, another object of the present invention is a method for slicing food bars with a slicing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 1-5, wherein in a first process step at least one food bar is placed on the food bar support, wherein the at least one food bar in a second

Process step is introduced via the feed belt in the cutting area, characterized in that the at least one food bar in a third method step by means of a ejected from the first nozzle

Coolant is cooled.

The method according to the invention analogously has all the advantages already explained in connection with the slicing device according to the invention described above compared to the prior art. In particular, it is possible according to the invention to cool or cut the food bars simultaneously or immediately one after the other. As a result, it is advantageously possible to carry out the cutting process at a defined temperature. In particular, it is possible to adjust the temperature of the food bar so that an optimal cutting quality and storage of the cut food bar is achieved. Preferably, by cooling, edge freezing of the food bar is achieved. A the

Cutting process upstream shock freezing is eliminated. This will be the

Slicing process advantageously accelerated and simplified. By cooling the food bars directly in the cutting area a temperature change between cooling step and cutting step is advantageously avoided. In particular, it is avoided that the food bar is reheated after cooling. The slicing process according to the invention is thus characterized by increased efficiency. Furthermore, the bacteria formation in the cutting area by the

Cooling and concomitant reduction in temperature advantageously reduced. In a In a preferred embodiment, the method according to the invention is carried out with a plurality of food bars. In particular, a plurality of food bars in a first step on the

Arranged food bar rest, introduced in a second process step on the feed belt in the cutting area and in a third

Process step cooled by means of a discharged from the first nozzle coolant. In a preferred embodiment, the cooling takes place in the third

Process step with a plurality of first nozzles. The regulation of the cooling capacity could be done, for example, by a valve, in particular automatically. It is also conceivable that the slicing device has a temperature sensor for measuring the temperature of the food bar, wherein preferably the control of the cooling capacity in dependence of the measured with the temperature sensor

Temperature takes place. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the at least one food bar in the second

Process step is cooled by means of a discharged from the second nozzle coolant. As a result, the cooling capacity is advantageously further increased. In particular, pre-cooling in the second process step, i. during transport of the food bar to the cutting device, instead. In a preferred

Embodiment, the cooling takes place in the second method step with a plurality of second nozzles.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the at least one food bar in the first

Process step is cooled by means of a discharged from the third nozzle coolant. This makes it possible according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention that the at least one food bar in the first method step by means of a ejected from the third nozzle

Coolant is cooled. As a result, the cooling capacity is advantageously further increased. In particular, pre-cooling in the first process step, i. at the

Introducing the food bar into the slicing device, instead. In a preferred embodiment, the food bars are cooled both in the first and in the second method step. It is in the first Process step, the third nozzle used and in the second process step, the second nozzle. As a result, the cooling capacity is further increased and a continuous cooling of the food bars from the introduction into the slicing up to

Cutting guaranteed. In a preferred embodiment, the cooling in the first method step takes place with a plurality of third nozzles.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that in the third method step additionally

Cutting device, in particular a cutting blade of the cutting device, is cooled. By cooling the cutting device, in particular a cutting blade or a cutting blade of the cutting device, protein deposits accumulating during the cutting process are minimized. Distance and number of necessary cleaning operations of the slicer are thus reduced. Preferably, the cutting blade is a movable, in particular rotating cutting blade. Preferably, the blade of the cutting blade is mitgekühlt in the third step by means of the first nozzle. In a preferred embodiment, the cooling of the cutting device by means of a first nozzle and the cooling of the food latch by means of another first nozzle. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the at least one food bar in a fourth

Process step is cut by means of the cutting device. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the fourth method step directly follows the third method step.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the fourth method step simultaneously with the third

Process step takes place. In this way, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is advantageously possible for the food bars to take place immediately before and / or during cutting.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that a cryogen is used as the coolant. This advantageously makes it possible to cool the food bars to extremely low temperatures. This makes it in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention Invention advantageously possible to achieve optimum cutting quality and storage of sliced food bar.

Further details, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the drawings, as well as from the following description of preferred

Embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of the invention, which do not limit the essential inventive idea.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows schematically a slicing device for

Food gel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION FIG. 1 schematically shows a slicing device 1 for food bars according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The slicing device 1 has a cutting device 2 for cutting the food bar. In particular, the cutting device 2 has a

Cutting knife on. The cutting blade is preferably movable, particularly preferably rotatable executed. The food bars are over the

Food bar support 5 in a first step in the

Slitter 1 introduced. By means of a feed belt 4, the food bars are transported to the cutting device 2 in a second method step. By means of the cutting device 2, in particular by means of the rotating cutting blade, the food bars are sliced in a fourth process step. For optimum cutting quality and storage of the

To ensure sliced food bars, it is necessary that

To cool food bars. Previous cutting devices and

For this reason, appropriate methods for slicing food bars cool the food bars or use flash frozen

Food bar. The associated cutting process is correspondingly complex and time-consuming. It also comes to heating the pre-cooled or shock-frozen food bars by the long transport of

Food bars between pre-cooling or blast freezing and cutting. The previous slicing method is also comparatively inefficient. In order to avoid these disadvantages, the slicing device 1 according to the invention provides a cooling device which is arranged in the cutting region 6 of the slicing device 1. In particular, the slicing device 1 has an in

Cutting region 6 of the slicing device 1 arranged first nozzle for Emission of coolant. Alternatively, a plurality of first nozzles may be arranged in the cutting region 6. In this case, the cutting area 6 of the

Cutting device 2 associated region of the slicing device. 1 The cutting region 6 comprises the regions of the slicing device 1 in which the cutting of the food bars takes place. The cutting area 6 comprises

preferably the cutting device 2 itself and its associated pad on which the food bar is arranged during cutting. The

Cutting device 2 is associated with a cutting bar 3 as a base. The

Cutting bar 3 serves for example as a support for the rotating cutting blade. The at least one first nozzle is preferably in the cutting strip area 7

arranged. The cutting bar area 7 comprises at least the cutting bar 3 itself. The arrangement of the first nozzle in the cutting bar area 7 ensures that cooling of the food bars directly in the region of the

Slicing device 1 takes place, in which the cutting process takes place. This ensures optimum cutting quality and storage. Preferably, the cooling takes place by means of the first nozzle immediately before and / or during cutting.

In particular, the cooling takes place in a third method step and the

Cutting in a fourth process step, third and fourth

Process step immediately after and / or carried out simultaneously. This minimizes heating of the food bars between cooling and cutting. This maximizes the efficiency of the cooling device and minimizes energy losses. In addition, a cooling of the cutting region 6 and thus a reduction of bacteria formation in this area. Also, the sliding properties of the food bars in the cutting bar area 7 are improved, so that the cutting speed can be increased. It is also conceivable that the cutting device 2, in particular the cutting blade, is also cooled by means of the first nozzle. As a result, the temperature of the cutting blade, in particular the blade of the cutting blade, lowered and thus minimizes the deposition of protein on the cutting blade.

An increase in the cooling capacity of the cooling device is effected, for example, by at least one second nozzle for the discharge of coolant. The second nozzle is arranged in a feed belt area 8 of the slicing device 1. In this case, the feed belt region 8 is the region which is assigned to the feed belt 4. This makes it advantageously possible while the food bar already during the second process step, ie already during the transport of the

Food bar from the pad 5 to the cutting area to cool. Additionally or alternatively, the cooling capacity can be further increased by arranging at least one third nozzle for discharging coolant in a food bar support region 8. The at least one third nozzle allows additional cooling of the food bars in the support area 8, i. during the first process step. As a coolant, a cryogen is preferably used. Cryogens in the context of the present invention are substances which have an extremely low temperature. Examples of cryogens are liquid helium, liquid hydrogen, liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen or dry ice, i. frozen carbon dioxide.

This allows efficient cooling of food bars to extremely low temperatures. The cooling preferably takes place in the third method step by means of the first nozzle for edge freezing of the food bars.

In a preferred embodiment, the slicing device 1 is designed such that at the same time a plurality of food bars can be arranged on the support 5 in the first method step, in the second

Process step can be transported by means of feed belt 4 to the cutting device 2 and in the third process step may optionally be cooled by a plurality of first nozzles. The cutting takes place in the fourth

Process step immediately after and / or simultaneously with the third

Process step in the cutting device 2. In addition, a cooling in the first process step with a plurality of third nozzles and / or a cooling in the second process step can be carried out with a plurality of second nozzles.

As a result, the efficiency and cutting speed of the slicing device 1 is advantageously increased. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 slicing device

2 cutting device

3 cutting bar

4 feed belt

5 foodstuff rule

6 cutting area

7 cutting edge area

8 feed belt area

9 food bar rest area

Claims

1 . Slicing device (1) for food bars, wherein the

Slicing device (1) has a cutting device (2), in particular a moving cutting blade, wherein the slicing device (1) comprises a cooling device for slicing food bars, wherein the cooling device has at least one first nozzle for discharging coolant, characterized in that the first Nozzle in one of the cutting device (2) associated cutting area (6) is arranged.

2. slicing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the

Slicing device (1) within the cutting area (6) a

Cutting bar (3), wherein the first nozzle in a

Cutting strip area (7) is arranged.

3. slicing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the slicing device (1) comprises a feed belt (4) for

Food bar, wherein the cooling device comprises at least a second nozzle for discharging coolant, wherein the second nozzle in a Zuführbandbereich (8) of the slicing device (1) is arranged.

4. slicing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the slicing device (1) comprises a food bar support (5), the cooling device having at least a third nozzle for discharging coolant, the third nozzle being in a

Food bar support area (9) of the slicing device (1) is arranged.

5. slicing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims,

wherein the first, second and / or third nozzle is suitable for ejecting a cryogen.

6. A method for slicing food bars with a slicing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims 1-5,

wherein in a first method step at least one food bar is placed on the food bar support (5),

- wherein the at least one food bar in a second

Step is introduced via the feed belt (4) in the cutting area (6),

- characterized in that the at least one food bar is cooled in a third method step by means of a discharged from the first nozzle coolant.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one food bar is cooled in the second method step by means of a discharged from the second nozzle coolant.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one food bar in the first process step is cooled by means of a discharged from the third nozzle coolant.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 8, wherein in

third method step additionally the cutting device (2), in particular a cutting blade of the cutting device (2), is cooled.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 9, wherein the at least one food bar is cut in a fourth method step by means of the cutting device (2).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the fourth method step directly follows the third method step.

12. The method according to any one of claims 10 or 11, wherein the fourth

Process step takes place simultaneously with the third process step.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 12, wherein a cryogen is used as a coolant.