DE102009044048A1 - Method and apparatus for slicing a food strand - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for slicing a food strand (2) into slices comprises the following method steps: a) The food strand (2) is advanced to a cutting device (3) having a rotating knife (5). b) During the feed, successive slices are cut off from the food strand (2) at a front end in the feed direction by means of the cutting device (3). c) Cut slices are deposited to form a portion after separation from the food strand (2) in a direction transverse to the feed direction and in the feed direction movable clipboard (15), wherein a stacked or shingled disc assembly is generated. d) A plurality of slices is transferred together from the clipboard (15) on a conveyor (14), with which the discs are discharged. In order to reduce the construction costs for an apparatus for carrying out the method described above, it is proposed: e) a plurality of disks is transferred together from the clipboard (15) directly to the conveyor (14). Moreover, the invention relates to a device for carrying out the aforementioned method.

Description

• a) Der Lebensmittelstrang wird auf eine ein rotierendes Messer aufweisende Schneideinrichtung zu vorgeschoben.
• b) Während des Vorschubs werden mittels der Schneideinrichtung von dem Lebensmittelstrang an einem in Vorschubrichtung vorderen Ende sukzessive Scheiben abgeschnitten.
• c) Abgeschnittene Scheiben werden zur Bildung einer Portion nach dem Abtrennen von dem Lebensmittelstrang auf eine quer zu der Vorschubrichtung sowie in Vorschubrichtung beweglichen Zwischenablage abgelegt, wobei eine gestapelte oder geschindelte Scheibenanordnung erzeugt wird.
• d) Eine Mehrzahl von Scheiben wird gemeinsam (gleichzeitig/insgesamt) von der Zwischenablage auf eine Fördereinrichtung übergeben.

The invention relates to a method for cutting a food strand into slices with the following method steps:

• a) The food strand is advanced to a cutter having a rotating cutter.
• b) During the feed, successive slices are cut off from the food strand at a front end in the feed direction by means of the cutting device.
• c) Cut slices are deposited to form a portion after separation from the food strand in a transversely movable to the feed direction and in the feed direction clipboard, wherein a stacked or shingled disc assembly is generated.
• d) A plurality of slices are transferred together (simultaneously / in total) from the clipboard to a conveyor.

• a) einer Schneideinrichtung, die ein rotierendes Messer aufweist,
• b) einer Vorschubeinrichtung, mit der der Lebensmittelstrang auf die Schneideinrichtung zu vorschiebbar ist,
• c) einer Zwischenablage, auf der während des Vorschubs des Lebensmittelstrangs von diesem sukzessive abgeschnittenen Scheiben ablegbar sind und die sowohl quer zu der als auch in Vorschubrichtung bewegbar ist, wobei eine gestapelte oder geschindelte Scheibenablage erzeugbar ist und
• d) einer Fördereinrichtung, auf die eine Mehrzahl abgeschnittener Scheiben gemeinsam (gleichzeitig) von der Zwischenablage übergebbar ist,

Moreover, the invention relates to a device for cutting a food strand into slices with

• a) a cutting device having a rotating blade,
• b) a feed device with which the food strand can be advanced to the cutting device,
• c) a clipboard on which can be deposited during the advancement of the food strand of this successively cut slices and which is movable both transversely to and in the feed direction, wherein a stacked or shingled disc tray can be generated and
• d) a conveying device, to which a plurality of cut-off slices can be transferred jointly (simultaneously) from the clipboard,

State of the art

A method and a device of the aforementioned type are known for example from US-A-3842698 known. The device as used in the 10 to 14 discloses the aforementioned document has two clipboards, which can be transferred from opposite directions of a respective waiting position next to the food strand cross section in their receiving position below the food strand. The clipboards, which are displaceably mounted in the feed direction in addition to a direction perpendicular to the feed direction, are used in the known method to take a complete portion of the cut slices in a vertically stacked form, in order to then transfer them to a conveyor device comprising a plurality of intermediate elements encircling straps to hand over. The transfer element enters from the side facing away from the food strand underside of the conveyor into spaces between adjacent straps and also penetrates spaces in the fork-shaped clipboard to get in this way to the underside of the formed portion approach and take over supporting.

The two clipboards are used to continuously feed the food strand, ie without interruptions in the removal of finished portions. While a portion is still on the one clipboard or is just taken over by the transfer element, the other clipboard is already in a waiting position or a shifted below the cross section of the food strand receiving position, so that the cutting process can be continued without interruption.

This not only brings advantages in terms of cutting performance, which is due to the continuity of the cutting process is correspondingly high, but also avoids a fundamentally critical interruption of the feed. Fluctuations in the feed rate, in particular a short-term stopping of the food strand lead namely in softer and deformable food (eg meat sausage, meatloaf, beer ham, cheese, or the like) due to the vibration behavior in the feed to problems. Due to caliber nozzles just above the knife, the feed of the food carrier is heavily frictional. In addition, the so-called "slip-stick effect", d. H. when a feed force is exceeded, a sudden "breakaway" occurs, i. H. jerky advancing, the food strand. Due to the high dynamics of all movements, longitudinal oscillations at the knife-side end of the Gutsstrangs thus lead to despite a deliberate stop the food strand projecting a small amount below the knife level, resulting in the cutting of small food pieces ("Schnippeleffekt"). In particular, in self-service packaging in packaging material from plastic wrap such disc fragments are not accepted as a significant optical defect. Ensuring a continuous uninterrupted feed is therefore an essential prerequisite for achieving high cutting performance and, above all, first-class cutting quality with regard to the always identical geometry of the cut-off wheels.

Thus, while the latter problem in the method according to the US-A-842698 is solved, the design effort is high in the cited prior art and the control algorithms for controlling the motion sequences of the many device components complicated.

task

The invention has for its object to provide a method and apparatus for cutting a food in slices, in which can be realized with the least possible design effort, a high cutting performance and high accuracy of geometry of the cut slices.

solution

In terms of process engineering, the aforementioned object, starting from a method of the type described above, on the one hand solved in that a plurality of discs is transferred together from the clipboard directly to the conveyor. The first variant of the method according to the invention therefore dispenses with the prior art in the form of US-A-3846698 known transfer element and therefore reduces the effort in the production not insignificant. But not only the design effort is minimized, but the invention also simplifies the control in the device implementation of the new method, since the complicated coordination between the clipboard and transfer element on the one hand and transfer element and conveyor on the other hand is reduced to a vote between clipboard and conveyor element.

An alternative solution according to the invention in terms of process technology is that a portion in an unfinished state is transferred from the clipboard to the conveyor and that the transferred portion, while resting on the conveyor, completed by cutting and adding at least one other disc and finally out the device is discharged.

The production of a finished portion is thus carried out according to the second method according to the invention in two phases, namely a phase in which (initially) the clipboard serves as a support member for the emerging portion serving. After a certain period of time, that is to say the generation of a certain number of slices of the portion which is currently being formed, it is transferred to the conveyor during the cutting process, that is to say, in particular also with the feed continued and the reaction of the knife unchanged, which is therefore uncritical because the deposit, that is to say the addition of further slices, takes place on the upper side of the portion, whereas the change in support from the clipboard to the conveyor takes place on the underside and therefore can be made such that it does not interfere with the top of the resulting portion causes.

Also by the second method according to the invention the expenditure on equipment is reduced as well as the requirements for the control, since in comparison with the US-A-3842698 in turn can be dispensed there existing component, namely the second clipboard. Because in the method according to the invention the clipboard is released during the production of a portion, ie before its completion, that is to say is no longer needed for the current portion, it is possible to put the clipboard already in the waiting position during the completion of the current portion to bring them to the first portion of the next serving quickly after the completion of the current portion in the collection position.

A particularly simple transfer of cut slices from the clipboard to the conveyor is then enabled when support members of the clipboard enter into spaces between adjacent slips of the conveyor during transfer, with a disc supporting surface of the support members after transfer below a disc carrying surface of the Riemchen the conveyor is arranged. By the aforementioned immersion takes place a change of the support of the discs from the clipboard to the conveyor.

• – ausgehend von einer Wartestellung, in der sie sich außerhalb einer Projektion des Querschnitts des Lebensmittelstrangs in eine zu einer Längsachse des Lebensmittelstrangs senkrechten und die Oberfläche der Tragelemente enthaltenen Ebene befindet,
• – im Wesentlichen parallel zu der vorgenannten Ebene in eine erste Aufnahmestellung bewegt wird, in der eine erste Scheibe einer neuen Portion aufgenommen wird,
• – anschließend sukzessiv in nachfolgende Aufnahmestellungen bewegt wird, in denen sie zu Erzeugung des jeweils gewünschten Ablagebildes der Scheiben und zur Aufnahme der jeweils folgenden Scheibe gegenüber der vorangegangenen Aufnahmestellung in Vorschubrichtung des Lebensmittelstrangs und/oder senkrecht zu der Vorschubrichtung des Lebensmittelstrangs verschoben ist,
• – nach Aufnahme einer vorbestimmten Zahl von Scheiben eine Entleerungsstellung einnimmt, in der die Zwischenablage und die Fördereinrichtung sich, in Vorschubrichtung betrachtet, relativ zueinander soweit bewegt haben, dass die Scheiben den Kontakt zu der Oberfläche der Tragelemente verloren haben und stattdessen in Kontakt mit der Oberfläche der Riemchen der Fördereinrichtung getreten sind,
• – und schließlich wieder in die Wartestellung überführt wird, ohne dabei mit den Tragelementen die Ebene der Oberfläche der Riemchen der Fördereinrichtung im Bereich der Riemchen zu berühren.

The invention further ausgestaltend it is proposed that the clipboard executes a composed of translational motion portions movement along a self-contained trajectory, wherein they

• - starting from a waiting position in which it is located outside a projection of the cross section of the food strand into a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the food strand and containing the surface of the supporting elements,
• Is moved substantially parallel to the aforementioned plane in a first receiving position in which a first slice of a new portion is received,
• - Is then successively moved to subsequent receiving positions, in which it is shifted to produce the respectively desired storage image of the discs and for receiving the following disc relative to the previous picking position in the feed direction of the food strand and / or perpendicular to the feed direction of the food strand
• - After receiving a predetermined number of discs occupies a discharge position in which the clipboard and the conveyor, viewed in the feed direction, relative to each other have moved so far that the discs have lost contact with the surface of the support elements and instead in contact with the surface the straps of the conveyor have been kicked,
• - And finally transferred back to the waiting position, without touching with the support elements, the plane of the surface of the belt of the conveyor in the region of the straps.

The transfer of cut slices from the clipboard onto the conveyor belt can advantageously be achieved by means of a relative movement between the clipboard and the conveyor running in the feed direction. In this case, when the conveyor is stationary, the clipboard can be lowered correspondingly far or else, when the clipboard is stationary, the conveyor can be moved upwards in the feed direction towards the food strand. A combination of the two aforementioned types of movement is possible, in which case - with respect to a stationary machine frame - to move the clipboard and the conveyor in the vertical direction to each other.

During the cutting operation, in the production of simple vertical (ungeschindelter) stack of discs, the conveyor (or previously also the clipboard) with each newly added disc successively lowered by the thickness of the disc in order to maintain a constant distance between the cutting plane of the knife and throughout the cutting process the shelf for the newly created pane (in the form of the surface of the clipboard or the surface of the last slice already cut).

In order to enable a rapid "shooting in" of the clipboard at the moment of activating the clipboard for receiving the first slice of a new portion, it makes sense that it is in its waiting position with the surface of its support elements in the same plane as that of the food strand facing surface of the last completely cut disc on the conveyor. With continued lowering of the conveyor (continuously or stepwise) is then generated in the next moment just as much vertical space above the already cut and slightly further lowered discs that the clipboard can be inserted transversely to the feed device in the strand cross-section.

In order to have sufficient time to "shoot in" the clipboard into the strand cross-section, the clipboard can not leave the wait position until the knife has already begun to cut a next slice and is already within the cross-section of the food strand. For particularly critical temporal conditions, d. H. at a high cutting frequency and a correspondingly high cutting performance, the clipboard can move in a projection of the cross section of the food strand in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction even at an already by gravity depending drooping or even resting on the previously cut disc part of the currently in the Arise emerging disc with the surface of their support elements raise again. In this way, an already imposing storage of the new disc on the discs of the previous portion by the transfer of the clipboard in the receiving position is reversed again to assign the currently emerging disc of the new portion, ie the clipboard.

In device-technical terms, the underlying object is achieved in that a plurality of cut-off discs can be transferred jointly from the clipboard directly to the conveyor. The advantage lies again in the possibility of dispensing with a separate transfer element, as shown in the US 3842698 is described.

A further development of the device according to the invention is that the clipboard has support elements which are arranged so that they can be positioned in spaces between adjacent straps of the conveyor, wherein a plane defined by the surface of the support elements parallel to a through the surface of the belt conveyor defined level runs. Due to the parallelism of the aforementioned levels, the transfer of the disks from the clipboard to the aprons is made particularly gentle, whereby a very high quality of the filing geometry is achieved. Preferably, the clipboard is fork-shaped and the support members are tine-shaped and arranged on a support beam, preferably welded thereto.

In order to allow a high dynamic in the movement of the clipboard, the mass of the strong to be accelerated clipboard should be kept as low as possible. For this reason, the measured in the feed direction height of the support elements should be smaller than twice, preferably less than 1.5 times, the thickness of the slices to be cut, in particular less than 10 mm, preferably 8 mm, more preferably between 4 mm and 6 mm lie. The mass of Clipboard should be less than 0.5 kg, preferably less than 0.3 kg. As a material for the clipboard, in particular the support elements comes next to stainless steel or light metal alloys and fiber-reinforced plastic, in particular using carbon fibers, in question.

In constructive terms, it is advantageous if the clipboard is mounted displaceably in a collecting frame perpendicular to the feed direction and the collecting frame is slidably mounted on a machine frame in the feed direction, wherein the collecting frame has two laterally arranged next to the conveyor linear guides for the clipboard. Under catch frame in the sense of the present application is not necessarily a self-contained execution of struts to understand. Rather, in particular, a three-sided, d. H. U-shaped arrangement of struts meant, which makes sense to realize storage facilities for the clipboard on both sides of the conveyor can. In the linear guides in particular, a drive with the help of a timing belt in question, which is characterized by a slip-free running even at maximum dynamics of movement.

Typically, the conveyor is followed by a likewise formed in the form of a belt having a plurality of mutually parallel straps discharge device. In order to ensure a steady transition between conveyor and discharge device during a displacement of the conveyor, in particular also the Austrageeinrichtung side, the conveyor may be stored together with the discharge on a discharge frame, which in turn adjustable on a machine frame, in particular slidably and / or is pivotally mounted.

In order to realize on the clipboard also a shingled storage of the discs before their transfer to the conveyor, the support elements of the clipboard should have a measured perpendicular to the feed length, the at least twice, preferably at least three times, measured perpendicular to the feed width of the cut Slices corresponds.

In order to avoid temporal problems in the often time-critical phase of "putting in" of the clipboard, the clipboard should - starting from its waiting position - in the same direction in a projection of the cross section of the food strand in a plane formed by the support elements of the clipboard, be introduced, as the cut slices are discharged from the conveyor.

The same purpose of a relaxation of the cutting operation is the measure, according to which the clipboard enters from one side into a projection of the cross section of the food strand in a plane formed by the surface of the support elements of the clipboard, which is opposite to a side on the Due to gravity, an emerging disc will detach from the food strand due to gravity.

embodiment

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment of an apparatus which is illustrated in the drawing.

It shows:

1 a perspective view of a portion of an apparatus for cutting a strand-shaped food with a consummate portion of shingled slices on a conveyor and with a clipboard in a waiting position,

2 as 1 with the completed portion at the transfer from the conveyor to a discharge device and with the clipboard, with a cut-off disc in a collecting position,

3 as 2 but with the finished portion on the discharger and with two slices on the clipboard,

4 as 3 but with three discs on the clipboard,

5 as 4 but after transfer of a new completed portion to the conveyor and with the clipboard in an intermediate position between the emptying position and the waiting position,

6 a side view of the device according to the 1 to 5 including the feed device located above the conveyor together with a food strand arranged therein, and the cutting device, wherein a finished portion of stacked slices is on the conveyor and the clipboard is in the waiting position,

7 as 6 but with the completed portion in a laterally displaced position on the conveyor and the clipboard in a first catchment position,

8th as 7 but with the completed position in the transfer from the conveyor on the discharge device and the clipboard in a second Auffangstellung.

9 as 8th but with the completed portion on the discharge device and the clipboard in a third collecting position,

10 as 9 but with the completed portion in a displaced position on the discharger and the clipboard in a fourth picking position and

11 as 10 , but with the next completed portion on the conveyor and the clipboard again in the waiting position.

One in the 1 to 5 partially in a perspective view and in the 6 to 10 shown in a side view device 1 for cutting a food strand 2 (for example, sausage, cheese, etc.) has one only in the 6 to 11 illustrated cutting device 3 , one around a rotation axis 4 rotating knife 5 , For example, in the form of a sickle blade, but alternatively also in the form of a planetary-like rotating on a swing arm circular blade has. A cutting edge 6 defines a cutting plane through the rotation 7 perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 8th of the food strand 2 is aligned. The longitudinal axis 8th runs parallel to the one by an arrow 9 illustrated feed direction in which the food strand 2 with the aid of a feed device shown only schematically 10 on the knife 5 the cutting device 3 is advanced. The feed device 10 has at its upper end in the feed direction (arrow 9 ) advancing gripper device 11 , their hooks 12 in the knife 5 opposite rear end of the food strand 2 are buried and thus form a positive connection. Both the gripper device 11 as well as two feed belts, not shown, which are the food strand 2 support laterally and if necessary, equipped with positive locking means (spikes) to prevent slippage, have a configuration according to the prior art and require no further explanation at this point. As a result, in any case, the food strand 2 with the help of the feed device 10 with great precision in the feed direction (arrow 9 ), which is important for achieving high accuracy in the geometry of the slices to be cut.

On a the food strand 2 and the feed device 10 opposite side of the cutting plane 7 are located next to each other and partially overlapping a discharge device 13 , a conveyor 14 and a clipboard 15 , The clipboard 15 has the shape of a fork and has a plurality of parallel and equidistant from each other arranged zinc-shaped support elements 16 and a support beam perpendicular to the support members and connected to the latter 17 on. The clipboard 15 is in a catching frame 18 stored in such a way that it is perpendicular to the feed direction, that is parallel to the cutting plane 7 is displaceable. For this is the stringers 17 at both longitudinal ends in each case a linear guide 19 stored, each located inside a longitudinal strut 20 of the collection framework 18 located. The drive of the clipboard 15 in the direction of the linear guides 19 is done with the help of a synchronous belt 21 , the clipboard on both sides 15 by means of a coupling element with the support beam 17 connected is.

The collection frame 18 is as such in one direction (double arrow 22 ) parallel to the feed direction (arrow 9 ) displaceable within a 1 schematically, in 6 but not shown machine frame 23 displaceable. The adjustability takes place for example by means of a hydraulically or pneumatically actuated cylinder 24 to the respective piston rod 25 a lower part 26 of the collection framework 18 connected. As it turned out 1 in which only the actually cranked piston rods 25 (which in the 6 to 11 For the sake of simplicity, are shown only in a straight line) are visible, there is the storage and adjustment of the collecting frame 18 with the help of two cylinders 24 in the 6 to 11 (not visible) and two associated piston rods 25 on opposite sides of the collection frame 18 attack. In the figures, not shown in detail, is behind a cover 27 of the collection framework 18 arranged servo drive for shifting the clipboard 15 by means of the synchronous belts 21 ,

The conveyor 14 contains a plurality of equidistant from each other and on their upper side a common conveying plane 28 forming straps 29 , which are two ring grooves for the straps 29 having guide rollers 30 . 31 , one of which is drivable by means of a servo drive, are guided. The clear distance between adjacent straps 29 is slightly larger than that perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the fork-shaped support elements 16 measured width of the support elements 16 , Because the pitch of the straps 29 the conveyor 14 the pitch of the support elements 16 the clipboard 15 Therefore, the latter can therefore dive into the spaces between adjacent straps, which is for the transfer of sliced slices from the clipboard to be described below 15 on the conveyor 14 is crucial.

The discharge device 13 includes as well as the conveyor 14 a plurality of straps 32 whose width, however, is considerably greater than that of the straps 29 the conveyor 14 , A deflecting roller 33 the discharge device 13 is so close to the guide roller 30 the conveyor 14 arranged the straps 29 . 32 do not collide with each other, with a trouble-free and the disc assembly does not interfere transfer from the conveyor 14 on the discharge device 13 is ensured.

The discharge device 13 is in a discharge frame 34 mounted, which about the axis of rotation of a guide roller 35 pivoted in the machine frame 23 is stored. The deflection roller 33 the discharge device 13 associated end of the discharge device 13 , is with a in 1 covered by a machine housing in 6 however, visible another cylinder 36 (hydraulically or pneumatically operated) or its piston rod 37 connected. An extension of the piston rod 37 out of the cylinder 36 causes both an upward pivoting of the discharge frame 34 as well as a parallel shift of the conveyor 14 also with the piston rod 37 is coupled. Due to the parallelism of a longitudinal axis 38 of the cylinder 36 with the feed direction (arrow 9 ) and a corresponding connection of the conveyor 14 to the piston rod 37 one remains from the surface of the straps 29 formed recording level 39 the conveyor 14 always in their parallel alignment with the cutting plane 7 , that is perpendicular to the feed direction (arrow 9 ). Due to the articulated connection between conveyor 14 and discharge device 13 , changes between the recording level 39 and one from the surface of the straps 32 formed discharge level 40 included angle depending on the position of the conveyor 14 , that is the position of the piston rod 37 of the cylinder 36 , Another timing belt 40 provides a coupling between the guide roller 30 the conveyor 14 and the guide roller 35 the discharge device 13 represents.

The method according to the invention will be explained in more detail below by illustrating the individual method steps with reference to the drawings:
In the 1 to 5 First, the formation of portions is explained, which consist of five shingled successive individual slices. Due to the omission of the cutting device 3 and the feed device 10 including the food strand 2 is the interaction between the conveyor 14 , the clipboard 15 and the discharge device 13 particularly recognizable.

1 shows a situation in which a portion of the conveyor just completed and made up of five slices 14 rests. One slice of the food strand per knife revolution 2 separated, wherein between two successive cuts the straps 29 the conveyor 14 to the "Schindelmaß" in the direction of the discharge device 13 be moved to produce only a partially overlapping so-called scaly or shingled tray.

1 shows a situation where the knife 5 the section of the last, topmost slice has just finished and the clipboard 15 is still in their waiting position in which they - by appropriate control of the timing belt 21 - A maximum distance from the discharge device 13 having. The over the control of the invisible cylinder 24 and consequently the movement of the associated piston rods 25 Height to be adjusted of the collecting frame 18 and thus also the top of the support elements 16 the clipboard 15 is at this moment set to the clipboard 15 by activating the drive of the synchronous belts 21 in the direction of the discharge device 13 to be moved without the top disc on the conveyor 14 touching the completed portion.

In 2 is the clipboard 15 shown in their Auffangstellung in which it is located vertically below the front side of the food strand and therefore a straight cut disc on the surface of their support elements 16 can record. Because the rotation of the knife 5 as well as the feed movement of the food strand 2 throughout the cutting process (ie until the food strand 2 , except for a remnant piece, in which the hooks 12 are completely cut), with constant speed, ie without change in the angular speed, moved, the clipboard must be brought within a very short time, ie between the generation of two discs from their waiting to the Auffangstellung. This requires a very great dynamic in the movement of the clipboard, thanks to a high-performance servo drive for the timing belt 21 is possible. In principle, it is possible that the newly formed disc of a new portion already with its severed part by gravity depends down, possibly even touched the last slice of the previous consummate portion, because the entering into the gap between the knife and the previous consummate portion clipboard the drooping or already deposited part of a newly emerging disc before its complete separation from the food strand 2 can pick up or lift so that the new disc completely and properly on the clipboard 15 to come to rest. In 2 In addition, it can still be seen that the completed portion due to continued movement of the conveyor 14 with its front two discs already the discharge device 13 reached and is in a phase of handover.

In 3 It can be seen that already a second slice of the currently formed portion is cut off and on the clipboard 15 was filed. In order to produce a shingled storage also on the clipboard, the clipboard has moved perpendicular to the feed direction by the Schindelmaß so that the second disc overlaps the first slice of the new portion only partially. Due to the continued continued movement of the conveyor 14 and the discharge device 13 The previous completed portion is now essentially completely on the discharge device 13 ,

According to 4 is the clipboard 15 now transferred to a discharge position in which the support elements 16 - By upward movement of the conveyor - in the spaces between adjacent straps 29 are immersed, so that the previously with the support elements 16 the clipboard 15 in contact discs on the surface of the straps 29 were handed over. Simultaneously with the transfer of the discs on the conveyor 14 or temporally shortly before or after the third slice of the newly formed portion was cut off, by appropriate movement of the clipboard 15 perpendicular to the feed direction or movement of the conveyor 14 was moved further to allow a continuation of the shingled tray. The previous completed portion has now been on the delivery conveyor 13 continue in the direction of the guide roller 35 to be moved to then be forwarded to a packaging device, in which the discs are welded in a self-adhesive foil packaging.

5 Finally, it shows how a fourth slice has been added to the currently formed portion. The still unfinished portion lies solely on the conveyor 14 and was to retain the shingling in comparison with the preceding disc section a piece on the discharge device 13 advanced. The clipboard 15 has been meanwhile retracted while maintaining its distance to the cutting plane from the emptying position to an intermediate position, wherein any contact with the cut-off wheels is avoided. Starting from the intermediate position of the clipboard shown 15 This can be raised in a next step back into their waiting position, which by raising the entire collection frame 18 happens. After cutting off another, fifth slice completing the current portion is again the starting situation according to 1 reached.

In contrast to the production of shingled portions according to the 1 to 5 will be in the 6 to 11 now explains the generation of portions consisting of exactly vertically stacked discs. Also, such portions are welded after the device according to the invention in a packaging device in plastic film packaging and offered as self-service packaging units in supermarkets.

Comparable with the situation according to 1 also shows 6 one on the conveyor 14 perfect portion. The knife 5 is still within the cross section of the food strand 2 , but will leave it in the next moment, then again in the meantime a piece of advanced food strand 2 penetrate and begin with the separation of the next disc. Just in the prescribed time is the clipboard 15 from the in 6 shown in the waiting position 7 transferred shown Auffangstellung, ie in particular with great momentum "shot". Therefore, after the beginning of the generation of the next slice, it will be deposited on the clipboard 15 , which in their pushed-in position (catching position) only just above the surface 41 the completed portion. Also when cutting slices, which - as in 7 shown - first on the clipboard 15 be deposited, it comes to the application of the principle that the free, gravity-dependent drooping end of a nascent disk already on the surface of the clipboard 15 or the surface of previously deposited there discs comes to rest before the disc is completely separated from the food strand. This known method has the advantage that the filing quality is very good, since the disc never in free fall, ie without contact either to the food strand 2 or for filing. An uncontrolled spin around cut-off wheels, as would be inevitable in a larger fall distance of the same, is safely prevented by such a procedure. Out 7 Furthermore, it can be seen that the completed portion by the movement of the conveyor 14 already a piece on the discharge device 13 was moved to.

8th Figure 3 shows a situation like the second slice of the newly formed portion just before its complete separation from the food strand 2 is. In contrast to the shingled filing according to the 1 to 5 requires the vertically stacked tray according to the 6 to 11 only, that the clipboard 15 during their use for storage purposes only has to be moved in the feed direction to keep the distance between the cutting plane and the storage level for the next resulting disc constant and thus not to change the storage conditions. The previously completed portion, located in the 8th illustrated situation in a transfer area between the conveyor 14 and the discharge device 13 ,

In 9 It is shown how the third slice of the newly formed portion is being separated. The previous completed portion is on the discharge device 13 passed on and is moved on there.

Once the last completed portion sufficiently far from the wedge-shaped tapered gap area between the knife 5 and the surface of the discharge device 13 has removed, the conveyor can 14 with the deflection roller coupled thereto 33 the discharge device 13 be moved back in the feed direction upwards. In this way, ie due to the relative movement between the conveyor 14 and clipboard 15 , can the clipboard 15 be put out of action by the surface of the straps 29 is arranged at least as high as the surface of the support elements 16 the clipboard 15 , Such a transfer torque is in 10 shown.

Now, in a next step, the clipboard 15 be lowered a bit further (or the conveyor 14 then raised perpendicular to the feed direction from the projection of the cross section of the food strand 2 to be pulled out (intermediate position, cf. 5 ) to return to the in 11 shown waiting position to be transferred. There can be the clipboard 15 hold until the last slice of the portion being formed is cut off and placed on the stack. Thereafter, after slight lowering of the conveyor 14 with the perfect portion of the required space for the subsequent insertion of the clipboard 15 be created, which can then record the next cut disc in their Auffangstellung.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

contraption

2

Food strand

3

cutter

4

axis of rotation

5

knife

6

cutting edge

7

cutting plane

8th

longitudinal axis

9

arrow

10

feeder

11

Gripper device

12

looper

13

discharging device

14

Conveyor

15

clipboard

16

supporting member

17

stringers

18

collecting frame

19

linear guide

20

longitudinal strut

21

timing belts

22

double arrow

23

machine frame

24

cylinder

25

piston rod

26

lower part

27

cover

28

conveying plane

29

Strappy

30

deflecting

31

deflecting

32

Strappy

33

deflecting

34

Austragerahmen

35

deflecting

36

cylinder

37

ram extruder

38

longitudinal axis

39

receiving element

40

timing belts

41

surface

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 3842698 A [0003, 0011]
• US 842698 A [0006]
• US 3846698 A [0008]
• US 3842698 [0018]

Claims (16)

Method for cutting a food strand ( 2 ) slices with the following process steps: a) the food strand ( 2 ) is placed on a rotating knife ( 5 ) having cutting device ( 3 ) to advanced. b) During the feed, the cutting device ( 3 ) of the food strand ( 2 ) are cut successively at a front end in the feed direction. c) slices are cut to form a portion after separation from the food strand ( 2 ) on a transverse to the feed direction and in the feed direction movable clipboard ( 15 ), whereby a stacked or shingled disc arrangement is produced. d) a plurality of slices is shared the clipboard ( 15 ) to a conveyor ( 14 ), with which the discs are discharged, characterized by the following feature: e) a plurality of discs is shared by the clipboard ( 15 ) directly on the conveyor ( 14 ) to hand over. Method for cutting a food strand ( 2 ) slices with the following process steps: a) the food strand ( 2 ) is placed on a rotating knife ( 5 ) having cutting device ( 3 ) to advanced. b) During the feed, the cutting device ( 3 ) of the food strand ( 2 ) are cut successively at a front end in the feed direction. c) slices are cut to form a portion after separation from the food strand ( 2 ) on a transverse to the feed direction as well as in the feed direction movable clipboard ( 15 ), whereby a stacked or shingled disc arrangement is produced. d) A plurality of slices are shared by the clipboard ( 15 ) to a conveyor ( 14 ), with which the discs are discharged, characterized by the following feature: e) A portion is in an unfinished state from the clipboard ( 15 ) to the conveyor ( 14 ), whereby the transferred portion after having been transferred from the conveyor ( 14 ) was completed by cutting and adding at least one more disc completed and then discharged. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that support elements of the clipboard ( 15 ) when transferring the cut slices from the clipboard ( 15 ) to the conveyor ( 14 ) in spaces between adjacent straps ( 29 ) of the conveyor ( 14 ), wherein a disc supporting surface of the support elements ( 16 ) after transfer below a surface of the aprons carrying the discs ( 29 ) of the conveyor ( 14 ) is arranged. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the clipboard ( 15 ) carries out a movement composed of translatory movement sections along a closed trajectory, starting from a waiting position in which it is located outside a projection of the cross section of the food strand ( 2 ) in a to a longitudinal axis ( 8th ) of the food strand ( 2 ) vertical and the surface of the support elements ( 16 ) is moved substantially parallel to the aforementioned plane in a first receiving position, in which a first slice of a new portion is recorded, - is then successively moved to subsequent receiving positions, in which they generate the respectively desired storage image of the Washers and for receiving the respective following disc relative to the previous receiving position in the feed direction of the food strand ( 2 ) and / or perpendicular to the feed direction of the food strand ( 2 ) is moved, - occupies a discharge position after receiving a predetermined number of discs, in which the clipboard ( 15 ) and the conveyor ( 14 ), viewed in the feed direction, have moved relative to each other so far that the discs make contact with the surface of the support elements ( 16 ) and instead in contact with the surface of the straps ( 29 ) of the conveyor ( 14 ) - and finally put back into the waiting position, without doing with the support elements ( 16 ) the plane of the surface of the straps ( 29 ) of the conveyor ( 14 ) in the region of the straps ( 29 ) to touch. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the conveyor ( 14 ) in the feed direction on the food strand ( 2 ) is moved to, the on the clipboard ( 15 ) from the currently suspended clipboard ( 15 ). Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in a waiting position of the clipboard ( 15 ) the surfaces of their supporting elements ( 16 ) are in the same plane as the food strand ( 2 ) facing Surface of the last completely cut slice on the conveyor ( 14 ). Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the clipboard ( 15 ) leaves the waiting position only when the knife ( 5 ) has already begun to cut a next slice and is already within the cross-section of the food strand ( 2 ), preferably the clipboard ( 15 ) moving into a projection of the cross section of the food strand ( 2 ) in a direction perpendicular to the feed plane a gravity already hanging or resting on the previously cut disc part of the currently emerging disc with the surface of their support elements ( 16 ). Contraption ( 1 ) for cutting a food strand ( 2 ) in slices with a) a cutting device ( 3 ), which is a rotating knife ( 5 ), b) a feed device ( 10 ), with which the food strand ( 2 ) on the cutting device ( 3 ) is too advanceable, c) a clipboard ( 15 ) during which the food strand ( 2 ) are removable from this successively cut-off discs and which is movable both transversely to and in the feed direction, wherein a stacked or shingled disc tray can be generated, d) a conveyor ( 14 ), on which a plurality of cut slices together from the clipboard ( 15 ), characterized in that e) a plurality of cut slices together from the clipboard ( 15 ) directly on the conveyor ( 14 ) can be transferred. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the clipboard ( 15 ) Supporting elements ( 16 ), which are arranged so that they are in spaces between adjacent straps ( 29 ) of the conveyor ( 14 ) are positionable, one through the surface of the support elements ( 16 ) defined plane parallel to a through the surface of the straps ( 29 ) of the conveyor ( 14 ) defined level runs. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the clipboard ( 15 ) is fork-shaped and the supporting elements ( 16 ) formed in a tooth shape and on a support beam ( 17 ) are arranged. Device according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the height measured in the feed direction of the support elements ( 16 ) is smaller than twice, preferably smaller than 1.5 times, the thickness of the slices to be cut off, in particular smaller than 10 mm, preferably smaller than 8 mm. Device according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the clipboard ( 15 ) in a catching frame ( 18 ) is mounted displaceably perpendicular to the feed direction and the collecting frame ( 18 ) on a machine frame ( 23 ) is slidably mounted in the feed direction, wherein the collecting frame ( 18 ) two on both sides next to the conveyor ( 14 ) arranged linear guides ( 19 ) for the clipboard ( 15 ) having. Device according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the conveyor ( 14 ) together with a discharge device ( 13 ) mounted on a discharge frame and the discharge frame ( 34 ) to a machine frame ( 23 ) is adjustable, preferably displaceable and / or pivotable, is stored. Device according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the support elements ( 16 ) the clipboard ( 15 ) have a measured perpendicular to the feed direction length which corresponds to at least twice, preferably at least three times, measured perpendicular to the feed direction width of the cut slices. Device according to one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that the clipboard ( 15 ) - starting from their waiting position - in the same direction in a projection of the cross-section of the food strand ( 2 ) in a plane defined by the supporting elements ( 16 ) the clipboard ( 15 ) is insertable, as the cut slices of the conveyor ( 14 ) are deductible. Device according to one of claims 8 to 15, characterized in that the clipboard ( 15 ) from one side into a projection of the cross section of the food strand ( 2 ) in a plane passing through the surface of the support elements ( 16 ) the clipboard ( 15 ) is formed, which is opposite to a side at which a disc in the gravitational emergence of the food strand ( 2 ) replaces.

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