EP2298514A1 - Method and device for cutting a length of food into slices - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves inserting the length of food in a cutting device having a rotating knife. The cut slices are deposited for forming a portion on the intermediate storage area (15). Multiple slices are delivered to a conveying unit (14), with which the slices are discharged. A shingled slice arrangement is produced from the cut slices in the intermediate storage area. An independent claim is also included for a device for cutting a length of food into slices.

Description

introduction

1. a) Der Lebensmittelstrang wird auf eine ein rotierendes Messer aufweisende Schneideinrichtung zu vorgeschoben.
2. b) Während des Vorschubs werden mittels der Schneideinrichtung von dem Lebensmittelstrang an einem in Vorschubrichtung vorderen Ende sukzessive Scheiben abgeschnitten.
3. 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.
4. d) Eine Mehrzahl von Scheiben wird gemeinsam 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:

1. a) The food strand is advanced to a cutter having a rotating cutter.
2. 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.
3. c) Cut slices are deposited to form a portion after separation from the food strand on a transversely movable to the feed direction and in the feed direction clipboard.
4. d) A plurality of slices are transferred together from the clipboard to a conveyor.

1. a) einer Schneideinrichtung, die ein rotierendes Messer aufweist,
2. b) einer Vorschubeinrichtung, mit der der Lebensmittelstrang auf die Schneideinrichtung zu vorschiebbar ist,
3. 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, und
4. d) einer Fördereinrichtung, auf die eine Mehrzahl abgeschnittener Scheiben gemeinsam von der Zwischenablage übergebbar ist,

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

1. a) a cutting device having a rotating blade,
2. b) a feed device with which the food strand can be advanced to the cutting device,
3. c) a clipboard on which can be placed during the advancement of the food strand of this successively cut-off discs and which is movable both transversely to the and in the feed direction, and
4. d) a conveying device, on which a plurality of cut-off slices can be transferred together 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 FIGS. 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 stack is still on the one clipboard or is just being taken over by the transfer element, the other clipboard is already in a waiting position or a receiving position displaced below the cross section of the food strand, 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, cause problems especially in the case of softer and deformable foods (eg meat sausage, meatloaf, beer ham, cheese, or the like) due to the inherent vibration behavior in the region of the feed. Due to caliber nozzles just above the knife, the feed of the food strand is heavily affected by friction. In addition, the so-called "slip-stick effect", ie when exceeding a feed force, it comes to a sudden "break-in", ie jerky advancing, of the food strand. Due to the high dynamics of all movements, longitudinal oscillations at the knife-side end of the Gutsstrangs lead to that 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 in the cited prior art is high and the control algorithms for controlling the movement of the many device components complicated.

In addition, from the DE 197 13 813 C1 a device is known which allows a continuous single stack formation from a disc flow generated by means of the cutting device. This is in contrast to the aforementioned US-A-3842698 a partial stack formed by means of a single, designated as Stapelaufnehmer clipboard, which is passed to a further stacking, ie the completion of the respective stack, to a designated as Portionierband conveyor. During the continuation and completion of the stack formation on the Portionierband can be done in the known device already a return of the Stapelaufnehmers in a position (waiting position), from which he can be injected again to form a next sub-stack in the disk stream (recording position).

While in the methods and devices according to the two aforementioned documents only vertical stacks of discs can be produced as finished portions, it is generally known to also produce a shingled disc arrangement by means of a cutting device. Such shingles can be produced as a linear series of partially overlapping discs but also as a circular shingle in the manner of a fan. In principle, any other storage images are conceivable, wherein in the known devices, the Portionierband on the immediately after the separation of the discs take place their storage or the portion production and completion, can also be movable in a direction transverse to the feed direction. If only linear shingle arrangements are to be produced, then the mere conveying direction of the portioning belt is sufficient. If more complicated storage images are to be realized, for example, the conveyor belt can be moved in a direction transverse to its transport direction.

As unsatisfactory in the known method for shingled disc tray, it is considered that the performance is relatively low, because before the start of a new shingle, only the previously completed shingle must be removed below the cross section of the food strand to avoid collisions with the next disc. For this reason, only comparatively low speeds of the cutting blade are possible. As already stated above, stopping the feed or even slowing down the speed of the blade is not a viable option due to the high dynamics of such cutting operations.

task

Based on the method of the aforementioned type, the invention has for its object to provide a method and apparatus for cutting a food in slices, in which can be achieved instead of the formation of vertical slice stack other storage images.

solution

In procedural terms, the above object, starting from a method of the type described above, achieved in that on the clipboard from the cut slices a shingled disc assembly is generated. The method according to the invention thus combines the temporal advantages, ie the high cutting performance, with the use of a clipboard, on which the panes are temporarily arranged, with the optical attractiveness of a shingled pane arrangement. Under a shingled disc arrangement in the context of the present application, all possible storage images are to be understood, in which the discs do not form a vertically aligned stack of discs with always aligned disc edges. With a shingle in the sense of this application is thus a fan, a scaly arrangement or a partially meandering To understand storage of the same disc, so that an overall air-entrainment and therefore voluminous disk portion is generated, which is practiced especially in gossamer slices to later facilitate their separation from each other.

The inventive method is preferably carried out with a single clipboard and a plurality of slices, ie a partial portion is in common, ie all slices more or less simultaneously and contiguous of the clipboard directly, ie without the interposition of one of US-A-3846698 Passed known separate transfer element. As a result, the effort in the manufacture of a device for carrying out the method according to the invention is not significantly reduced. 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 the clipboard and conveyor.

A development of the inventive solution consists in procedural terms in that a portion is transferred in an unfinished state of the clipboard to the conveyor and that the transferred portion while it rests on the conveyor, completed by cutting and adding at least one other disc and finally is discharged from the device.

The production of a finished portion is thus in two phases, namely a phase in which (initially) the clipboard serves as a support member for the emerging portion serving. After a certain 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 rotation 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.

Consequently, the expenditure on equipment is reduced as well as the requirements for the control, since compared with the US-A-3842698 turn to an existing there Component can be omitted, 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 level in a first receiving position in which a first slice of a new portion is taken,
• Subsequently, it is successively moved into subsequent receiving positions, in which it is displaced to produce the respectively desired deposit image of the panes and to receive the respective following pane opposite the preceding 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 slices 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 of the Straps of the conveyor are stepped,
• and finally transferred back to the waiting position, without touching with the support elements, the level 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 (which is nevertheless possible in a device according to the invention), the conveyor (or previously also the clipboard) with each newly added disc successively lowered by the thickness of the disc to throughout the Cutting process to achieve a constant distance between the cutting plane of the knife and the shelf for the emerging disc (in the form of the surface of the clipboard or the surface of the last already cut disc). Such a reduction is also possible with the shingle production according to the invention on the clipboard and, in particular in the case of shingles of greater thickness (considered in the feed direction), makes sense.

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 introduced 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 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 an already suspended by gravity or even resting on the previously cut slice part of the currently emerging Raised disc with the surface of their support elements 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. It is important in this context that the knife on the one hand and the clipboard on the other hand enter from opposite sides in the cross section of the food strand.

In device-technical terms, the underlying object is achieved in that the clipboard is movable so that a shingled disc arrangement can be generated on it. This is not feasible in the known devices, either because of a lack of sufficient area on the intermediate tray or because of non-given possibility of movement. Preferably, the clipboard from a receiving position in which it is the first slice of a new portion is receivable, in the course of generating a shingled disc tray successively further from a waiting position removable, in which it lies completely outside a projection of the cross-section of the food strand in a plane parallel to the cutting plane.

Although the device according to the invention in this case requires an extension of the possibility of movement of the clipboard in the direction in which the finished portion is later typically discharged, as compared to the cycle of movement required for the mere interim picking up of vertical slice stacks, using the conveyor means , However, the inventive device allows a particularly high cutting performance, as the Einschießweg (distance between the waiting position and the receiving position) is minimized and the subsequent successive movement of the clipboard in the same direction as the Einschießvorgang done, but with a corresponding time delay - corresponding to the attack of the following Slices - can take place. In the alternative approach, in which the Einschießweg would be increased and the next construction of the shingles again reversing the direction of movement takes place, disadvantageously, at the same Einschießgeschwindigkeit the time required for the clipboard to reach the collection position (corresponding to the extended path) greater.

The device according to the invention thus implements no reversal of the direction of movement of the clipboard during the operation of the subsequent shingling following the insertion. The reversal of motion takes place only after transfer of a partial portion of the clipboard on the conveyor, the clipboard must be moved back out of the strand cross-section, the then extended path (compared to a method with reversal immediately after reaching the recording position) is not critical, because until the completion of each portion still sufficient time is available to transfer the clipboard back to the waiting position.

According to one embodiment of the device according to the invention, a plurality of cut-off slices can be transferred together directly from the clipboard onto the conveyor device. The advantage here again lies in the possibility of dispensing with a separate transfer element, as in the US 3842698 is described.

A further development of the device according to the invention is that the clipboard has supporting elements which are arranged so that they are spaced between adjacent straps of the conveyor are positionable, wherein a plane defined by the surface of the support elements parallel to a plane defined by the surface of the straps of the conveyor plane. 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. This is especially true because the clipboard due to the shingled shelf must be significantly larger (longer and / or wider), as in the mere stacking. For this reason, the measured in the feed direction height of the support elements should be less 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 the 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 catch frame perpendicular to the feed direction and the catch frame is slidably mounted on a machine frame in the feed direction, wherein the catch 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, ie U-shaped arrangement of struts meant, which makes sense to realize storage facilities for the clipboard on both sides next to 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 be able to realize sufficient space on the clipboard for production of elongate shingles (partial portion) prior to their transfer to the conveyor, the support elements of the clipboard should have a length measured perpendicular to the feed direction, at least twice, preferably at least three times, perpendicular to Feed direction measured 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.

Figur 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Teils einer Vorrichtung zum Schneiden eines strangförmigen Lebensmittels mit einer vollendeten Portion aus ge- schindelten Scheiben auf einer Fördereinrichtung und mit einer Zwischenab- lage in einer Wartestellung,

Figur 2

wie Figur 1 mit der vollendeten Portion bei der Übergabe von der Förderein- richtung auf eine Austrageeinrichtung und mit der Zwischenablage, mit einer abgeschnittenen Scheibe in einer Auffangstellung,

Figur 3

wie Figur 2, jedoch mit der vollendeten Portion auf der Austrageeinrichtung und mit zwei Scheiben auf der Zwischenablage,

Figur 4

wie Figur 3, jedoch mit drei Scheiben auf der Zwischenablage,

Figur 5

wie Figur 4, jedoch nach Übergabe einer neuen vollendeten Portion auf die Fördereinrichtung und mit der Zwischenablage in einer Zwischenstellung zwischen der Entleerungsstellung und der Wartestellung,

Figur 6

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung gemäß den Figuren 1 bis 5, einschließ- lich der oberhalb der Fördereinrichtung befindlichen Vorschubeinrichtung nebst eines darin angeordneten Lebensmittelstrangs, sowie der Schneidein- richtung, wobei sich eine vollendete Portion aus gestapelten Scheiben auf der Fördereinrichtung befindet und die Zwischenablage in der Wartestel- lung,

Figur 7

wie Figur 6, jedoch mit der vollendeten Portion in einer auf der Förderein- richtung seitlich verschobenen Position und der Zwischenablage in einer ersten Auffangstellung,

Figur 8

wie Figur 7, jedoch mit der vollendeten Position bei der Übergabe von der Fördereinrichtung auf die Austrageeinrichtung und der Zwischenablage in einer zweiten Auffangstellung.

Figur 9

wie Figur 8, jedoch mit der vollendeten Portion auf der Austrageeinrichtung und der Zwischenablage in einer dritten Auffangstellung,

Figur 10

wie Figur 9, jedoch mit der vollendeten Portion in einer verschobenen Posi- tion auf der Austrageeinrichtung und der Zwischenablage in einer vierten Auffangstellung und

Figur 11

wie Figur 10, jedoch mit der nächsten vollendeten Portion auf der För- dereinrichtung und der Zwischenablage wieder in der Wartestellung.

It shows:

FIG. 1

3 is a perspective view of a part of a device for cutting a strand-shaped foodstuff with a completed portion of shingled slices on a conveying device and with an intermediate layer in a waiting position,

FIG. 2

as FIG. 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,

FIG. 3

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

FIG. 4

as FIG. 3 but with three discs on the clipboard,

FIG. 5

as FIG. 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,

FIG. 6

a side view of the device according to the FIGS. 1 to 5 , including the feed device located above the conveyor and a food strand arranged therein, as well as the cutting device, wherein a complete portion of stacked slices is located on the conveyor and the clipboard is in the waiting position,

FIG. 7

as FIG. 6 but with the completed portion in a laterally displaced position on the conveyor and the clipboard in a first catching position,

FIG. 8

as FIG. 7 , but with the completed position in the transfer of the conveyor to the discharge device and the clipboard in a second Auffangstellung.

FIG. 9

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

FIG. 10

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

FIG. 11

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

One in the FIGS. 1 to 5 partially in a perspective view and in the FIGS. 6 to 10 in a side view shown device 1 for cutting a food strand 2 (for example, sausage, cheese, etc.) has one only in the FIGS. 6 to 11 illustrated cutting device 3, which has a rotating about a rotation axis 4 blade 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. A cutting edge 6 defines by the rotation of a cutting plane 7, which is aligned perpendicular to a longitudinal axis 8 of the food strand 2. The longitudinal axis 8 runs parallel to the feed direction illustrated by an arrow 9, into which the food strand 2 is advanced onto the knife 5 of the cutting device 3 with the aid of a feed device 10 shown only schematically. The feed device 10 has at its upper end in the feed direction (arrow 9) vorschiebbare gripper device 11, the gripper hooks 12 are buried in the knife 5 facing away from the rear end of the food strand 2 and thus form a positive connection. Both the gripper device 11 and two feed belts not shown, which support the food strand 2 laterally and are equipped with interlocking 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 aid of the feed device 10 with great precision in the feed direction (arrow 9) are advanced, which is important for achieving a high accuracy in the geometry of the slices to be cut.

On a side facing away from the food strand 2 and the feed device 10 side of the cutting plane 7 are next to each other and partially overlapping a discharge 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 tine-shaped support members 16 and a perpendicular to the support members extending and connected to the support beam 17. The clipboard 15 is mounted in a collecting frame 18 in such a way that it is perpendicular to the feed direction, that is parallel to the cutting plane 7 slidably. For this purpose, the support beam 17 is mounted at both longitudinal ends in each case a linear guide 19 which is in each case in the interior of a longitudinal strut 20 of the collecting frame 18. The drive of the clipboard 15 in the direction of the linear guides 19 is effected by means of a respective timing belt 21, which is connected on both sides of the clipboard 15 by means of a coupling element with the support beam 17.

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

The conveyor 14 includes a plurality of equidistant from each other and arranged on its upper side a common conveying plane 28 forming apron 29, which are guided around two annular grooves for the straps 29 deflecting rollers 30, 31, one of which is driven by means of a servo drive. The clear distance between adjacent straps 29 is slightly larger than the measured perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the fork-shaped support members 16 width of the support members 16. Since the pitch of the straps 29 of the conveyor 14 corresponds to the pitch of the support members 16 of the clipboard 15, the latter can therefore in the interstices dipping between adjacent straps, which is crucial for the transfer of cut slices described below from the clipboard 15 to the conveyor 14.

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

The discharge device 13 is mounted in a discharge frame 34 which is mounted pivotably about the axis of rotation of a guide roller 35 in the machine frame 23. The deflection roller 33 of the discharge device 13 associated with the end of the discharge device 13 is provided with a in FIG. 1 covered by a machine housing in FIG. 6 However, visible further cylinder 36 (hydraulically or pneumatically operated) or its piston rod 37 is connected. An extension of the piston rod 37 from the cylinder 36 causes both an upward pivoting of the discharge frame 34 and a parallel displacement of the conveyor 14, which is also coupled to the piston rod 37. 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, a receiving plane 39 of the conveyor 14 formed by the surface of the aprons 29 always remains in its 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, the angle enclosed between the receiving plane 39 and a discharge plane 40 formed by the surface of the straps 32 changes depending on the position of the conveyor 14, that is the position of the piston rod 37 of the cylinder 36 Another synchronizing belt 40 represents a coupling between the deflecting roller 30 of the conveying device 14 and the deflecting roller 35 of the discharging device 13.

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 FIGS. 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, the interaction between the conveyor 14, the clipboard 15 and the discharge device 13 is particularly clearly visible.

FIG. 1 shows a situation in which a portion just completed and formed from five slices rests on the conveyor 14. For each blade revolution, a slice is separated from the food strand 2, with between two successive ones Cut the aprons 29 of the conveyor 14 by the "Schindelmaß" in a direction R1 on the discharge device 13 are moved on to produce only a partially overlapping so-called shingled or shingled tray.

FIG. 1 shows a situation in which the knife 5 has just completed the section of the last, uppermost disc and the clipboard 15 is still in its waiting position in which it - by appropriate control of the timing belt 21 - has a maximum distance from the discharge device 13. The on the control of the non-visible cylinder 24 and consequently the movement of the associated piston rods 25 to be adjusted height of the collecting frame 18 and thus the top of the support members 16 of the clipboard 15 is set at this moment that the clipboard 15 by activating the drive of Synchronous belt 21 can be moved in a direction R2 to the discharge device 13 to its collection position, without touching the uppermost slice of the conveyor 14 lying on the completed portion.

In FIG. 2 the clipboard 15 is shown in its catchment position in which it is located vertically below the face of the food strand and therefore can receive a straight cut slice on the surface of its carrying elements 16. Since the rotation of the knife 5 as well as the feed movement of the food strand 2 during the entire cutting process (ie until the food strand 2, apart from a remnant in which the hooks are 12 are completely cut), with constant speed, ie without change in the Angular velocity, takes place, the clipboard 15 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 large dynamic in the movement of the clipboard 15, which is made possible by a high-performance servo drive for the timing belt 21. 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 already touched the last slice of the preceding consummate portion, because the entering into the gap between the knife 5 and the previous consummate portion Clipboard 15 record or raise the drooping or already deposited part of a newly emerging disc before the complete separation of the food strand 2, so that the new disc completely and properly the clipboard 15 comes to rest. In FIG. 2 In addition, it can still be seen that the finished portion has already reached the discharge device 13 due to continued movement of the conveyor 14 with its front two discs and is in a transfer phase.

In FIG. 3 It can be seen that a second slice of the portion currently being formed has already been cut off and placed on the clipboard 15. In order to also produce a shingled storage on the clipboard 15, the clipboard 15 has moved in the direction R3 perpendicular to the feed direction to the shingles, so that the second disc overlaps the first slice of the new portion only partially. Thus, there is no reversal of motion between the "include" direction R2 and the subsequent continue direction R3 of the clipboard 15. Due to the further continued movement of the conveyor 14 and the discharge device 13, the preceding finished portion is now substantially completely on the discharge device 13th

According to FIG. 4 the clipboard 15 is now transferred to a discharge position in which the distance to the waiting position is maximum and the support elements 16 - are dipped - by upward movement of the conveyor 14 - in the spaces between adjacent straps 29 so that the previously with the support members 16 of the clipboard 15th in contact discs were transferred to the surface of the straps 29. Simultaneously with the transfer of the discs on the conveyor 14 or shortly before or after the third slice of the newly formed portion was cut off, which was moved by appropriate movement of the clipboard 15 perpendicular to the feed direction or movement of the conveyor 14 to a To allow continuation of the shingled storage. The preceding completed portion has meanwhile moved further on the discharge belt 13 in the direction of the deflection roller 35, in order subsequently to be passed on to a packaging device in which the disks are welded into a self-adhesive film package.

FIG. 5 Finally, it shows how a fourth slice has been added to the currently formed portion. The still unfinished portion rests solely on the conveyor 14 and has been moved to maintain the shingling in comparison with the previous disc section a piece in the direction R1 to the discharge device 13. The directions R1, R2 and R3 are identical. The clipboard 15 was meanwhile, while retaining its distance from the cutting plane, it is withdrawn from the emptying position to an intermediate position, avoiding any contact with the cut-off wheels. Starting from the intermediate position of the clipboard 15 shown, it can be raised again into its waiting position in a next step, which is done by raising the entire catch frame 18. After cutting off another, fifth slice completing the current portion is again the starting situation according to FIG. 1 reached.

In contrast to the production of shingled portions according to the FIGS. 1 to 5 will be in the FIGS. 6 to 11 now explains the generation of portions consisting of exactly vertically stacked discs. Although such a procedure is not according to the invention, it should be explained here for the sake of clarity. Moreover, with the device according to the invention, the generation of a stacked disc arrangement according to the sequence according to the FIGS. 6 to 11 possible. 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 FIG. 1 also shows FIG. 6 a completed portion located on the conveyor 14. The knife 5 is still within the cross section Q of the food strand 2, but will leave this at the next moment, then again penetrate into the meantime a piece of advanced food strand 2 and begin with the separation of the next disc. Just in the prescribed time, the clipboard 15 from the in FIG. 6 shown in the waiting position FIG. 7 transferred shown Auffangstellung, ie in particular with great momentum "shot". The entry of the knife 5 into the cross-section Q of the food strand 2 thus takes place from the side S1, whereas the clipboard 15 enters the cross-section Q from the opposite side S2.

Therefore, after the beginning of the generation of the next slice, it is deposited on the clipboard 15, which in its inserted position (catching position) is only slightly above the surface 41 of the completed portion. Also when cutting slices, which - as in FIG. 7 shown - are first stored on the clipboard 15, it comes to the application of the principle that the free, gravity-dependent drooping end of an emerging disc 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 storage quality is very good, since the disc is never in free fall, ie without contact either to the food strand 2 or to the tray. 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 FIG. 7 Furthermore, it can be seen that the completed portion has already been moved towards the discharge device 13 by the movement of the conveyor 14.

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

In FIG. 9 It is shown how the third slice of the newly formed portion is being separated. The preceding completed portion is transferred to the discharge device 13 and is further moved there.

Once the last completed portion has sufficiently far away from the wedge-shaped tapered gap area between the blade 5 and the surface of the discharge device 13, the conveyor 14 can be moved with the coupled thereon guide roller 33 of the discharge device 13 again in the feed direction upwards. In this way, ie due to the relative movement between the conveyor 14 and clipboard 15, the clipboard 15 can be disabled by the surface of the straps 29 is at least as high as the surface of the support members 16 of the clipboard 15. Such a transfer torque is in FIG. 10 shown.

Now, in a next step, the clipboard 15 can be further lowered (or the conveyor 14 are raised) to then be pulled out perpendicular to the feed direction from the projection of the cross section of the food strand 2 (intermediate position, see. FIG. 5 ) to return to the in FIG. 11 shown waiting position to be transferred. There, the clipboard 15 can remain until the last slice of the emerging portion is cut off and deposited on the stack. Thereafter, after slight lowering of the conveyor 14 with the completed portion of the necessary space for the subsequent shooting of the clipboard 15 are 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

Q

cross-section

S1

page

S2

page

R1

direction

R2

direction

R3

direction

Claims (16)

Process for slicing a food strand (2) into slices with the following process steps: a) The food strand (2) is advanced to a rotating blade (5) having cutting device (3). 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) on a transverse to the feed direction and in the feed direction movable clipboard (15). d) a plurality of slices is transferred together to the clipboard (15) on a conveyor (14), with which the discs are discharged,
characterized by the following feature: e) On the clipboard (15) a shingled disc arrangement is generated from the cut slices. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of discs is transferred together from the clipboard (15) directly to the conveyor (14). A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a portion in an unfinished state from the clipboard (15) to the conveyor (14) is transferred, wherein the transferred portion after it was taken over by the conveyor (14), by cutting and Add at least one more disc completed and then discharged. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that support elements of the clipboard (15) in the transfer of the cut slices from the clipboard (15) to the conveyor (14) in spaces between adjacent straps (29) of the conveyor (14) enter, wherein a disc supporting surface of the support members (16) after the transfer below a disc carrying surface of the straps (29) of the conveyor (14) is arranged. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the clipboard (15) carries out a movement composed of translational movement sections along a closed path curve, wherein - starting from a waiting position in which it is located outside a projection of the cross section of the food strand (2) into a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (8) of the food strand (2) and containing 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 received, - Is then successively moved to subsequent receiving positions, in which they to produce the respective desired storage image of the discs and for receiving the 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, - After receiving a predetermined number of discs occupies a discharge position in which the clipboard (15) and the conveyor (14), as viewed in the feed direction, relative to each other have moved so far that the discs contact with the surface of the support elements (16) lost and instead have come into contact with the surface of the straps (29) of the conveyor (14) - And finally transferred back to the waiting position, without touching with the support elements (16) occupied with the portion surface of the plane of the surface of the straps (29) of the conveyor (14). Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the conveyor (14) in the feed direction on the food strand (2) is moved, wherein the on the clipboard (15) located discs from the currently resting on this clipboard (15) be taken over. 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 already within the cross section of the food strand (2) Preferably, the intermediate tray (15) as it moves into a projection of the cross section of the food strand (2) in a direction perpendicular to the feed direction plane already hanging by gravity or on the previously cut disc resting part of the currently emerging disc with the surface of her Lifting support elements (16). Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the knife (5) on the one hand and the clipboard (15) on the other hand on opposite sides (S1, S2) of the food strand (2) in its cross section (Q) enter. Device (1) for cutting a food strand (2) into slices with a) a cutting device (3) having a rotating blade (5), b) a feed device (10) with which the food strand (2) can be advanced towards the cutting device (3), c) a clipboard (15) on which during the advance of the food strand (2) of this successively cut slices can be stored and which is movable both transversely to and in the feed direction, d) a conveying device (14), on which a plurality of cut-off slices can be transferred jointly from the clipboard (15),
characterized in that e) the clipboard (15) is movable so that on its surface a shingled disc arrangement can be generated. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the clipboard (15) from a receiving position in which it is the first slice of a new portion can be removed in the course of generating a shingled disc tray successively removable from a waiting position, in the it is completely outside a projection of the cross section (Q) of the food strand (2) in a plane parallel to the cutting plane. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the knife (5) on the one hand and the clipboard (15) on the other hand on opposite sides (S1, S2) of the food strand (2) in the cross section (Q) are insertable, wherein preferably the Clipboard fork (15) on the one side (S2) in the cross section (Q) can be inserted and a disc portion by means of the conveyor (14) on the opposite side (S1) of the food strand (2) can be discharged. Device according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the clipboard (15) in a collecting 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) has two on both sides next to the conveyor (14) arranged linear guides (19) for the clipboard (15). Device according to one of claims 8 to 12, characterized in that the conveying device (14) together with a discharge device (13) on a Bearing frame mounted and the discharge frame (34) to a machine frame (23) adjustable, preferably slidably and / or pivotally mounted. Device according to one of claims 8 to 13, characterized in that the support elements (16) of 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 of the support elements (16) of the clipboard (15) is formed, can be introduced, as the cut slices of the conveyor (14) are dischargeable. 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 through the surface of the support elements (16) of the clipboard (15). is formed, enters, which is opposite to a side at which a disk in the emerging by gravity from the food strand (2) detaches.

Images