Method and apparatus for cutting of food products

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the simultaneous multiple track cutting of several food products, in which the products are cut by means of a common cutting apparatus, in particular a high performance slicer, which has at least one cutting blade which rotates about a blade axis in a cutting plane and/or revolves about a central axis in a planetary motion manner and to which the products are supplied in multiple tracks, and in which blank cuts are carried out in at least a passive track and/or in which the supply of the respective product is suspended at least at times, while the respective product is sliced in at least one other active track.

Claims

1. A method for the simultaneous cutting of several food products in multiple tracks each controlled by a respective feed device, in which the products are cut by a common cutting apparatus having a cutting blade defining a cutting plane, the method comprising: slicing the several food products in the multiple tracks; suspending the supply of a product to the cutting blade in at least one track with a first feed device when a remaining product stub in the at least one track is no longer sufficient to form a complete portion while continuing to cut a remaining product stub in at least one other track which is still sufficient to form at least one complete portion; suspending the supply of a product to the cutting blade in the at least one other track with a second feed device when the remaining product stub in the at least one other track is no longer sufficient to form the at least one complete portion; slicing remaining product stubs of each track into incomplete partial portions once the remaining product stubs of all tracks are no longer sufficient to form a the at least one complete portion, and slicing subsequent food products to complete the incomplete partial portions.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the product is additionally moved away from the cutting plane in the at least one track and/or the at least one other track wherein the product is retracted from the cutting plane in the at least one track and/or the at least one other track.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the products are cut into portions each including at least two product slices.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the products are supplied to the cutting blade in individual tracks such that, on cutting of the products into portions each including at least one product slice, each product satisfies a predefined condition for a respective track.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the condition relates to a weight of the portion, to a weight and/or a thickness of the product slices forming the portion, and/or to a number of the product slices forming the portion.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein, following the slicing of the product, each partial portion is completed in a track in which the partial portion was created and/or the completion of partial portions takes place in a separate track of the multiple tracks.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be described in the following by way of example and with reference to the drawing. There is shown:

(2) FIG. 1 schematically a view of a cutting apparatus in accordance with the invention having a product supply in accordance with an embodiment,

(3) FIG. 2 a view corresponding to FIG. 1 having a product supply in accordance with a further embodiment,

(4) FIG. 3 schematically a production line in accordance with the invention,

(5) FIG. 4 schematically a top view of a cutting apparatus in accordance with the invention,

(6) FIG. 5 schematically a side view of a feed apparatus operable in accordance with the invention,

(7) FIG. 6 schematically a top view of a cutting apparatus in accordance with the invention,

(8) FIG. 7 schematically a perspective view of a transfer device in accordance with the invention,

(9) FIG. 8 schematically showing the course of a portion completion possible by means of the invention,

(10) FIGS. 9 to 16 simplified top views of an apparatus for cutting food products in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention and

(11) FIGS. 17 to 23 simplified top views of an apparatus for cutting food products in accordance with further embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) FIGS. 1 and 2 each schematically show a high performance slicer which is designed to simultaneously cut several food products 11. The slicer possesses at least one cutting blade 14, which moves in a cutting plane 13. The cutting blade can, for example, be a sickle blade rotating about the blade axis. Alternatively, the slicer can be provided with a circular blade which rotates about a blade axis and additionally revolves about a parallel blade axis displaced in parallel to the blade axis in a planetary motion manner.

(13) A product supply 15 respectively serves to individually supply the products 11 to the cutting blade and/or to the cutting plane 13.

(14) In the embodiment of FIG. 1 each track of the slicer and/or of the product supply 15 and thus each of the products 11 to be simultaneously cut is associated with a feed device 17, which can be a so-called product support which engages into the rear end of the product 11 lying on a product support 29 of the product supply 15.

(15) A common drive 23 is provided for the individual feed devices 17 which can move a carrier 25 for the feed devices 17 along a guide 27 running in parallel to the feed direction F and indeed both in the feed direction F and also against the feed direction F as is indicated by the double arrow.

(16) When the common carrier 25 is moved in the direction of the cutting plane 13 by means of the common drive 23 all product supports 17 and thus all products 11 are compulsorily taken along in this connection. The product supports 17 are moved back again into the start position for cutting the next product. The common drive 23 provides a common feed speed for the products 11 during the cutting which can, however, be individually changed for each product 11 in that supports 17 are moved independent from one another relative to the carrier 25 during the cutting of the product, as is indicated by the double arrows at the product supports 17.

(17) Hereby a fine tuning or correction of the common feed speed can take place by the common drive 23 for each product 11 in order to, for example, compensate individual variations of the product cross-section and/or product density over the product length in this way, so that the product slices separated from the products 11 or portions formed thereof respectively have a desired weight. The described design of the product supply 15 thus enables the consideration of information obtained on the products 11, in particular information on the product interior in the sense of an individual product supply.

(18) In order to obtain information on the product interior a common product scanner 19 is provided which extends transverse to the feed direction F over all tracks. The product scanner 19 is, in particular an X-ray radiation unit which has the purpose of obtaining information on the interior of the product 11 while this is moved passed the product scanner 19 in the feed direction F or is moved through beneath the product scanner 19. Hereby the product scanner 19 defines a scanning plane running perpendicular to the feed direction F for which the product 11 is removed through during the scanning process. In this connection information on the product interior is detected scanning plane by scanning plane in order to determine, in particular the density distribution of the individual products 11 in the feed direction F in this manner.

(19) By means of the hatched regions at the common product scanner 19 it is indicated that a separate product scanner 19 can be arranged for each track in an alternative design.

(20) The cutting apparatus includes a control unit 21 which is connected to the cutting blade and/or to the drive for the cutting blade and/or to a blade or cutting head including the cutting blade. Moreover, the control unit 21 is connected to the product feed 15 as well as to the product scanner 19. In this manner the control unit 21 which can be a component of a super-ordinate central control unit, can provide for the individual product feed under consideration of the information obtained on the interior of the product by means of the product scanner 19.

(21) Preferably, also information on the product contour is considered during the individual product supply, i.e. the cross-section profile of the product 11 along the feed direction F as is generally known. For this purpose a separate product scanner can be provided which scans the outer contours of the product 11. Alternatively, such a scanning unit can be integrated into the product scanner 19.

(22) In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the product supply 15 is designed such that all products 11 can be supplied completely independent from one another. For each track and thus for each product 11 to be cut a feed device 17 is provided which is designed as a product support and which engages at the rear product end and guides the respective product 11 in the feed direction F toward the cutting plane 13. The supply speed can be individually set and varied for each track and thus for each product 11 and indeed respectively independent from the other tracks. In this respect it is also possible to momentarily suspend the product supply in each track, this means to stop the respective feed device 17. Hereby it is possible, with regard to the respective product, to carry out so-called blank cuts in order to achieve that momentarily no slices are cut off from the respective products 11.

(23) Such blank cuts are also possible in the concept of the product supply 15 in the embodiment of FIG. 1, as there the individual feed devices 17 can be moved independent from one another relative to the common carrier 25. The complete independence of the feed devices 17 and the concept of FIG. 2, however, creates a larger scope for the individual product supply in the concept of FIG. 2.

(24) Otherwise the embodiment of FIG. 2 corresponds to that of FIG. 1, so that one can refer to the corresponding explanations.

(25) FIG. 3 initially provides an overview of a possible design of a production line in accordance with the invention which includes a high performance slicer 115, a feed apparatus 129 as well as a packaging machine 121.

(26) The slicer 115 is in the position to simultaneously cut several food products 111—in this example three products—wherein a track is provided for each product 111. The slicer produces portions 113 for each track during the cutting of the products 111. In accordance with the terminology used here, a portion can include one or more cut off product slices, this means also a single cut off product slice should represent a portion in the framework of the invention.

(27) The feed device 129 arranged downstream of the slicer ensure that overall portions 119 are formed in the individual tracks from the incoming portions 113 which overall portions are subsequently supplied to the packing machine 121 and are packaged there. Each overall portion 119 thus includes a portion 113 from each of the tracks.

(28) If food products 111 of different variety are cut up by means of the slicer 115 then each overall portion 119 receives several slice varieties, this means that the production line generates “mixed packages” as was already mentioned in the introduction.

(29) As is shown in FIG. 4 the variety of overall portions generatable in accordance with the invention can be further increased, this means that the portions 113 simultaneously generated by the multi-track cutting can be different from one another not only in view of the variety of the product slices forming the portions 113.

(30) The three products 111 can be individually supplied to the cutting plane 117 of the slicer 115 in which at least one cutting blade moves, which is not illustrated here. In the example illustrated here a feed device 127 is provided for each track and therefore for each product 111 to be cut. The feed device engages at the rear product end and supplies the product 111 in the direction of the arrow to the cutting plane 117. The individual product supply means that the supply speed can be individually set and varied in each track and thus for each product 111.

(31) In particular it is possible to momentarily suspend the product supply in each track, this means to stop the respective feed device 127 in order to carry out so-called blank cuts with regard to the respective product, this means in order to achieve that no slices are momentarily cut off from the respective product 111 as was already mentioned in the introduction.

(32) Hereby it is not only possible to arbitrarily predefine the track individual properties, for example, the weight and/or the thickness of the respective product slices forming the respective portion 113 or to arbitrarily predefine the portion weight due to the individual product supply individually for each track, but it is also possible to select the number of the respective product slices forming the portions 113 individually for each track.

(33) The latter is indicated in FIG. 4. The portions 113 formed from the simultaneously cut products 111 respectively have two slices in the left track, have a slice in the central track and have three slices in the right track. This result can be achieved in that a slice is separated from the right product for each cutting process while two blind cuts are performed at the middle product and a blind cut is carried out at the left product for three respective subsequent cutting movements or processes of the cutting blade. The right product is thus cut “fastest” in contrast to which the middle product is cut “slowest” which is indicated in FIG. 4 by the correspondingly different product stub length.

(34) The three portions 113 respectively lying next to one another in the tracks are composed to an overall portion 119 by subsequently switched processes as is indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 4.

(35) In FIG. 5 a possibility for the formation of an overall portion 119 from two respective portions 113 referred to in the following as individual portions is explained by way of example of the two-track operation. The individual portions 113 can be composed of one or more product slices which are not illustrated individually here.

(36) The feed apparatus illustrated in FIG. 5 is also referred to as a stacking unit, as the individual portions 113 are respectively stacked on top of one another on the formation of the overall portions 119.

(37) The transport of the individual portions 113, of the overall portions 119 as well as of packages 123 taking place in a feed direction F1 will be described in detail later on, in the example illustrated here it is ensured by the conveyer belts 131, which are designed as an endless belt conveying apparatus.

(38) An upper portion 113 already lies on a separation layer 125, for example, of paper. The stacking of the upper portion 113 onto the support layer 125 occurs at a previously arranged not illustrated position. By means of a feed belt 131 tilting downwardly in the direction of a middle feed belt 131, the upper portions 113 respectively lying on top of the separation layer 125 arrive at a lower portion 113, whereby an overall portion 119 emerges, which in turn can be inserted into packages 123 transported by a lower feed belt 131 by means of a downwardly tilted feed belt 133.

(39) The feed belt 131 transporting the packages 123 can be viewed as a component of the otherwise non-illustrated packaging machine, in which the packages 123 having the overall portions 119 are completed, in particular are closed.

(40) The upper portion 113 and the lower portion 113 stem from different tracks of a cutting apparatus as was previously explained with reference to the example of FIG. 4. The upper portion 113 can, for example, be three slices of cheese while the lower portion 113 can, for example be formed from two slices of ham, whereby the lowest slice of cheese is separated from the upper slice of sausage by the separation layer 125.

(41) Furthermore, the upper portion 113 and the lower portion 113 can be different from one another in view of their overall weight, in view of the weight of their slices or in view of the thickness of their slices. These parameters can principally be set in an arbitrary kind and manner, as was previously explained, by a corresponding control of the product supply of the slicer 115.

(42) In accordance with FIG. 6 the cutting apparatus in accordance with the invention, which is a high performance slicer, includes a product supply 221 having a product support 231 for the products not illustrated in this example, as well as a common drive 233 for two individual feed devices 219 which are attached at a common carrier 237 which is movable by means of the common drive 233 along a guide 235 in the feed direction F2 running in parallel to the feed direction F2 and against the feed direction F2 as is indicated by the double arrow.

(43) The products can respectively be engaged at their rear end by the respective feed devices 219 designed as product grippers in this example. When the common carrier 237 is moved in the direction of a cutting plane 215 by means of a common drive 233, all product grippers 219 and thus all products are expediently taken along in this connection. For cutting the next products, the product grippers 219 are again moved back into the start position. During the cutting the common drive 233 consequently provides a common feed speed for the products which can, however, be individually corrected for each product in that during the cutting the product grippers 219 are moved independent from one another relative towards the carrier 237 as is indicated by the double arrows at the product grippers 219.

(44) For each product a fine tuning or correction of the feed speed can hereby take place by the common drive 233 in order to compensate, for example, individual variations of the product cross-section and/or the product density over the product length in this manner such that the product slices cut off from the product or the thereby formed portions each have a desired weight.

(45) Alternatively the product supply 221 can be designed such that a separate supply is present for each product, wherein the product supply can be operated completely independent from one another.

(46) In the illustrated embodiment two products can simultaneously be cut up, this means the cutting apparatus is designed as two-track in this example. The number of the tracks is, however, principally arbitrary.

(47) At least one non-illustrated cutting blade moves in the cutting plane 215 which can, for example, be a sickle blade rotating about a blade axis or it can be a circular blade which rotates about a blade axis and additional revolves about a central axis in a planetary motion manner.

(48) A transfer device 223 is arranged downstream of the cutting plane 215 in the feed direction F2 which includes a first feed device 225 designed as a portioning belt as well as a second feed device 227 designed as a control belt for each track. Furthermore, a further control belt 228 is arranged downstream of the two control belts 227 commonly associated with both tracks.

(49) As is indicated by the double arrows the portioning belts 225 and the control belts 227 are drivable both in the feed direction F2 and also in the opposite direction, this means that slices, portions or partial portions lying on these belts can be moved in the feed direction F2 and also against the feed direction F2 in dependence on the control signals or control commands of a control unit which is not illustrated in this example.

(50) In accordance with the invention the transfer device 223 is designed separate with regard to the two tracks so that the two portioning belts 225 and the two control belts 227 can each be operated independent from the another.

(51) As can be seen from the illustration of FIG. 7 the transfer device 223 can have further functions which are indicated by the respective double arrows. The portioning belts 225 can be lifted and/or lowered and indeed independent from the control belts 227 or together with the control belts 227. Such a lowering and lifting of the portioning belts 225 can, in particular serve for the matching of the fall path and/or the fall height of the cut off product slice during the formation of a portion. Furthermore, the portioning belts 225 can be pivotable in order to, in particular bring the free ends of the portioning belts 225 into a respective position facing the cutting plane 215 (cf. FIG. 6) in which unusable product pieces which arise, in particular on the carrying out of trimming cuts at the start of a cutting process.

(52) Both the lowering and the lifting and also the pivoting of each portioning belt 225 can take place independent of each of the other portioning belt 225, this means also in this regard a separation of the two tracks can be provided.

(53) A portion 213 is illustrated on each portioning belt 225 for illustration in FIG. 7 which portion is composed of a so-called shingled arrangement of several cut off product slices. During the normal cutting operation these portions 213 as soon as they are completed are transferred relatively quickly from the respective portioning belt 227 onto the control belt 227. From the control belt 227 the portion 213 is then transferred to the common control belt 228. The further transport from the common control belt 228 to units arranged downstream thereof, such as for example a further feed belt 229 (cf. FIG. 6) can then, for example, take place as soon as two complete portions 213 are present next to one another on the common control belt 228.

(54) An incomplete portion can be momentarily “parked” in that the incomplete portion is transferred from the portioning belt 225 to the first control belt 227 for the portion completion already mentioned in the introduction. The then free portioning belt 225 is then available for the reception of the unusable product pieces arising at the subsequent product during the trimming cut. These can, for example, be disposed of by folding away and operating the portioning belt 225 against the feed direction F2. The now free portioning belt 225 can then once more receive the incomplete portions parked at the first control belt 227 in that the control belt 227 is moved against the feed direction F2 onto the portioning belt 225 by operating the two belts 225, 227.

(55) As was already mentioned such portion completions can take place in the individual tracks completely independent from one another. Alternatively a procedure can be selected as will be explained in detail in the following with reference to FIG. 8.

(56) Each line indicates a cut off product slice in FIGS. 8a to 8f, wherein a complete portion is indicated by five such lines.

(57) FIG. 8a shows the “normal” cutting operation. Portions 213 arising at the portioning belts 225 are transferred to the respective subsequently arranged control band 227 once they are complete and are then taken away via the further control belt 228.

(58) In FIG. 8a a situation is illustrated in which portions are currently being formed on the portioning belts 225 which are currently not yet complete, but each only include three slices.

(59) Since one product 211 has a shorter residual length than the other product 211, the cutting procedure in that one track is terminated while the cutting of the product 211 in the other track is still ongoing. This is shown in FIG. 8b.

(60) On the portioning belt 225 of the track having the product of shorter residual length thus an incomplete partial portion 217 has arisen which merely includes three product slices. The partial portion 217 is initially not transported onto the subsequent control band 227 in this example, but remains on the a positioning belt 225 which is thus momentarily suspended. The complete portion previously present on the first control band 227 has already been transported to the further control band 228.

(61) FIG. 8c shows the situation in which the product in the other track has now also been completely cut. The last portion of this product can also be incomplete, this means that a partial portion 217 has also accrued in this track which in this example merely includes a product slice.

(62) In the embodiment explained in this example it is provided that the completion of these two partial portions 217 starts simultaneously. For this purpose the two partial portions 217 are respectively transferred from the portioning belt 225 to the respective control band 227 in accordance with FIG. 8d, where they are intermittently positioned. Subsequently, both tracks are each loaded with a new product 211 (FIG. 8e) and a so-called trimming cut is respectively carried out at the front product end, wherein the thereby resulting unusable product pieces 239 are taken up by the portioning belts 225. These product pieces 239 can, for example, be disposed of in the previously mentioned manner by means of the positioning belt 225.

(63) Following this the re-supply of the intermittently parked partial portions 217 back into their starting position can occur in that, in accordance with FIG. 8f, the control belts 227 and the portioning belts 225 are so moved against the feed direction F2 and the partial portions 217 are moved into their starting position at the portioning belts 225—which have become free again in the mean time. The product slices cut off from the new products 211 prepared by the mentioned trimming cut can thus complete the partial portions of the previous products. While the one partial portion still requires two product slices for its completion the other partial portion 217 is to be completed by four further product slices.

(64) Therefore it is not required in accordance with the invention to complete partial portions by hand. Moreover, product losses are minimized, as partial portions no longer have to be disposed of.

(65) In accordance with FIG. 9 a high performance slicer 311 includes a non-closer described product feed which is designed to guide food products 315 in several tracks 313a, 313b, 313c arranged in parallel next to one another along a feed direction F3 to a cutting plane S3, in which a cutting blade moves rotatingly and/or revolvingly (not illustrated). The product feed includes one or more feed devices which are designed such that the supply movement along the feed direction F3 can be suspended for each track 313a, 313b, 313c independent from the other tracks and can be restarted again. For example, gripping claws and/or belt conveyers can be provided as feed devices which engage the rear product end. A transfer device 319 arranged downstream of the cutting blade ensures that complete product portions 317, which includes eight product slices 316 in the illustrated embodiment, are transferable to subsequent units, such as for example a packaging machine, and that incomplete partial portions respectively present after cutting a product 315 are completable by product slices 316 from a subsequent product 315. The transfer device 319 includes three feed devices following one another namely one arranged in the direct surrounding the cutting plane S3 in the portion feed 321, one arranged downstream of the portion feed 321a control feed 323, as well as one arranged downstream of the control feed 323 an alignment feed 325, wherein the alignment feed 325 is designed divided and is individually controllable for the individual tracks 313a, 313b, 313c.

(66) In the operating state illustrated in FIG. 9 the products 315 are supplied to the cutting plane S3 continuously at all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c, wherein a non-illustrated control unit ensures that complete portions 317 are generated at the portion feed 321. The control unit is in a position to control and/or to regulate the feed devices 321, 323, 325 of the transfer unit 319 and also the product supply for the individual tracks 313a, 313b, 313c in accordance with predefined parameters. By means of suitable sensors all products 315 are measured and/or weighed prior to the cutting operation. The corresponding data is transferred to the control unit and is possibly stored.

(67) As soon as the product 315 comes to an end, for example, in the right track 313c in the Figure and the remaining product stub in this track is no longer sufficient to form a complete portion 317, however, the remaining product stubs of the other tracks 313a, 313b are still sufficient to form complete portions 317, the supply of the product 315 in the right product track 313c in the Figure is suspended by a corresponding control of the product supply and the product stub is transferred into a retracted blank cut position, as is illustrated in FIG. 10. Thus complete portions 317 are generated at the two left tracks 313a, 313b in a manner known per se, in contrast to which no product slices are cut off in the right track 313c. As soon as, for example, the product 315 has been cut up at the middle product track 313b so far that the remaining product stub is also no longer sufficient for the formation of a complete portion 317, the cutting on this track 313b is also suspended, this means that the product supply is stopped and the product 315 is transferred into a retracted blank cut position.

(68) FIG. 11 shows a state of operation in which the remaining product stubs on all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c are so short that no complete portions 317 can be cut. The products at all product tracks 313a, 313b, 313c are thus present in a blank cut position. From FIG. 11 it emerges that the last complete portion 317 is cut at the left product track 313a. The completed portions 317 are transferred in the manner known per se to subsequent devices.

(69) The product stubs at the tracks 313a, 313b, 313c are of different length, this means that the incomplete partial portions to be respectively expected are of different size. In this respect the size of the product stub is independent from the point in time at which the remaining product stub is no longer sufficient for the formation of a complete portion. Due to differences in the product properties, e.g. a different cross-sectional course it can also be that the product stub at that track at which the first blank cut operation was started could be the longest of all tracks or could also be the shortest of all tracks.

(70) In a common product stub consumption process the product stubs are now cut up at all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c, wherein on cutting of the product stubs one starts with the largest remaining product stub on the central track 313b in accordance with FIG. 12. The other tracks 313a, 313c follow later corresponding to the size of their product stub, wherein the control occurs such that the cutting of the product stubs in all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c ends simultaneously. The last usable product slice 316 is thus simultaneously cut at all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c so that the rear edges 340 of the incomplete partial portions 327 are evenly arranged, this means that they lie at the same height with regard to the feed direction F3. This state is illustrated in FIG. 13.

(71) The remaining no longer usable end pieces 329 are retracted from the cutting plane S3 and are removed, for example by a clamp provided in the product feed. Furthermore, the incomplete partial portions 327 are conveyed by the portion feed 327 in the feed direction F3 onto the control feed 323 as is illustrated in FIG. 14. New products 315 are now placed onto all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c, wherein the non-used first cut is respectively cut and removed from the portion feed 321, which is operated for this purpose against the feed direction F3. The new products 315 are subsequently transferred into the blank cut position shown in FIG. 14.

(72) Subsequently, the incomplete partial portions 327 are moved against the feed direction F3 by the control feed 323 back to the portion feed 321 in accordance with FIG. 15 and in this respect are positioned such that the newly cut off product slices 316 correctly further shingle the shingled partial portions 327. Now the completion of the partial portions 327 is started at all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c, this means the products 315 are simultaneously supplied from the blank cut position to the cutting plane S3. As soon as the first partial portion 327 is completed the product 315 is moved at the corresponding track in this case at the middle track 313b back into the blank cut position. In the operating state illustrated in FIG. 15 the two right tracks 313b, 313c are already in the blank cut position while the last slice 316 has just been cut off in the left track 313a for completing the partial portion. The completed portions 317, which due to the different start of the product stub consumption process are arranged displaced with regard to one another both with regard to the front edge 330 and also the rear edge 340 along the feed direction F3, are moved by the portion feed 321 to the control feed 323 and from this to the divided alignment feed 325.

(73) As is illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 16 the front edges 330 of the completed portion 317 are aligned on the divided alignment feed 325—for example by means of individually controllable portion stop belts—such that the front edges 330 of the completed portions 317 all lie at the same height in all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c with regard to the front feed direction F3. All present partial portions have now been completed to complete portions 317 and have been correctly aligned with respect to one another. Furthermore, one can once again start with the continuous mode of operation in accordance with FIG. 9 at the tracks 313a, 313b, 313c in which complete portions 317 are cut in the regular manner.

(74) An alternative method for the cutting of food products in several tracks is described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 23. The high performance slicer 311 illustrated in FIGS. 17 to 23 is constructed similar to that of the first embodiment in accordance with FIGS. 9 to 16, wherein, however, the divided alignment feed 325 can be omitted in this example. Portions 317′ are manufactured which shingled merely with a minimum displacement. FIG. 17 in turn shows a state of continuous mode of operation in which complete portions 317′ are continuously manufactured subsequently and are transferred by a transfer unit 319′ to one after the other processing devices.

(75) Like in the first embodiment the supply of the product 317′ is, for example, suspended in the right track 313c, if the remaining product stub in this track is no longer sufficient for the formation of a complete portion 317′ and the remaining product stub in both the other tracks 313a, 313b is still sufficient for the formation of at least one portion 317′. Then complete portions 317′ are further cut at both of the left product tracks 313a, 313b, in contrast to which the product 315 at the right product track 313c is moved into the blank cut position. This state is illustrated in FIG. 18.

(76) As soon as, for example, the product stub in the left product track 313a is also no longer sufficient for the formation of the complete portion 317′, this product 315 is also moved into the blank cut position at this product track 313a. FIG. 19 shows a state of operation in which the remaining product stubs at all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c is no longer sufficient for the formation of the complete portion 317′ and in which the products 315 are correspondingly transferred into the blank cut position at all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c. As emerges from FIG. 19 the product 315 of the middle product track 313b is transferred into the blank cut position as the last.

(77) In accordance with FIG. 20 now the incomplete partial portions 327′ are cut, wherein one simultaneously starts with the cutting of the remaining product stub in all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c. Correspondingly, the front edges 330 of the partial portions 327′ are evenly aligned at all tracks 313a, 313b, 313c, this means that they lie at the same height with regard to the feed direction F3. As soon as all of the product stubs have been cut up into the non-useable end pieces 329, the partial portions 327′ formed until then are delivered by the portion feed 321 to the control feed 323. The end pieces 329 are then removed as previously described. Furthermore, new products 315 are inserted into the high performance slicer 311 and cut. As soon as the non-useable first cut has been removed from the portion feed 321 (FIG. 21) the partial portions 327′ are once again moved against the feed direction F by the control feed 323 onto the portion feed 321 backwards. In this respect the rear edge 340 of the partial portion 327′ of the right track 313c is re-guided into a completing position while the rear edge 340 of the other—longer—partial portions 327′ is thus moved back beyond the completing position. Subsequently, the partial portions 327′ are completed and indeed starting with the partial portion 327′ in the right track 313c which requires the highest number of product slices 316 for completion. This state of operation is illustrated in FIG. 22.

(78) The other product tracks 313a, 313b hop in “flyingly” once the rear edge 340 of the respective partial portion 327′ has arrived at the completing position. After completion of this method both the front edges 330 and also the rear edges 340 of the completed portion 317′ are evenly aligned. The completed portions 317′ can now be transferred in a manner known per se and the formation of new completed portions 317′ can resume in accordance with the state of continuous mode of operation illustrated in accordance with FIG. 17.

(79) This alternative is obviously also suitable for portions of evenly stacked slices. In how far this alternative is generally suitable for shingled portions depends on the degree at which the specific apparatus allows to re-supply portions with their rear edges beyond the completing position without the slices falling off.

(80) All embodiments of the apparatus described in this context are, in particular configured to be operated in accordance with one or more of the methods described herein. Furthermore, all embodiments of the apparatus described herein as well as all embodiments of the method described herein can be respectively combined with one another.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(81) 11 product 13 cutting plane 15 product supply 17 feed device, product support 19 means for obtaining information, product scanner, X-ray radiation unit 21 control unit 23 common drive 25 carrier 27 guide 29 product support F feed direction 111 product 113 portion 115 cutting apparatus, slicer 117 cutting plane 119 overall portion 121 subsequent device, packaging machine 123 package 125 separation layer 127 feed device 129 feed apparatus 131 feeder F1 feed direction 211 product 213 portion 215 cutting plane 217 partial portion 219 feed device 221 product supply 223 transfer device 225 first feed device, portioning belt 227 second feed device, control belt 228 feed device, further control belt 229 subsequent device 231 product support 233 common drive 235 guide 237 carrier 239 product piece F2 feed direction 311 high performance slicer 313a, 313b, 313c product track 315 product 316 product slice 317, 317′ product 319, 319′ transfer device 321 portion feed 323 control feed 325 alignment feed 327, 327′ partial portion 329 end piece 330 front edge 340 rear edge F3 feed direction S3 cutting plane