CARDBOARD DISPENSING APPARATUS

Abstract

A cardboard dispensing apparatus for providing cardboards at a food product supply area comprises a cardboard store for storing cardboards that form a cardboard stack, a cardboard buffer storage for storing a plurality of cardboards, and a cardboard conveyor for conveying the cardboards from the cardboard buffer storage to the food product supply area. A cardboard extracting device is configured to extract cardboards from the cardboard store and move the cardboards into the cardboard buffer storage, while the cardboard conveyor is configured to remove the cardboards from the cardboard buffer storage and convey them to the food product supply area.

Claims

1.-16. (canceled)

17. A cardboard dispensing apparatus for providing cardboards for use as a food product bottom support or as a food product packaging element at a food product supply area where food products are provided by a conveying apparatus, the cardboard dispensing apparatus comprising: a cardboard store for storing cardboards that form a cardboard stack in the cardboard store, a cardboard extracting device for extracting cardboards from the cardboard store, a cardboard buffer storage for storing a plurality of cardboards, and a cardboard conveyor for conveying the cardboards from the cardboard buffer storage to the food product supply area, wherein the cardboard extracting device is configured to extract cardboards from the cardboard store and move the cardboards into the cardboard buffer storage, and wherein the cardboard conveyor is configured to remove the cardboards from the cardboard buffer storage and convey the cardboards to the food product supply area.

18. Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the cardboard extracting device is configured to successively extract a respective uppermost cardboard from the cardboard stack and move the respective uppermost cardboard from the cardboard stack into the cardboard buffer storage; or wherein the cardboard extracting device is configured to jointly extract a group of cardboards comprising a predetermined number of cardboards from the cardboard stack and move the group of cardboards jointly from the cardboard stack into the cardboard buffer storage.

19. Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the cardboard extracting device includes a separation device that is movable between a passive position and a separation position, wherein the separation device is configured to separate cardboards of the cardboard stack above an extraction height from cardboards of the cardboard stack below the extraction height.

20. Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the cardboard extracting device comprises a blocking member, the blocking member being movable between a release position and a blocking position, wherein the blocking member, in the blocking position, is configured to block a movement of cardboards below the extraction height towards the cardboard buffer storage.

21. Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 19, wherein the cardboard extracting device comprises an entrainer, the entrainer being configured to move the separated cardboards into the cardboard buffer storage.

22. Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the cardboard extracting device is configured to, during operation of the cardboard dispensing apparatus, extract at least one further cardboard from the cardboard store and move the at least one further cardboard into the cardboard buffer storage.

23. Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 17, wherein the cardboard conveyor includes an upper conveyor, the upper conveyor being arranged above the cardboards stored in the cardboard buffer storage, and wherein the cardboard buffer storage includes a pressing device that is configured to selectively press the cardboards stored in the cardboard buffer storage against the upper conveyor for removing the cardboards from the cardboard buffer storage.

24. Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 23, wherein the cardboard dispensing apparatus includes a controller, the controller being configured to, during operation of the cardboard dispensing apparatus, constantly or—timed with the pressing device—intermittently or periodically drive the upper conveyor of the cardboard dispensing apparatus, periodically control the pressing device for pressing the cardboards stored in the cardboard buffer storage against the upper conveyor to remove an uppermost cardboard from the cardboard buffer storage, and periodically control the cardboard extracting device for moving at least one further cardboard into the cardboard buffer storage.

25. A method for providing cardboards for use as a food product bottom support or as a food product packaging element at a food product supply area where food products, wherein the cardboards are provided using a cardboard dispensing apparatus, the method comprising the steps: Extracting a plurality of cardboards from a cardboard store and arranging the plurality of cardboards in a cardboard buffer storage, removing the cardboards from the cardboard buffer storage and conveying the removed cardboards to the food product supply area.

26. Method in accordance with claim 25, wherein the plurality of cardboards in the cardboard buffer storage is restored, after a cardboard or a group of cardboards has been removed from the cardboard buffer storage, by moving a further cardboard or a further group of cardboards from the cardboard store into the cardboard buffer storage.

27. Method in accordance with claim 25, wherein, for removing the cardboards from the cardboard buffer storage, the cardboards stored in the cardboard buffer storage are periodically pressed against an upper conveyor.

28. Method in accordance with claim 25, wherein the cardboard store includes a cardboard extracting device for moving the cardboards from the cardboard store into the cardboard buffer storage, wherein the cardboard extracting device is controlled for periodically moving a subsequent cardboard from the cardboard store into the cardboard buffer storage once a cardboard has been removed from the cardboard buffer storage; or wherein the cardboard extracting device is controlled for periodically moving a group of cardboards comprising a predetermined number of cardboards from the cardboard store into the cardboard buffer storage.

29. Method in accordance with claim 28, wherein the cardboard extracting device is controlled for moving the group of cardboards from the cardboard store into the cardboard buffer storage after the predetermined number of cardboards has been removed from the cardboard buffer storage.

30. Method in accordance with claim 28, wherein the cardboards are lifted upwards in the cardboard store after the subsequent cardboard or the group of cardboards has been moved into the cardboard buffer storage.

31. Food processing system including a slicing apparatus that is configured to cut off slices from a food product, a conveying apparatus for conveying the slices to a food product supply area, and including a cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 17.

32. Food processing system in accordance with claim 31, in particular wherein the food processing system includes a second cardboard dispensing apparatus, wherein a controller of the food processing system is configured to switch to the respective other of the cardboard dispensing apparatus and the second cardboard dispensing apparatus when the cardboard store of the cardboard dispensing apparatus or the second cardboard dispensing apparatus has been emptied.

33. A cardboard dispensing apparatus for providing cardboards for use as a food product bottom support or as a food product packaging element at a food product supply area where food products are provided by a conveying apparatus, the cardboard dispensing apparatus comprising: a cardboard store for storing cardboards that form a cardboard stack in the cardboard store, a cardboard extracting device for extracting cardboards from the cardboard store, and a cardboard conveyor for conveying the cardboards to the food product supply area, wherein the cardboard extracting device is configured to extract cardboards from the cardboard store and move the cardboards into the cardboard conveyor, wherein the cardboard extracting device includes a separation device configured to separate only a respective uppermost cardboard of the cardboard stack by lifting the uppermost cardboard with respect to the remaining cardboards of the cardboard stack, the separation device comprising a suction device configured to apply a negative pressure to a rear upper portion of a respective uppermost cardboard for lifting at least a rear end portion thereof, and wherein the cardboard extracting device comprises an entrainer the entrainer being configured to move the respective uppermost cardboard into the cardboard conveyor by engaging the lifted rear end portion thereof.

34. Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 33, wherein the cardboard extracting device comprises a blocking member, the blocking member being movable between a release position and a blocking position, wherein the blocking member, in the blocking position, is configured to block a movement of the remaining cardboards located below a respective uppermost cardboard.

35. Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 33, wherein the cardboard extracting device comprises at least one hold-down element positioned laterally with respect to the suction device and configured to hold a respective lateral rear end portion of the uppermost cardboard down below the height level of the lifted rear end portion thereof.

36. Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with claim 35, wherein the cardboard extracting device comprises at least two hold-down elements positioned on both sides of the suction device.

37. A method for providing cardboards for use as a food product bottom support or as a food product packaging element at a food product supply area where food products are provided by a conveying apparatus, wherein the cardboards are provided using a cardboard dispensing apparatus, the method comprising the steps: applying a negative pressure to a respective uppermost cardboard for lifting at least a rear end portion thereof, engaging the lifted rear end portion of the uppermost cardboard for moving it towards the food product supply area, and conveying the uppermost cardboard to the food product supply area.

38. Method in accordance with claim 37, in particular wherein the method further comprises: blocking a movement of the remaining cardboards located below a respective uppermost cardboard.

39. Method in accordance with claim 37, holding a respective lateral rear end portion of the uppermost cardboard down below the height level of the lifted rear end portion thereof.

40. Method in accordance with claim 39, wherein the uppermost cardboard is held down at two lateral rear end portions situated on both sides of where the negative pressure is applied.

Description

[0121] In that which follows, embodiments of the invention are exemplarily described with reference to the drawings.

[0122] The drawings show:

[0123] FIG. 1 a schematic overview of a food processing system including a slicing apparatus for cutting food products into slices, a conveying apparatus for conveying portions including one or several slices to a food product supply area, a cardboard dispensing apparatus and a second cardboard dispensing apparatus for providing cardboards at the food product supply area serving as a food product bottom support or a food product packaging element, and a packaging machine for jointly packaging portions of the food products and the associated cardboard,

[0124] FIGS. 2A and 2B a respective schematic illustration of the cardboard dispensing apparatus having a cardboard store in which cardboards are stored, a cardboard extracting device for moving cardboards from the cardboard store into a cardboard buffer storage, and a cardboard conveyor for removing the cardboards from the cardboard buffer storage and conveying the cardboards to the food product supply area,

[0125] FIGS. 3A and 3B a respective illustration of an alternative construction of the cardboard extracting device of the cardboard dispensing apparatus, and

[0126] FIGS. 4A to 4F an illustration of another alternative construction of the extracting device of the cardboard dispensing apparatus.

[0127] FIG. 1 shows a food processing system 59 that comprises a slicing apparatus 97 for cutting a food product 17′ into slices 21. The slicing apparatus 97 comprises a food product conveyor 101 that transports the food product 17′ to a slicing area 107 in which a blade 105, in particular a rotating blade 105, is arranged that cuts off the slices 21 from the food product 17′. The slices 21 are collected on a conveying apparatus 99 and portions 19 including several slices 21 are built, which, after completion, are conveyed to a packaging machine 103 that provides packages 109 in which the portions 19 may be packaged.

[0128] In the shown embodiment, food products 17′ are thus processed by creating portions 19 including several slices 21 that are, in turn, automatically packaged in packages 109 to be sold to the consumer. However, it is in general also possible to package the entire food product 17′ or to cut the food product 17′ into pieces and package one or more pieces in a package 109. Further, it is also possible to form and package portions 19 only including a single slice 21.

[0129] Between the slicing apparatus 97 and the packaging machine 103, the portions 19, that constitute processed food products 17, are conveyed to a food product supply area 15 that is located at a transition 16 between two conveyor bands 18 of the conveying apparatus 99. The food processing system 59 includes a cardboard dispensing apparatus 11 that is configured to provide cardboards 13 at the food product supply area 15 by moving the cardboards 13 through the transition 16 as the food products 17 or portions 19 are moved over the transition 16. Thus, the slices 21 of a portion 19 may be positioned on a respective cardboard 13, such that the cardboard 13 may form a food product bottom support and the cardboard 13 and the associated food product 17 or portion 19 may jointly be conveyed to the packaging machine 103 and packaged in the package 109.

[0130] By providing cardboards 13 as a food product bottom support, a later consumer may, e.g., take out the portion 19 from the package 109 in a simple manner and present the portion 19 on the cardboard 13 for consumption. Further, the cardboards 13 may, in particular by a folding means not shown in the figure, be folded around a portion 19 to a form food product packaging element at least partially surrounding the portion 19. This may, e.g., be used to provide information printed on the cardboard 13 to the consumer.

[0131] The cardboard dispensing apparatus 11 is described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B.

[0132] In order to provide the cardboards 13 at the food product supply area 15, the cardboard dispensing apparatus 11 includes a cardboard store 23 in which cardboards 13 forming a cardboard stack 24 are stored. However, the cardboards 13 are not conveyed directly from the cardboard store 23 to the food product supply area 15 but between the cardboard store 23 and the food product supply area 15, a cardboard buffer storage 29 storing a plurality of cardboards 25 is arranged. To provide the cardboards 13 at the food product supply area 15, the cardboard dispensing apparatus 11 includes a cardboard conveyer 31 that is configured to remove the cardboards 13 from the cardboard buffer storage 29 and move the cardboards 13 to the food product supply area 15. Thus, the cardboards 13 are moved along a movement direction M from the cardboard store 23 via the cardboard buffer storage 29 to the food product supply area 15.

[0133] In order to move cardboards 13 from the cardboard stack 24 into the cardboard buffer storage 29, the cardboard dispensing apparatus 11 includes a cardboard extracting device 27 that is configured to extract cardboards 13 from the cardboard store 23 and move the cardboards 13 into the cardboard buffer storage 29. The cardboard extracting device 27 includes a conveying means 71 that is configured as a conveying roll and that is driven through a belt drive 67. As illustrated in FIG. 2A, an uppermost cardboard 33 of the cardboard stack 24 in the cardboard store 23 may be brought into contact with the conveying means 71, such that, through frictional forces between the conveying means 71 and the uppermost cardboard 33, the uppermost cardboard 33 may be moved from the cardboard store 23 into the cardboard buffer storage 29.

[0134] In order to remove cardboards 13 from the cardboard buffer storage 29, the cardboard conveyor 31 includes an upper conveyor 63 and the cardboard buffer storage 29 includes a pressing device 53 that is movable upwards and downwards as indicated by the arrow C. Thus, by lifting the pressing device 53, an uppermost cardboard of a stack 39 of cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29 may be pressed against the upper conveyor 63 and, due to frictional forces between the uppermost cardboard 35 and the upper conveyor 63, the uppermost cardboard 35 may be removed from the cardboard buffer storage 29 (see FIG. 2A).

[0135] In order to ensure that only a single cardboard 13 is removed from the cardboard buffer storage 29, a blocking means 79 is provided that jointly with a stationary upper element (FIG. 1; not shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B) forms a gap 51 through which the uppermost cardboard 35 is moved as it leaves the cardboard buffer storage 29. The size of the gap 51 may be chosen similar to the thickness of the cardboard 13, such that that only the uppermost cardboard 35 can be removed from the cardboard buffer storage 29 while a movement of the remaining cardboards in the movement direction M is blocked by the blocking means 79. A movement of a subsequent cardboard 13 due to friction between the uppermost cardboard 35 and the subsequent cardboard 13 may, thus, be prevented.

[0136] When the uppermost cardboard 35 is removed from the cardboard buffer storage 29, it is received by a lower conveyer 52 of the cardboard conveyor 31 that, jointly with the upper conveyor 63, forms a gap such that the cardboard 35 may be transported between the upper conveyor 63 and the lower conveyor 52 to the food product supply area 15. In particular, the upper conveyor 63 and the lower conveyor 62 may be driven by a common drive and/or both exert frictional forces on the cardboard 35 to move the cardboard 35 to the food product supply area 15. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the upper conveyor 63 may be continuous and redirected to move the cardboards 13 upwards and through the transition 16. However, it is also possible to provide an upper conveyor 63 including several conveying bands or conveying belts to enable a redirection of the cardboards.

[0137] Further, the cardboards 13 may be successively removed from the cardboard buffer storage 29 by periodically controlling the pressing device 53 for pressing the cardboards 13 upwards while the upper conveyor 63 and/or the lower conveyor 52 may be driven constantly or—timed with the pressing device—intermittently or periodically during operation. In order to control the activation and deactivation of the pressing device 53, a measuring device 83 is provided that is configured to detect a front end 77 of the uppermost cardboard 35 having been removed from the cardboard buffer storage 29. Thus, the measuring device 83 may detect when the uppermost cardboard 35 is received by the lower conveyor 52 and enters the gap 51 such that the cardboard 35 may be conveyed to the food product supply area 15 without the pressing device 53 exerting any pressure towards the upper conveyor 63. Accordingly, a controller 55 of the cardboard dispensing apparatus 11 may, in response to a signal from the measuring device 83, control the pressing device 53 for spacing the cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29 from the upper conveyor 63. For example, the measuring device 83 may be configured as a light barrier and/or perform a measurement L to detect the cardboard 35.

[0138] As may also be seen in FIG. 2A, the cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29 partly overlap cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard store 23 and, when the pressing device 53 is controlled to space the cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard buffer storage from the upper conveyor 63, rest with their rear ends 75 on a ramp 57 between the cardboard store 23 and the cardboard buffer storage 29. Since the cardboards 13 are spaced from the upper conveyor 63, a further cardboard 13 may, in particular after the uppermost cardboard 35 has been removed from the cardboard buffer storage 29 completely, be extracted from the cardboard store 23 and moved into the cardboard buffer storage 29 by the cardboard extracting device 27. This may be performed through the conveying means 71, that may exert frictional forces to the uppermost cardboard 33 stored in the cardboard store 23 to move the cardboard 33 into the cardboard buffer storage 29. Since the uppermost cardboard 33 of the cardboard stack 24 is moved over the ramp 57 into the cardboard buffer storage 29, it may be positioned underneath the cardboards 13 already stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29.

[0139] Thus, after the uppermost cardboard 35 has been removed from the cardboard buffer storage 29, a subsequent cardboard 13, the uppermost cardboard 33 of the cardboard stack 24, may be moved from the cardboard store 23 into the cardboard buffer storage 29 to restore the plurality 25 of cardboards 13 in the cardboard buffer storage 29. Accordingly, whenever a cardboard 13 is removed from the cardboard buffer storage 29, the same number of cardboards 13 is stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29 and the cardboards 13 may be removed under constant conditions. In particular, the conditions under which the cardboard conveyor 31 acts on the cardboards 13 to convey the cardboard 13 to the food product supply area 15 are independent of the number of cardboards stored in the cardboard store 23. Thus, a stable and reliable operation of the cardboard dispensing apparatus 11 and the provision of cardboards 13 at the food product supply area 15 at high rates may be accomplished.

[0140] Since, in this embodiment, the number of cardboards stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29 is always restored after a cardboard 13 has been removed from the cardboard buffer storage 29, the pressing device 53 may be activated periodically to press the cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29 against the upper conveyor 63. In order to control the activation of the pressing device 53, a further measurement device 83 is provided that, through a measurement L, is configured to detect the cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29, in particular a height of the stack 39 of cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29. In particular, the measurement device 83 may be configured to detect rear ends 75 of the cardboards 13 and thus, detecting when a subsequent cardboard 13 has been correctly moved into the cardboard buffer storage 29. The measurement device 83 may, e.g., comprise a light barrier and/or a distance sensor.

[0141] In order to prevent the cardboard extracting device 27 from overfilling the cardboard buffer storage 29 or move a further cardboard 13 into the cardboard buffer storage 29 even though no cardboard 13 has been removed, the cardboard extracting device 27 includes a spacer means 73 that, via a coupling 91, is connected to the conveying means 71 and supported on the floor 111 via a support 85 of the cardboard dispensing apparatus 11. The conveying means 71 and the spacer means 73 are arranged offset to each other with respect to a height direction H.

[0142] FIG. 2B illustrates the cardboard dispensing apparatus after a cardboard 13 has been moved into the cardboard buffer storage 29 to restore the plurality 25 of cardboards 13. In this situation, the spacer means 73 rests on the rear ends 75 of the cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29 such that the conveying means 71 does not reach the subsequent cardboard 13 stored in the cardboard store 23. A subsequent cardboard 13 may, thus, only be moved into the cardboard buffer storage 29 after the uppermost cardboard 35 of the cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29 has been removed from the cardboard buffer storage 29 by activating the pressing device 53. After the uppermost cardboard 35 has been removed, the spacer means 73 and the conveying means 71 jointly fall downwards and the offset between those components is chosen such that the conveying means 71 then contacts the uppermost cardboard 33 of the cardboard stack 24 while the spacer means 73 does not come into contact with the cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29 (see FIG. 2A). Thus, the uppermost cardboard 33 of the cardboard stack 24 may be moved into the cardboard buffer storage 29. The conveying means 71 may in particular be driven constantly, such that a cardboard 13 may immediately be moved into the cardboard buffer storage 29 as soon as the height of the cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29 falls below the offset between the spacer means 73 and the conveying means 71.

[0143] Further, the spacer means 23 is configured as an eccentric roll and mounted rotatably around an axis 113. By changing the position of the spacer means 73, the offset between the spacer means 73 and the conveying means 71 may be adjusted and a height of the stack 39 of cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29 at which the spacer means 73 contacts the cardboards 13 may be defined. Thus, by adjusting the position of the spacer means 73, a number of cardboards 13 to be stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29 or the number of the plurality 25 of cardboards 13 may be defined, and, during operation, this number may be kept constant. In particular, at the start of operation, the thus predetermined number of cardboards 13 may be moved into the cardboard buffer storage 29 until the spacer means 73 comes into contact with the cardboards 13 and prevents the conveying means 71 from contacting the cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard store 23.

[0144] During operation, after each cardboard 13 that has been removed from the cardboard buffer storage 29, a subsequent cardboard 13 may be automatically moved from the cardboard store 23 into the cardboard buffer storage 29.

[0145] In order to enable the cardboard extracting device 27 to act on the cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard store 23 while the cardboard stack 24 is emptied, the cardboard dispensing apparatus 11 includes a lifting device 65 that is configured to lift the cardboard stack 24 upwards in a height direction H. The cardboard extracting device 27 is, in general, operable between an upper position and a lower position and the lifting device 65 is configured to move the cardboard extracting device 27 to the upper position by pushing the cardboard stack 24 upwards. To be movable between the upper position and the lower position, the cardboard extracting device 27 is pivotable around a pivot axis D3, around which also a pulley 68 of the belt drive 67 is drivable.

[0146] To ensure that the cardboard extracting device 27 is positioned in a position where operation is possible, i.e. between the upper position and the lower position, the cardboard extracting device 29 includes a pivot lever 89 that extends downward and contacts a respective sensor 87 when the cardboard extracting device 27 reaches the upper position or the lower position. The controller 55 may in particular be configured to control the lifting apparatus 67 for lifting the cardboard stack 24 when the sensors 87 detect the lower position and stop the lifting apparatus 65 when the upper position is detected, such that the position of the cardboard extracting device 27 may be kept between those two positions. The cardboard extracting device 27 may in particular also pivot during operation when cardboards 13 are moved from the cardboard store 23 into the cardboard buffer storage 29 or from the cardboard buffer storage 29 towards the food product supple area 15, such that a correction of the position might be necessary. The sensors 87 may, e.g., be configured as mechanical contact sensors.

[0147] FIGS. 3A and 3B show an alternative construction of the cardboard extracting device 27. While the cardboard extracting device 27 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B is configured to immediately move a further cardboard 13 into the cardboard buffer storage 29 after a cardboard 13 has been removed from the cardboard buffer storage 29, the cardboard extracting device 27 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B is in particular configured to jointly move a group 37 of cardboards 13 into the cardboard buffer storage 29. In particular, in such embodiments, a group 37 of cardboards 13 may be moved into the cardboard buffer storage 29 after a group of the same number of cardboards 13 has been removed from the cardboard buffer storage 29. This enables to keep the number of cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29 in a predetermined range, thus providing, similarly to the other construction, constant conditions for the cardboard conveyor 31, in particular, independent of the number of cardboards 13 stored in the cardboard store 23.

[0148] The extracting device 27 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B includes a separation device 41 that is configured to separate cardboards 13 above an extraction height E from cardboards 13 below the extraction height E. As may be seen, the lifting device 65 may lift the cardboard stack 24 upwards, such that several cardboards 13 forming a group 37 may be positioned above the extraction height E.

[0149] In order to separate that group 37 from cardboards 13 below the extraction height E, the separation device 41 is movable from a passive position P, in which the separation device 41 is positioned adjacent the cardboard stack 24 and the cardboard stack 24 may be lifted by the lifting apparatus 65, to a separation position S in which the separation device 41 acts on the cardboards 13 above the extraction height E (see FIG. 3B). In this embodiment, the separation device 41 is pivotable around a pivot axis D2 to move from the passive position P to the separation position S. Due to that movement of the separation device 41 from the passive position P to the separation position S, rear ends 75 of the cardboard 13 stored in the cardboard store 23 may be elevated by the separation device 41 and thus separated from cardboards 13 below the extraction height E.

[0150] Further, the cardboard extracting device 27 includes a blocking member 43 that is movable between a release position R shown in FIG. 3A and a blocking position B shown in FIG. 3B. In the blocking position B, the blocking member 43 exerts a pressure on the cardboards 13 below the extraction height E, thus preventing the cardboards 13 from being moved towards the cardboard buffer storage 29. To move from the release position R to the blocking position B, the blocking member 43 is pivotable around a pivot axis D1.

[0151] In order to move the separated cardboards 49 forming the group 37 of cardboards 13 into the cardboard buffer storage 29, the cardboard extracting device 27 includes an entrainer 45 that is configured as a pusher 47. The pusher 47 may be linearly movable and act on the rear ends 75 of the separated cardboards 49 to push the group 37 of cardboards 13 over the ramp 57 and underneath the cardboards 13 already stored in the cardboard buffer storage 29 (see also FIGS. 1, 2A and 2B). In particular, the entrainer 45 may be movable by a belt drive 67.

[0152] The blocking member 43 and the separation device 41 are further coupled via a motion link 81 of the blocking member 43 into which a pin 93 connected to the separation device 41 extends. Thus, a movement of the blocking member 43 may be transmitted to the separation device 41 and vice versa, such that the separation device 41 may be moved from the passive position P to the separation position S when the blocking member 43 is moved from the release position R to the blocking position B, and vice versa. In addition, the motion link 81 is configured such that the separation device 41 contacts the rear ends 75 of the cardboards 13 above the extraction height E to separate the cardboards 13 from the cardboards 13 below the extraction height E before the blocking member 43 reaches the cardboard stack 24. Thus, the space needed for the blocking member 43 to reach the cardboards 13 below the extraction height E may firstly be created by the separation device 41.

[0153] Further, the blocking member 43 may be biased towards the blocking position B, e.g. by a spring not shown in the figures. However, in order to keep the blocking member 43 in the release position R, the entrainer 45 is configured to, in a start position A shown in FIG. 3A, block a movement of the blocking member 43 by contacting a pin 94. In order to initiate the separation of the cardboards 13 and the blocking of cardboards 13 below the extraction height E, the entrainer 45 may be moved to a pushing position F shown in FIG. 3B, thus enabling a movement of the blocking member 43 and, thus, of the separation device 41. The entrainer 45 may stop in the pushing position F and, after the group 37 of cardboards 13 has been separated from cardboards 13 below the extraction height E, may be moved along the movement direction M to move the group 37 of cardboards 13 into the cardboard buffer storage 29. Afterwards, the entrainer 45 may be moved against the movement direction M to contact the pin 94 and move the blocking member 43 back to the release position R and the separation device 41 back to the passive position P. After this, the lifting device 65 may be controlled for lifting the cardboard stack 24 upwards until a subsequent group 37 of a predetermined number of cardboards 13 is positioned above the extraction height E. Then, the procedure described above of separating those cardboards 13 from cardboards 13 below the extraction height E and moving the group 37 of cardboards 13 into the cardboard buffer storage 29 may be repeated.

[0154] As is further shown in FIG. 1, the food processing system 59 includes a second cardboard dispensing apparatus 61 that is configured as described before and may also be used to provide cardboards 13 at the food product supply area 15. This enables the controller 55 to switch from the cardboard dispensing apparatus 11 to the second cardboard dispensing apparatus 61 once the cardboard store 23 of the cardboard dispensing apparatus 11 has been emptied, or vice versa. Thus, the respective emptied cardboard store 23 may be refilled while the operation may be continued using the respective other cardboard dispensing apparatus 11 or 61.

[0155] FIGS. 4A to 4F show an alternative construction of the cardboard extracting device 27 which with respect to function and structure corresponds to the cardboard extracting device 27 shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, except for the separation device 41 as will be described below. Another difference is that while the dispensing apparatus of the cardboard extracting device 27 of FIGS. 3A and 3B comprises a cardboard buffer storage, the cardboard extracting device 27 being used to move the cardboards 13 from the cardboard store 23 to that cardboard buffer storage, here, i.e. in the embodiment of FIGS. 4A to 4F, a cardboard buffer storage is dispensed with and the cardboard extracting device 27 is configured to move the cardboards 13—one after another—directly into the cardboard conveyor 31 which then conveys the cardboards 13 to the food product supply area 15 (FIGS. 4D and 4E).

[0156] However, as already mentioned elsewhere, the cardboard extracting device 27 as shown in FIG. 4A to 4F may alternatively be used to move cardboards 13 from the cardboard store not directly into a cardboard conveyor but into a cardboard buffer storage, in particular into a cardboard buffer storage as disclosed herein. Additionally or alternatively, the cardboard extracting device 27 as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4F may be used to move cardboards 13 from a cardboard buffer storage, in particular from a cardboard buffer storage as disclosed herein, into a cardboard conveyor.

[0157] While FIGS. 4A to 4E show a sectional view of the cardboard extracting device 27 in a vertical mid plane V (FIG. 4F), FIG. 4F is a rear view of the cardboard extracting device 27.

[0158] Here, the separation device 41 comprises a suction device 119 comprising a suction cup connected via a vacuum line 127 to a vacuum source (not shown). The suction device 119 is movable between a lower position (FIG. 4A) and an upper position (FIG. 4B). In the lower position, the suction device 119 is situated above a middle rear end portion 121 (FIG. 4B) of the uppermost cardboard 13 of the cardboard stack 24 in the cardboard store 23.

[0159] At both sides of the suction device 119 is positioned a respective down-hold element 123 (FIG. 4D bis 4F). The lower end of each down-hold element 123 is positioned slightly above a respective lateral rear end portion 125 of the uppermost cardboard 13 that is positioned laterally with respect to the middle rear end portion 121 where the suction device 119 interacts with the uppermost cardboard 13. The down-hold elements 123 may touch the uppermost cardboard 13, and the down-hold elements 123 may also exert a certain pressure on the uppermost cardboard 13. However, that pressure must not be so high that the uppermost cardboard 13 is prevented from slipping relative to the next-lower cardboard 129 when it is lifted by moving the suction device 119—with vacuum applied—from the lower position of FIG. 4A into the upper position of FIG. 4B.

[0160] As explained elsewhere, by lifting the middle rear end portion 121 of the uppermost cardboard 13 (FIGS. 4B, 4D and 4F), while at the same time holding the neighboring lateral areas of the cardboard 13 on a lower level, a curvature in the rear end portion of the uppermost cardboard 13 is produced (FIG. 4F) whereby the lateral rear portions of the cardboard 13 are pulled through the gaps between the hold-down elements 123 and the next-lower cardboard 129, thereby eliminating any adhesive forces between the uppermost cardboard 13 and the next-lower cardboard 129.

[0161] Analogous to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, once the middle rear end portion 121 has been lifted to a sufficient amount, blocking elements 43 are pivoted about pivot axis D1 from the release position (FIGS. 4A and 4B) to the blocking position B (FIGS. 4C to 4F) and a belt drive 67 is activated to move an entrainer 45 attached to the belt drive 67 and which acts on the rear edge of the lifted portion 121 of the uppermost cardboard 13 so as to push that cardboard 13 into the cardboard conveyor 31 (FIGS. 4C and 4E).

[0162] The cardboard conveyor 13 then conveys the cardboard 13 to the food product supply area 15.

[0163] This process is repeatedly carried out as demanded by the operation of the food processing system explained elsewhere, with the respective former next-lower cardboard 129 being the next uppermost cardboard 13.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0164] 11 cardboard dispensing apparatus [0165] 13 cardboard [0166] 15 food product supply area [0167] 16 transition [0168] 17, 17′ food product [0169] 18 conveying band [0170] 19 portion [0171] 21 slice [0172] 23 cardboard store [0173] 24 cardboard stack [0174] 25 plurality of cardboards [0175] 27 cardboard extracting device [0176] 29 cardboard buffer storage [0177] 31 cardboard conveyor [0178] 33 uppermost cardboard [0179] 35 uppermost cardboard [0180] 37 group of cardboards [0181] 39 stack of cardboards [0182] 41 separation device [0183] 43 blocking member [0184] 35 entrainer [0185] 47 pusher [0186] 49 separated cardboards [0187] 51 gap [0188] 52 lower conveyor [0189] 53 pressing device [0190] 55 controller [0191] 57 ramp [0192] 59 food processing system [0193] 61 second cardboard dispensing apparatus [0194] 63 upper conveyor [0195] 65 lifting device [0196] 67 belt drive [0197] 68 pulley [0198] 71 conveying means [0199] 73 spacer means [0200] 75 rear end [0201] 77 front end [0202] 79 blocking means [0203] 81 motion link [0204] 83 measurement device [0205] 85 support [0206] 87 sensor [0207] 89 pivot lever [0208] 91 coupling [0209] 93 pin [0210] 94 pin [0211] 97 slicing apparatus [0212] 99 conveying apparatus [0213] 101 food product conveyor [0214] 103 packaging machine [0215] 105 blade [0216] 107 slicing area [0217] 109 package [0218] 111 floor [0219] 113 axis [0220] 119 suction device [0221] 121 middle rear end portion [0222] 123 hold-down element [0223] 125 lateral rear end portion [0224] 127 vacuum line [0225] 129 next-lower cardboard [0226] A start position [0227] B blocking position [0228] C arrow [0229] D1, D2, D3 pivot axis [0230] E extraction height [0231] F pushing position [0232] H height direction [0233] L measurement [0234] M moving direction [0235] P passive position [0236] R release position [0237] S separation position [0238] V vertical plane