HOUSED LINE FOR PROCESSING AND PACKAGING FOOD

Abstract

A line for processing and packaging food. The line has at least one processing station for processing the food and at least one packaging station for packaging the processed food. The processing station and the packaging station are housed in an interior of a common housing.

Claims

1. A line for processing and packaging food comprising: at least one processing station for processing the food; and at least one packaging station for packaging the processed food, wherein the processing station and the packaging station are housed in an interior of a common housing.

2. The line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line has a device for cleaning in situ.

3. The line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line has a cooling device for cooling the interior of the common housing.

4. The line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interior is flooded with an inert gas.

5. The line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line has an operating unit outside of the common housing.

6. The line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the common housing is at least partially transparent.

7. The line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line has an airlock for an inward and/or outward transfer of the food.

8. The line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line has a UV radiator for irradiating the interior of the common housing.

9. The line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line has an air-exchange device.

10. The line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing station has a slicing device and/or a sorting device.

11. A supply device for supplying the food to the line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supply device is configured for conveying the food from an outside into the interior of the common housing to the processing station while maintaining the housing of the processing station and of the packaging station.

12. The supply device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the supply device has an airlock.

13. The supply device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the supply device is configured for automated conveying.

14. A receiving device for receiving the packaged food from the line as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving device is configured for conveying the food from the interior of the housing to an outside while maintaining the housing of the processing station and of the packaging station.

15. The receiving device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the receiving device has an airlock.

16. The receiving device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the receiving device is configured for conveying a trolley.

17. The receiving device as claimed in claim 14, wherein the receiving device is configured for automated conveying.

18. A method for operating a line for processing and packaging food, wherein, prior to the processing and packaging, the food is inwardly transferred into a housing of the line, wherein the food is processed and packaged inside the housing, and wherein the food is outwardly transferred out of the housing after the processing and packaging.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein an interior of the housing is cooled.

20. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the food is processed and packaged under a protective atmosphere.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0062] FIG. 1 shows a highly simplified, schematic illustration of the line according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0063] In the figure, identical parts are always provided with the same reference signs and will therefore generally also only be named or mentioned once in each case.

[0064] FIG. 1 illustrates a highly simplified, schematic illustration of the line 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The line 1 has the processing station 3 and the packaging station 4. The processing station 3 itself has the slicing device 3a, for example a high performance slicer, and the sorting device 3b for producing format sets. The processing station 3 and the packaging station 4 are housed by the housing 2, that is to say, they are located in the interior of the housing 2 and the interior of the housing 2 is separated from the rest of the production hall (not denoted here) by the housing 2. The housing 2 is soundproofed and thermally insulated.

[0065] The operating unit 5 is positioned on the pivotable arm 5a. All of the components of the line 1, such as, for example, the slicing device 3a, the sorting device 3b or the packaging station 4, can be controlled with the operating unit 5. Furthermore, the line 1 has the cooling device 6. The cooling device 6 cools air to, for example, 2° C. and conducts the air by means of the thermally insulated cooling line 6a through the feedthrough 7 into the interior of the housing 2. The interior of the housing 2 is thereby cooled. The housing 2 has a respective airlock 8 on two sides. Said airlocks 8 serve to introduce food into the interior of the housing 2 and at the same time to hold up the housing of the processing station 3 and of the packaging station 4. On the side of the processing station 3 (on the right in the figure), the line 1 has the supply device 100 with which blocks of food can be brought in an automated manner through the airlock 8 into the interior of the housing 2 to the processing station 3. On the side of the packaging station 4 (on the left in the figure), the line 1 has the receiving device 101 which can receive packaged food from the interior of the housing 2 through the airlock 8.

[0066] During the operation of the line 1, blocks of food are inwardly transferred in an automated manner by the supply device 100 through the airlock 8 into the interior of the housing 2. The blocks of food are positioned by the supply device 100 through a first door (not shown) of the airlock on an airlock table (not shown) in the airlock chamber (not shown). As soon as the first door is closed, the airlock chamber is evacuated, is filled with inert gas and cooled to 2° C. The second door (not shown) is then opened from the airlock chamber into the interior of the housing 2. The airlock table moves the blocks of food to the slicing device 3a and positions them for slicing in the slicing device 3a.

[0067] In the slicing device 3a, the blocks of food are sliced into food slices and subsequently transported to the sorting device 3b. The sorting device 3b orders the food slices into format sets. Subsequently, the format sets are transported onto the packaging station 4. In the packaging station 4, the food is finally packaged and temporarily stored in a trolley (not shown). If the trolley is full, the trolley is outwardly transferred through the airlock 8 to the receiving device.

[0068] The food is processed and the food is packaged in the interior of the housing 2. The interior of the housing 2 is cooled and flooded with an inert gas.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0069] 1 Line

[0070] 2 Housing

[0071] 21 Housing frame

[0072] 22 Window

[0073] 3 Processing station

[0074] 3a Slicing device

[0075] 3b Sorting device

[0076] 4 Packaging station

[0077] 5 Operating unit

[0078] 5a Arm

[0079] 6 Cooling device

[0080] 6a Cooling line

[0081] 7 Feedthrough

[0082] 8 Lock

[0083] 100 Supply device

[0084] 101 Receiving device