Slicing machine

Abstract

A slicing machine may include a carriage that can be swiveled out with a supporting plate for supporting product to be sliced, wherein a locking device locks the supporting plate releasably in the slicing position. In order to make simple operation of the slicing machine possible accompanied by a high level of operating safety, the locking device has an electrically or electromagnetically operable actuator for releasing the carriage pivot bearing.

Claims

1. A slicing machine for cutting off slices in particular of elongated product to be sliced, the machine comprising: a machine housing which has a drive motor and a slicing blade configured to be driven in a rotating manner by the drive motor in a slicing plane, and a carriage, which is configured to be moved linearly parallel to the slicing plane, the carriage having a supporting plate configured to support the product to be sliced and a carriage foot that connects the supporting plate to the machine housing, the carriage foot comprising a first carriage foot part and a second carriage foot part; a carriage pivot bearing, which has a pivot axle running parallel to the slicing plane, in order to pivot the second carriage foot part between a slicing position, in which the supporting plate is oriented essentially orthogonal to the slicing plane, and a cleaning position; a locking device configured to releasably lock the carriage pivot bearing in the slicing position, the locking device comprising a slide element displaceably mounted on the second carriage foot part so as to be displaceable linearly in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axle, and an electrically or electromagnetically operable actuator configured to move the slide element between a locking position and an unlocking position; and a locking system comprising a handle and a bolt, the handle and the bolt being configured to produce a mechanical connection between the first carriage foot part and the second carriage foot part, wherein, to lock the carriage pivot bearing, the locking device has a catch that is arranged on the second carriage foot part and is operable by the actuator and, in the slicing position, engages behind a projection arranged on the first carriage foot part, such that upon a pivoting of the second carriage foot part from the cleaning position to the slicing position, the catch first passes the projection and then overhangs the projection such that the locking device releasably latches the two carriage foot parts to each other, wherein for releasing the locking device, the actuator moves the catch against the force of the spring, wherein the catch is connected to the slide element, wherein, for releasing the locking device, the actuator moves the slide element in order to operate the catch, wherein the first carriage foot part comprises a fixed stud, and wherein the slide element has a guide mechanism configured to receive the fixed stud, the fixed stud passing into and along a holding section of the guide mechanism when the second carriage foot part moves from the slicing position to the cleaning position such that engagement between the fixed stud and the holding section prevents the slide element from moving from the unlocking position to the locking position when the second carriage foot part is in the cleaning position.

2. The slicing machine according to claim 1, wherein the carriage pivot bearing is arranged on the carriage foot, and wherein the second carriage foot part is mounted pivotably on the carriage foot.

3. The slicing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a safety switching system co-operating with the locking device is connected to a speed sensor for detecting a rotational speed of the slicing blade and to a slice thickness sensor for detecting a set slice thickness, wherein the safety switching system only makes it possible or undertakes to activate the actuator to release the carriage pivot bearing when at least one of (i) the speed sensor detects that the slicing blade has stopped or has fallen below a limit speed or (ii) the slice thickness sensor detects a slice thickness setting of less than or equal to zero.

4. The slicing machine according to claim 1, wherein on pivoting into the slicing position, the locking device automatically locks the supporting plate, in that the catch is acted upon by a spring into the locking position, the catch having a lead-in chamfer or co-operating with a lead-in chamfer.

5. The slicing machine according to claim 1, wherein the locking device is arranged completely within at least one of the carriage foot or the supporting plate.

6. The slicing machine of claim 5, wherein the locking device is completely within an installation space, which is enclosed on at least three sides by the carriage foot.

7. The slicing machine according to claim 1, wherein the locking device has a safety switch which, when the locking system is released, interrupts at least one of a power supply to the drive motor of the slicing blade or a power supply to a servomotor of a stop plate, or co-operates with a safety switching system such that, when the safety switch is operated, the safety switching system prevents at least one of the drive motor of the slicing blade from being switched on or the stop plate from being adjusted.

8. The slicing machine according to claim 7, wherein the actuator has a linearly movable push rod, one end of which is connected to the slide element and the other end of which operates the safety switch.

9. The slicing machine according to claim 8, wherein the push rod has a threaded section and the actuator is configured as a spindle motor which drives a spindle nut co-operating with the threaded section.

10. The slicing machine according to claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured as an electromagnet, which unlocks the carriage pivot bearing when current is supplied.

11. The slicing machine of claim 10, wherein the actuator is configured as a solenoid.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further embodiment examples of the invention are shown in the figures and described below in the associated description.

(2) There are shown in,

(3) FIG. 1: a schematic view of the slicing machine according to the invention with a carriage that can be tipped out;

(4) FIG. 2: a representation of the two-part carriage foot in the slicing position with a locked locking device;

(5) FIG. 3: a representation of the two-part carriage foot in the slicing position with a released locking device;

(6) FIG. 4: a representation of the two-part carriage foot in the swivelled-out cleaning position.

(7) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment example of a slicing machine 1 according to the invention. The slicing machine 1 has a machine housing 11 with a motor tower. At the top of the motor tower, a control and display device 15 for operating the slicing machine 1 is arranged. A drive motor, not shown, for a slicing blade 2 is received in the motor tower.

(8) The slicing blade 2 is arranged in a vertically orientated slicing plane and configured as a circular blade. The slicing blade 2 is covered, in the area of its slicing edge, by an essentially C-shaped blade guard ring 22, in order to prevent unintentional contact with the slicing edge of the slicing blade 2. The flat front side of the slicing blade 2 is covered with a blade cover 23 in order to prevent accidental contact with the flat side of the rotating slicing blade 2 during the slicing operation.

(9) The slicing area of the rotating slicing blade 2 is defined by an area left free by the blade guard ring 22. In front of this slicing area, a stop plate 12 running parallel to the slicing blade 2 and transversely displaceable is mounted on the machine housing 11. Via a handle 13, a desired slice thickness can be set by moving the stop plate 12 transversely with respect to the slicing plane. In an alternative embodiment, which is not shown in the figures, the handle can also be omitted and the stop plate is adjusted purely in a motorized manner via an electric servomotor.

(10) A carriage 3 which can be displaced linearly parallel to the slicing plane is arranged in an area in front of the slicing blade 2. The carriage 3 has a carriage foot 34 and a supporting plate 31 for supporting product to be sliced. The supporting plate 31 is connected on its underside to the carriage foot 34. The carriage 3 is mounted displaceably on a linear guide 17 of the machine housing 11 via the carriage foot 34.

(11) The carriage 3 comprises a hand guard 32 as well as a holder for product to be sliced 33. Both the holder for product to be sliced 33 and the hand guard 32 are formed partially transparent in order to provide an operator with a view onto the carriage 3 or onto the slicing area. Product to be sliced is placed on the surface of the supporting plate 31 and held by the holding device for product to be sliced 33. During the slicing procedure, the product to be sliced is conveyed to the slicing blade 2 by means of the holding device for product to be sliced. By moving the carriage 3 back and forth, individual slices are cut from the product to be sliced using the slicing blade 2.

(12) The slices cut off by the slicing blade 2 are received behind the slicing blade 2 by a chain frame 14 and conveyed transversely to the slicing plane. Via a pivotable flick ejector 14a, the slices are removed from the chain frame 14 and deposited in a depositing area 16.

(13) The carriage foot 34 is configured in two parts and has a pivot bearing 35 with a pivot axle 36 in order to pivot the carriage 3 or the supporting plate 31 from the slicing position shown in FIG. 1 into a cleaning position. In the slicing position shown in FIG. 1, the carriage is locked via a locking device 4. This means that the carriage 3 cannot be brought from the slicing position into the cleaning position without releasing the locking device 4.

(14) In FIGS. 2 to 4, a detailed representation of the two-part carriage foot 34 is shown. The carriage foot 34 has a first carriage foot part 341 and a second carriage foot part 342 mounted pivotably on the latter. The carriage foot part 341 is mounted on the machine housing 11 via a linear guide 17 such that it is linearly displaceable. The linear guide 17 has a sliding axle 171 which forms a slide bearing for the first carriage foot part 341. A torque support 172 is arranged above the sliding axle 171 in order to support a torque arising through the weight of the carriage 3 or of the product to be sliced.

(15) Between the first carriage foot part 341 and the second carriage foot part 342, the pivot bearing 35 is arranged with a pivot axle 36 arranged parallel to the sliding axle 171. The second carriage foot part 342 is connected to the first carriage foot part 341 via the pivot axle 36. The second carriage foot part 342 is configured as a U-shaped profile which engages around the first carriage foot part 341 and has, inside it, an installation space 38 for receiving components.

(16) Components of the locking device 4 are arranged in the installation space 38. The locking device 4 has a slide plate 43 which is connected in one piece to a catch 421 and is mounted displaceably on the second carriage foot part 342. At the lower part of the slide plate 43, a guide mechanism 431 is provided which co-operates with a stud 37 arranged fixed on the first carriage foot part 341. On the top of the slide plate 43, this guide mechanism is connected to a push rod 411 of an electric solenoid 41. When current is supplied, the slide plate 43 is displaced upwards by the electric solenoid into the unlocking position shown in FIG. 3. When no current is supplied, the slide plate 43 is acted upon downwards by the force of a spring 412, i.e. into the locked position. It is thereby ensured that, when no current is supplied, the slide plate 43 is always pushed into the locked position.

(17) The installation space 38 is sealed against water spray. The push rod 411 also has an O-ring as seal with the result that water spray protection according to IPX5 is achieved.

(18) The locked position is shown in FIG. 2. In the locked position, the catch 421 engages behind a projection 422 arranged on the first carriage part 341. The second carriage part 342 is thereby locked or fixed on the first carriage part 341. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, an additional mechanical locking system is provided, consisting of a bolt 44 and a handle 45 connected to the latter. For locking, the bolt 44 is screwed to the first carriage part 341 via the handle 45 with the result that the bolt produces a further mechanical connection between the second carriage part 342 and the first carriage part 341 supplementary to the catch 421.

(19) To release the locking device 4, first of all the mechanical locking system is released by unscrewing the handle 45. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the actuator 41 is supplied with current and operates the slide plate 43. That is, it pulls the slide plate 43 into the unlocking position shown in FIG. 3. The solenoid 41 is therefore working against the force of the spring 412. Alternatively, the actuator 41 can also be supplied with current first of all to release the locking device 4 and then the mechanical locking system can be released.

(20) The electric solenoid 41 has an actuating cam 413, which co-operates with a safety switch 46, on the end of its push rod 412. The safety switch 46 serves to interrupt the power supply to the drive motor of the slicing blade 2 and/or of an electric servomotor for adjusting the stop plate 12. In the unlocking position shown in FIG. 3, the safety switch 46 is operated by the actuating cam 413. By operating the safety switch 46, the power supply to the drive motor of the slicing blade 2 and/or to the servomotor is interrupted, with the result that the slicing blade 2 can no longer be started and the position of the stop plate 12 can no longer be adjusted when the locking device 4 is released. As long as the safety switch 46 remains in operation, it is not possible to switch on the drive motor of the slicing blade 2.

(21) To bring the carriage 3 into the cleaning position, the latter must be tilted or swivelled out. That is, starting from the slicing position shown in FIG. 3, when the locking device is released, the carriage 3 is tilted outwards with the result that the latter passes into the cleaning position shown in FIG. 4. When the carriage 3 is tipped out, the second carriage foot part 342 is pivoted relative to the first carriage foot part 341. The stud 37 therefore enters a holding section of the guide mechanism 431. The slide plate 43 is thereby prevented from being able to be pushed back out of its upper position shown in FIG. 3. The slide plate is therefore held in the unlocked position via the stud 37. The holding section of the guide mechanism 431 extends over an area which covers almost the entire pivot movement. The slide plate 43 is thus held in its upper position during the entire swivelling out procedure. At the same time it is ensured that the safety switch 46 remains in operation via the actuating cam 413 during the entire pivoting procedure.

(22) Only when the guide stud 37 comes out of engagement with the holding section of the guide mechanism 431 shortly before reaching the slicing position, when the carriage 3 is pivoted back, can the slide plate 43 be moved downwards, acted upon by the spring 412, i.e. into the locking position shown in FIG. 2.

(23) In order to prevent catching when pivoting the carriage 3, it is provided that the catch 421 has a lead-in chamfer 423. As long as the lead-in chamfer 423 comes into contact with the first carriage foot part 341 or the projection 422 when the carriage is pivoted back into its slicing position, the slide plate 43 is pushed upwards as a result of the lead-in chamfer 423, with the result that the catch 421 can pass without interfering with the projection 422. Only once the catch 421 has completely passed the projection 422 is the catch pushed into the locking position, acted upon by the spring 412. In the locking position, the catch 421 engages with its locking section behind the projection 422 on the first carriage foot part 341.

(24) Thereby, on the one hand, a problem-free and catch-free pivoting of the carriage 3 is ensured and, on the other hand, it is ensured that, on pivoting the carriage 3 into the slicing position, the latter is automatically locked. Even if an operator of the slicing machine forgets to fix the additional mechanical safeguard again by turning the handle 45, the carriage 3 is nevertheless locked securely in the slicing position via the catch 421 and secured against unintentional swivelling out.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(25) 1 Slicing machine 11 Machine housing 12 Stop plate 13 Slice thickness setting 14 Chain frame 14a Flick ejector 15 Control and display device 16 Depositing area 17 Linear guide 171 Sliding axle 172 Torque support 2 Slicing blade 21 Blade cover 22 Blade guard ring 23 Blade cover 3 Carriage 31 Supporting plate 32 Hand guard 33 Holder for product to be sliced 34 Carriage foot 341 First carriage foot first part 342 Second carriage foot part 35 Carriage pivot bearing 36 Pivot axle 37 Stud 38 Installation space 4 Locking device 41 Actuator 411 Push rod 412 Spring 413 Actuating cam 421 Catch 422 Projection 423 Lead-in chamfer 43 Slide plate 431 Guide mechanism 44 Locking element 45 Handle 46 Safety switch