Autonomously electromagnetic transport carrier of food portions

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for moving portions, which each comprise at least one slice cut from a food product, in particular by means of a slicing device, in particular a high-speed slicer, comprising a plurality of individually movable transport movers each for at least one portion, a track system for the transport movers, in which track system the transport movers can be moved along at least one specified track in a transport direction, and a control apparatus for controlling the movements of the transport movers in the track system, wherein the transport movers each comprise at least one runner that interacts with the track system and at least one carrier for at least one portion, the at least one carrier being attached to the runner by means of a retainer, and wherein the drive for each transport mover is formed by the runner and the track system, which together form an electromagnetic drive for the transport mover.

Claims

1. An apparatus for moving portions which each comprise at least one slice cut off from a food product, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of individually movable transport movers each for at least one portion; a track system for the plurality of individually movable transport movers in which the plurality of individually movable transport movers are movable in a direction of transport along at least one track; a control device for controlling the movements of the plurality of individually movable transport movers in the track system, a transfer device of the track system, the transfer device including a conveyor belt, the conveyor belt moving portions onto the plurality of individually movable transport movers, the transfer device comprising a plurality of conveyor belts oriented parallel to each other, wherein the plurality of individually movable transport movers each comprise at least one rotor cooperating with the track system and at least one carrier for at least one portion attached to the rotor by a holder, the at least one carrier comprising a plurality of rods spaced from each other and oriented parallel to each other, the plurality of rods defining a plurality of spaces, wherein each of the plurality of spaces are large enough to receive one of the plurality of conveyor belts; and a drive for each of the plurality of individually movable transport movers formed by the at least one rotor and by the track system which together form an electromagnetic drive for each one of the plurality of individually movable transport movers.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one rotor is a component of a linear synchronous motor.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the track system is configured for a multi-lane operation.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a loading region of the track system, with the loading region being configured to receive slices falling under the effect of gravity and/or slices coming directly from an apparatus for slicing food products by means of the plurality of individually movable transport movers.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the track system comprises at least one functional line for the plurality of individually movable transport movers in addition to at least one normal line.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one functional line is configured as a rejection line or expulsion line via which at least some of the plurality of individually movable transport movers whose portions satisfy or do not satisfy at least one predefined or predefinable criterion can be led out of a normal line.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the track system comprises a functional region at which a plurality of tracks are led together temporarily and which is configured to carry out an additional function for the plurality of individually movable transport movers and/or the portions.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein a track section is configured to be adjusted transversely to the direction of transport in a plane extending at least approximately horizontally; and/or wherein a track section is configured to be at least approximately adjustable in the vertical direction.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one functional mover movable in the track system, with the at least one functional mover comprising a rotor cooperating with the track system and at least one functional means which provides a function different from the transport function of the plurality of individually movable transport movers.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carrier of at least one of the plurality of individually movable transport movers is rotatable relative to the at least one rotor.

11. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carrier of at least one of the plurality of individually movable transport movers comprises a plurality of carrier segments which are movable relative to one another.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carrier of at least one of the plurality of individually movable transport movers is releasably attached to the at least one rotor or to the holder.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carrier of at least one of the plurality of individually movable transport movers is provided with means which are configured to cooperate with a handling device configured for moving the carrier.

14. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one transfer point, with the at least one transport point being configured to hand over and/or take over at least some of the plurality of individually movable transport movers or their carriers at a vertically extending track section.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of individually movable transport movers or at least one functional mover is configured for taking up energy from the track system.

16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carrier of at least one of the plurality of individually movable transport movers comprises a conveyor device for a portion or is configured as a conveyor device.

17. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carrier of at least one of the plurality of individually movable transport movers is configured to cooperate with a handling device for the portions.

18. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carrier is configured to be moved relative to the holder by means of the handling device or to be removed from the holder, at least temporarily.

19. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one transport mover is provided with a display device for at least one piece of information relating to a property of the transport mover or of a portion.

20. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the track system comprises at least one functional region in which, in addition to at least one normal line, at least one overtaking line, waiting line or parking line is provided which branches off from the normal line at one point and opens into the normal line again at another point.

21. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to carry out a portioning operation and/or a portion completing operation in at least one region of the track system associated with a slicing apparatus and having at least one transport mover.

22. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein, in a portioning and/or portion completion mode of operation, the respective transport mover or the carrier of the respective transport mover or a placement region of the carrier is movable in and/or against the direction of transport coordinated with the operation of the slicing apparatus.

23. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the plurality of individually movable transport movers can be arranged in a predefined format relative to one another in the functional region, with the format comprising at least one row, at least one column or at least one nm array (where n, m>1).

24. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one transport mover and/or one track section is configured to determine the weight of a portion which is located on said transport mover or on a transport mover located in the track section, with at least one transport mover being provided with an integrated scale by means of which the weight of the portion can be determined.

25. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to monitor the track system for the presence of problems.

26. A system for processing food products, the system comprising: at least one apparatus for slicing food products; and a transport system comprising an apparatus for moving portions which each comprise at least one slice cut off from a food product, a plurality of individually movable transport movers each for at least one portion; a track system for the plurality of individually movable transport movers in which the plurality of individually movable transport movers are movable in a direction of transport along at least one track; a control device for controlling the movements of the plurality of individually movable transport movers in the track system, a transfer device of the track system, the transfer device including a conveyer belt, the conveyor belt moving portions onto the plurality of individually movable transport movers, the transfer device comprising a plurality of conveyor belts oriented parallel to each other, wherein the plurality of individually movable transport movers each comprise at least one rotor cooperating with the track system and at least one carrier for at least one portion attached to the rotor, the at least one carrier comprising a plurality of rods spaced from each other and oriented parallel to each other, the plurality of rods defining a plurality of spaces, wherein each of the plurality of spaces are large enough to receive one of the plurality of conveyor belts; and a drive for each of the plurality of individually movable transport movers formed by the at least one rotor and by the track system which together form an electromagnetic drive for each one of the plurality of individually movable transport movers.

Description

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

(2) FIG. 1 a mover in accordance with an embodiment of the invention arranged in a track section;

(3) FIGS. 2 to 5 respectively, a schematic plan view of a possible embodiment of a total system in accordance with the invention;

(4) FIG. 6 a plan view of a functional region of a track system in accordance with the invention configured as a branch;

(5) FIG. 7 a plan view of a further functional region of a track system in accordance with the invention with transversely movable movers;

(6) FIG. 8 a side view of a part of the functional region of FIG. 7;

(7) FIG. 9 a schematic plan view of a part of a track system in accordance with the invention with a temporary leading together of a plurality of tracks;

(8) FIG. 10 a schematic side view of a part of a return line and/or cleaning line in accordance with the invention for movers oriented upside down;

(9) FIG. 11 a schematic side view of a track section in accordance with the invention to illustrate a plurality of possibilities for weighing portions;

(10) FIG. 12 a schematic plan view of movers in accordance with the invention with carrier segments movable relative to one another;

(11) FIG. 13 a schematic side view of a functional region of a track system in accordance with the invention with pivotable track sections;

(12) FIG. 14 a schematic side view of a functional region in accordance with the invention for a vertical movement of movers

(13) FIG. 15 a schematic view in the direction of transport of a flip-over station in accordance with the invention for flipping portions;

(14) FIG. 16 a schematic side view of a functional region in accordance with the invention for a vertical buffering of portions;

(15) FIG. 17 a schematic side view of a branch in accordance with the invention with track sections of a C type;

(16) FIG. 18 a schematic view in the direction of transport of a mover in accordance with the invention arranged in a track of the C type;

(17) FIG. 19 a schematic plan view of a functional region of the track system in accordance with the invention for a transition of movers between two different track types;

(18) FIGS. 20 to 22 respectively, a mover with a hybrid rotor in different sections of the functional region of FIG. 19;

(19) FIGS. 23 and 24 respectively in a schematic plan view, the cooperation in accordance with the invention of an auxiliary mover and of a transport mover during the movement along a track;

(20) FIGS. 25 to 27 the removal of a portion from a mover by means of a robot in accordance with the invention;

(21) FIGS. 28 to 30 a further variant in accordance with the invention of a removal of a portion from a mover;

(22) FIG. 31 in a schematic side view, the transfer of a portion between two movers arranged in a track in accordance with the invention;

(23) FIGS. 32 and 33 a cooperation in accordance with the invention of a mover and of a device not belonging to the track system for the taking over of portions;

(24) FIG. 34 in a schematic plan view, alternative possibilities for the taking over of portions from a mover in accordance with the invention;

(25) FIG. 35 in a schematic side view, the formation in accordance with the invention of a portion from cut-off product slices directly on a mover;

(26) FIG. 36 a schematic plan view of the portioning region in accordance with FIG. 35;

(27) FIG. 37 in a schematic side view, a possibility in accordance with the invention for the transfer of portions form a mover directly into a packaging; and

(28) FIG. 38 in a schematic side view, a further possibility in accordance with the invention for the transfer of portions directly from a mover into a packaging.

(29) The embodiments of the invention described in the following are based on a drive principle for movers in a track system by linear synchronous motors (LSM drive) such has was explained by way of example in the introductory part with reference to the transport system of the company of MagneMotion, Inc. As many movers as desired in a track system which is as complex as desired can be moved individually, i.e. independently of one another, in the track system by means of a control device and can be localized and identified by means of the control device. The movers can furthermore be moved and positioned with extremely high precision in the track system. The movement speeds and accelerations and decelerations for the movers can likewise be selected and carried out as desired and individually.

(30) FIG. 1 shows a cross-section, that is a section perpendicular to the direction of transport, through a track with a mover arranged therein. A track section 41 of the track system comprises a base serving as a stator 43 of the LSM drive which also serves as a mechanical base for attaching the track section 51, for example, to a substructure or to racks or holders of any desired form.

(31) A track section of the so-called U type is shown in FIG. 1, i.e. the track section is upwardly open and the movers 19 are located above the stator 43.

(32) Guide rails 33 which are designed as angled metal sheets and which run in slits 35 which are formed at the left and right side surfaces of a rotor 27 of the mover 19 serve as a guide for the mover 19 here. The guides of the track system for the movers 19 can, however, also be differently configured.

(33) The guidance of the track system provides a defined relative position of the rotor 27 with respect to the stator 43. It is in particular hereby achieved that a permanent magnet arrangement M of the rotor 27 observes an exactly defined spacing from the stator 43.

(34) In accordance with the LSM drive, the rotor 27 provided with the permanent magnet arrangement M is movable by a corresponding control of the stator 43 by means of a control device not shown here in the direction of transport along the stator 43 and thus in the track comprising the stator 43. The rotor 27 is guided by the guide rails 33 during this movement.

(35) A carrier 29 is arranged at the rotor 27 and provides a support surface 39, which is planar, for example, to transport food portions.

(36) The carrier 29 can be fixedly connected to the rotor 27. In an alternative embodiment, the carrier 29 is releasably attached to the rotor 27.

(37) A holder 31 of generally any desired design is provided between the carrier 29 and the rotor 27. On a releasable attachment of the carrier 29 to the rotor 27, the holder 31 can be configured as a component of a coupling or can form a coupling section which cooperates with a corresponding coupling section 37 of the carrier 29. The cooperation between the rotor 27 and the holder 31 or between the holder 31 and the carrier 29 can generally take place in any desired manner. A purely mechanical connection can be provided. It is also possible that the carrier 29 is magnetically held at the holder 31 or the holder 31 is magnetically held at the rotor 27. The holder 31 can also be configured to allow relative movements of the carrier 29 relative to the rotor 27, for example a rotation about a vertical axis to be able to rotate or align portions in this manner.

(38) The carrier 29 can also be directly connected to the rotor 27. The holder 31 between the carrier 29 and the rotor 27 is then formed by the cooperating regions or coupling sections of the carrier 29 and the rotor 27.

(39) As indicated in FIG. 1, a releasable attachment of the carrier 29 to the holder 31 allows a use of the rotor 27 with different carriers of different sizes, for example. FIG. 1 thus shows purely by way of example a carrier 29 which is provided with a coupling section 37 and whose support surface 39 is larger than that of the carrier 29 attached to the rotor 27 in FIG. 1.

(40) A total system in accordance with the invention, i.e. a system in accordance with the invention in which the movement apparatus in accordance with the invention or the transport system in accordance with the invention, including the track system, only represents a componentalbeit a major componentis shown in different possible embodiments in FIGS. 2 to 5, with the representation respectively taking place in a schematic and simplified manner to illustrate the possibilities in accordance with the invention.

(41) The systems respectively comprise a slicer 15 which is configured for a multi-lane operation and with which a plurality of food products such as loaves of sausage or cheese can be cut into slices simultaneously at high speeds by means of a circular blade or scythe-like blade revolving in planetary motion and/or in a rotating manner. The cutting speed lies between several one hundred slices and some thousand slices per minute depending on the specific embodiment of the slicer 15.

(42) Portions which comprise a plurality of cut-off slices are as a rule formed from the cut-off slices.

(43) The systems shown each comprise a packaging machine 91 which is not explained in any more detail here and at which the portions formed form the cut-off slices can be packaged. It is frequently required for this purpose to combine the formed portions on their route from the slicer 15 to the packaging machine 91 in predefined formats 49 or format sets, i.e. in matrix-like arrangements in which one or more portions are arranged after one another in a respective plurality of lanes disposed next to one another. Within a respective format 49, the portions as a rule have to have a specific relative alignment relative to one another and have to be arranged with predefined spacings from one another both in the transverse direction and in the direction of transport T so that the portions can be discharged format set-wise to the respective downstream packaging machine 91.

(44) Such a format set-wise packaging is, however, not absolutely necessary. It is, for example, also possible to pick portions from the transport system and to place them in packs with the aid of robots.

(45) It is nevertheless in practice an object of a transport system for food portions arranged between a slicer 15 and a packaging machine 91 to influence these portions in a variety of ways. In this respect, it is not only a question of a possibly required format set formation, but, for example, also of the weighing of portions and of the separation of portions not suitable for the packaging.

(46) A respective plurality of movers 19 each only indicated schematically here move in the track system 21 and at least some and in particular most of them are configured as transport movers for transporting food portions such as were explained above in connection with FIG. 1.

(47) The operation of the total system is respectively monitored and controlled by a control device 25 which in particular controls the individual movements of the movers 19 in the individual tracks 23 of the track system 21.

(48) Instead of a packaging machine 91, only a part of such a machine or one or more packs or parts thereof can also be provided into which the portions transported in by means of the movers 19 are placed down.

(49) In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, the transport system in accordance with the invention is configured for four-lane operation. Four tracks 23 which extend in parallel and which each comprise a plurality of track sections 41 such as have been explained in connection with FIG. 1 extend between the slicer 15 and the packaging machine 91.

(50) The transport system in accordance with the invention inter alia provides that upstream of the packaging machine 91 the movers 19 carrying the portions to be packaged are present in a format 49 which comprises a row of four portions arranged next to one another in accordance with the number of lanes of this total system.

(51) Subsequent to the packaging machine, the four tracks 23 are led together to form a single track which forms a return line 45 in which the now empty transport movers 19 are guided back to the slicer 15 in a return direction R directed opposite to the direction of transport T. The return line 45 branches into a four-lane region again in the region of the slicer 15.

(52) These transitions in the track system 21 are taken over by special functional regions which are also called branches 47 here.

(53) In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the branches 47 comprise curved track sections, that is curve sections, in which the movers 19 are each moved along a curved track.

(54) It can be seen from FIG. 3 that the track system in accordance with the invention can also be implemented without such curve sections. Changes of direction or branches 47 here respectively comprise one or more track sections at which the movers 19 each complete a change of direction of 90, i.e. are moved at a right angle.

(55) While FIGS. 2 and 3 thus show, in addition to the normal lines between the slicer 15 and the packaging machine 91 substantially serving for the transport of the portions, a special functional line or a special functional region in the track system 21 which serves for the return of the movers 19, FIG. 4 shows, in addition to two normal transport lines, two buffer lines 51 which, like the return lines in accordance with FIGS. 2 and 3, lie in a common horizontal plane with the transport lines. FIG. 4 thus shows an application example of the invention with a so-called horizontal buffer. The movers can move into and out of this buffer via branches 47 which can each comprise a plurality of individual switch sections 53.

(56) As is generally known from conventional conveyor belt systems between slicers and packaging machines, such buffers can serve to provide a compensation between a comparatively high working speed of a slicer 15, on the one hand, and a processing speed of a packaging machine 91 which is slow relative thereto.

(57) The transport principle in accordance with the invention by means of a track system moreover allows a high functional density to be achieved. It must be mentioned in a purely exemplary manner in this respect with regard to FIG. 4 that at least one of the buffer lines 51 can also be used as a return line if an additional line is provided between at least one of the buffer lines 51 and the slicer 15.

(58) Due to the individual movement principle in accordance with the invention, a specific embodiment of the movers or of the lanes is at least not of importance with respect to some functions, but it is rather the utilization of a respective track implemented by means of the control device which is important. It can thus serve as a buffer line, for example, for a mover 19 in a track, whereas a mover directly downstream is returned to the slicer by means of the same track. It is thus not the specific design of the track or of the mover which decides on the function, but rather the control device and thus the user.

(59) Since the track system in accordance with the invention can be designed in a simple manner in the manner of a modular kit, existing lines can consequently be reconfigured simply or new lines can be designed simply and fast. The track system in accordance with the invention is consequently substantially more flexible and has more variety than conventional conveyor belt systems.

(60) In the system in accordance with FIG. 4, the transport of portions between the slicer 15 and the packaging machine 91 takes place over two lanes. The switch sections 53 of the branches 47 allow movers 19 to be able to move out of both lanes into the buffer lines 51 and from the buffer lines 51 into both lanes.

(61) The third line from the left in FIG. 4 can, for example, also serve from taking over movers 19 located in the two left hand lines.

(62) Individual lines or line sections can generally individually have different functions for the individual movers 19 in accordance with the invention, i.e. one line can simultaneously be a buffer line for a mover, can serve as an overtaking line for another mover and can be used by yet another mover as a normal transport line.

(63) FIG. 5 shows that it is possible in a simple manner with the transport system in accordance with the invention to change the number of lanes on the track between the slicer 15 and the packaging machine 91. In the example shown here, a transition from an n-lane operation where n=3 to an m-lane operation where m=5 is achieved, and indeed with the aid of switch sections 53 which are arranged after one another and which together form a branch 47 which requires a specific length of the track system 21 in the direction of transport T.

(64) FIG. 5 furthermore illustrates the formation of formats 49 which each comprise two lines and five rows, i.e. each format 49 is a 25 array of a total of ten portions whose relative arrangement is achieved by the arrangement of the ten movers in the five tracks upstream of the packaging machine 91.

(65) The embodiment of FIG. 6 shows another possibility for changing the number of lanes. A branch 47 is shown in FIG. 6 which requires a smaller length of the track system in the direction of transport T in comparison with the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 5 and in which the movers 19 either move in a straight line or carry out one or more changes of direction of 90, such as is indicated by the arrows at one of the intersection points in FIG. 6.

(66) At this branch 47, n=3 incoming track sections 41 merge into m=5 outgoing track sections 41 which each extend in parallel with one another and in parallel with the track sections 41 incoming in parallel, with this transition taking place over a track section 41 extending perpendicular to the direction of transport T. The mentioned LSM drive principle is in particular easily in a position to transfer the rotors of the movers 19 from one track section to an adjoining track section extending transversely thereto. This branch 47 does not require any moving parts.

(67) FIG. 7 simultaneously shows two alternative possibilities to change from an operation with n=3 lanes to an operation with m=5 lanes. In both variants, three track sections 41 incoming in parallel consequently in turn do not directly merge into five track sections 41 outgoing in parallel.

(68) In the transition region, in accordance with a first variant, a track section 41 can be arranged which extends transversely and into whichunlike the embodiment of FIG. 6the incoming movers 19 are not moved directly, but rather on functional movers 19 which are only moved transversely to the direction of transport T within the transverse track section 41. In other words, the transport movers 19 are so-to-say moved in accordance with a piggy-back principle transversely to the direction of transport and are assigned to the respective desired outgoing lane by a corresponding transverse movement of the carrier or shuttle movers 19.

(69) This variant is shown in the schematic sectional view of FIG. 8. The carrier mover 19 configured to receive transport movers 19 incoming in the direction of transport T is movable in the same way as the transport movers 19, that is in particular in accordance with the LSM drive principle, by means of the control device in the track section 41 extending transversely to the direction of transport T.

(70) Alternatively, movable carriers can also be dispensed with for the transverse movement of the incoming transport movers 19. Instead of the track sections 41, a passive reception device can be provided into which the incoming transport movers 19 can move and which can be attached to a central holder 55 and which can be moved transversely to the direction of transport T by moving this holder 55 in order in this manner to assign the received transport movers 19 to the respectively desired outgoing lane.

(71) FIG. 9 shows a further special functional region of a track system 21 in accordance with the invention by which one or more functions can be provided which can be implemented particularly simply and advantageously in the use in accordance with the invention of the individual transport system for the transportation and handling of food portions.

(72) Provision is made in this functional region that a plurality of tracks are temporarily led together, and indeed in particular to exactly one track 23 which comprises a track section 41 and at which an additional function can be carried out which will be explained in more detail in the following. The additional function does not need to be carried out at each of the individual tracks due to this leading together. It is in particular sufficient if a functional station 57 specifically configured for this purpose is only provided at the eye of the needle so-to-say formed by this leading together.

(73) It is additionally shown purely by way of example in FIG. 9 that this leading together of tracks cannot only be made using a single output region, but that it is also possible to lead together tracks of different outlet regions, in particular spatially separate outlet regions, for the carrying out of an additional function. In the example shown, a slicer 15 working over four lanes and a further slicer 15 working over two lanes are provided. The total of six tracks which come from these two slicers 15 are led together via branches 47 to the track 23 in which the functional station 57 is provided.

(74) It is likewise shown purely by way of example in FIG. 9 that, subsequent to such a leading together of tracks, the outgoing tracks do not have to be supplied to a single downstream working region, for example to a packaging machine, but that is rather possible to provide a differentiated further transport of the portions subsequent to the functional station 57. This differentiation is in particular coordinated with the additional function carried out at the leading together of tracks, i.e. the downstream working region to which the portion is led can be determined for each portion at the functional station 57.

(75) In the example of FIG. 9, the portions can either be moved on into a four-lane transport region of the track system for a further transport to a packaging machine not shown here after running through the functional station 57 or can be supplied to a rejection line 61. Against this background, the functional station 57 can e.g. be a weighing station at which the weight of the incoming portions is respectively determined. Portions whose weight deviates from a desired weight outside predefined tolerances can be moved into the rejection line 61 by means of the control device not shown here and can, for example, be discarded in a suitable manner from the transport mover at an unloading point or can be removed in a different manner.

(76) In this embodiment, the weighing of the portions consequently does not have to take place in every single one of the tracks outgoing from the slicers 15.

(77) As, however, FIG. 9 also shows, it is nevertheless possible to associate a scale 59 with each individual slicer 15 or with each individual track coming from one of the slicers 15 and consequently to determine the respective portion weight relatively briefly after the respective slicer 15 and optionally to report it to the control device or to store it at the transport mover 19 itself. The functional section 57 can then take over a different task. The functional station 57 can thus, for example, be configured to determine the position or one or more other properties of a portion on the respective carrier of the transport mover 19. A transport mover 19 having an incorrectly aligned portion can then be marked in a suitable manner, in particular data-wise, by the functional station 57 or by the control device so that it is possible to identify such a marked transport mover 19 again at any time in order to correct the position of the portion on the carrier at the respective transport mover at a functional region not shown here in FIG. 9.

(78) Such a concept for acquiring additional information with respect to one or more properties of the portion or of the mover 19 at a point in the track system especially configured for this purpose and the use of the individual information hereby acquired at another point in the track system can also be carried out generally and independently of the provision or of the specific embodiment of a leading together of tracks differently than explained purely by way of example above.

(79) A leading together of tracks such as is shown by way of example in FIG. 9 does not only have to comprise exactly one track, but a plurality of incoming tracks can also be led together to more than one track. The functional station 57 can then be configured to carry out the specific task assigned to it simultaneously at a plurality of tracks.

(80) FIG. 10 illustrates an aspect of the invention according to which a line of the track system, for example a return line, can be used for cleaning movers 19 or their carriers 29 without having to take the movers 19 from the respective track or without having to remove the carriers 29 from the movers 19 for this purpose.

(81) For this purpose, the respective line is guided such that the movers 19 have an upside down arrangement or the carrier 29 to be cleaned in this example represents the lowest lying section of the mover 19. For this purpose, for example, a track of the U type, such as has been explained e.g. in connection with FIG. 1, can be guided in an upside down arrangement, in particular vertically beneath a transport track with an upwardly open U type track, wherein this upside down line is guided in a cleaning region temporarily in a lower lying track section 41 as FIG. 10 indicates.

(82) A cleaning bath 65 can be provided beneath the track section 41 in this cleaning region; it is located in a chamber 63 to be traversed by the movers 19 and the movers 19 with their carriers 29 moved along this cleaning line section can automatically dip into said cleaning bath and can rise up out of it again automatically after the cleaning has taken place.

(83) Instead of such a cleaning bath 65, a chamber 63 can be provided in which the movers 19 are acted on at least regionally by UV radiation or by a plasma. It is likewise possible to subject the movers 19 at least regionally to a heat treatment in such a chamber 63, for example by heating, to kill off organisms impairing hygiene.

(84) Such a cleaning device can be arranged at a track which is oriented and configured generally as desired, i.e. an upside down arrangement is not absolutely necessary for a cleaning device integrated into a line and to be run through by the movers 19.

(85) FIG. 11 illustrates three different possibilities to determine the weight of a food portion 11 disposed on the carrier 29 of a mover 19.

(86) A scale can thus, for example, be integrated into the holder 31 between the came 29 and the rotor 27. This variant thus requires a corresponding functionality of the movers 19 themselves.

(87) A transmission which may be provided, for example, of the weight information to the control device can take place directly by a communication directly between the mover 19 and the control device. Alternatively or additionally, a transmission of the weight information can take place over one of the track sections 41. It is also possible to store the weight information in the mover 19 and to process it at another point or to transmit it to another instance, in particular to the control device. Alternatively, the weight information can be read out of the mover 19 by a track section 41 especially configured for this purpose and can be processed by it or can be transmitted to the control device. This information handling is not restricted to the portion weight in accordance with the invention, but can rather also be performed for any other information relating to a desired portion or to a mover 19.

(88) Another possibility for determining the weight information comprises utilizing a possible circumstance according to which the mover 19 with its rotor 27 is not only guided relative to the stator 43 of the track section 41 by the guide rails 33, as explained by way of example with reference to FIG. 1, but is rather also carried by them, i.e. the weight of the total movement 19 is completely taken up by the two guide rails 33.

(89) This circumstance can be utilized in a weighing track section 41 especially configured for this purpose to determine the weight of a mover 19 and thus to determine the weight of a portion 11 transported thereby independently of the stator 43 of this track section 41.

(90) Provision is in particular made with such a weighing track section 41, for example, that the guide rails 33 are not supported at the stator 43, but are rather so-to-say guided to a scale 59 arranged beneath the stator 43, for example, while bypassing the stator 43. In other words, the guide rails 33, and thus the mover 19, are not supported at the stator 43, but rather at the scale 59 by means of suitable connection elements 67. Since the weight of all the components involved in this is known, the desired portion weight can be determined in this manner.

(91) In accordance with a further alternative, the total weighing track section 41 can be supported at a scale 59, i.e. the stator 43 together with the guide rails 33 and the mover 19 supported at them lies on the scale 59 via connection elements 69, for example.

(92) FIG. 12 shows an example for a mover 19 with a special function which is based on a carrier 29 divided into two carrier segments 29a, 29b here.

(93) The two segments 29a, 29b can be moved apart and toward one another relative to the rotor 27 of the mover 19 transversely to the direction of transport T as required, with the spacing between the segments 29a, 29b measured in the transverse direction being able either to adopt only one possible value in the state moved apart shown in FIG. 12 or being able to be selected as desired and in particular as continuous.

(94) Such a mover 19 can be used to change the lane spacing of two portions located on the carrier 29. In this manner, a two-lane operation with a variable lane spacing can be implemented at least temporarily with a single track. Such a track section 41 can, for example, be used in the region of a slicer to pick up slices coming from two adjacent lanes of a multi-lane slicer and respectively forming a portion as two portions disposed next to one another on the carrier 29 and to transport them away from the slicer. On this transport track, the lane spacing can be increased by traveling the two carrier segments 29a, 29b apart in order in this manner to achieve an adaptation of the lane spacing to a downstream device of any kind whatsoever. This device can be a device which does not belong to the track system such as a packaging machine or a device of the track system.

(95) If the respective transport system has a climbing capability for the movers 19 moved in the track system, i.e. if the movers 19 can overcome rising and falling slopes without impairing their movability, which is effected, i.e. defined, by means of the control device and is in particular exactly positioned, which is generally the case with the initially explained LSM drive principle, special track sections 41 can be used such as are illustrated in FIG. 13.

(96) The small illustration at the top right in FIG. 13 shows that the track sections described here can be those of the U type, that is the rotors 27 of the movers 19 are disposed above the respective stator 43.

(97) The special track sections 41 are such which can be pivoted about a pivot axis 71 extending perpendicular to the direction of transport T and are connected in an articulated manner for this purpose to downstream stationary track sections 41 in the example shown here.

(98) In the example shown here, this adjustment function of track sections 41 of the track system in accordance with the invention serves to assign movers 19 incoming over a track section 41 in a single horizontal plane selectively to one of two adjoining transport planes disposed vertically above one another. In the situation shown in FIG. 13, the incoming track section 41 and an upper outgoing track section 41 are connected to one another via a pivotable track section 41 which has a respective curved section 73 at the inlet side and at the outlet side to form a transition for the movers 19.

(99) The lower plane at the outlet side is arranged at the same level as the inlet plane so that a straight-line exit for the movers 19 without an upward or downward slope has to be established to allocate incoming movers 19 to the lower outlet plane, which is implemented over a lower pivotable track section 41 which is designed as continuous and straight and which is pivoted into a lower evasion position in the situation in accordance with FIG. 13 to make room for the upper adjustable track section 41.

(100) FIG. 13 only represents an example for a plurality of conceivable configurations which can be implemented with generally any desired number of pivotable track sections 41. Track sections 41 can accordingly also be pivoted horizontally. In this case, the track sections 41 can also be of a laterally open C type which is explained in more detail at another point.

(101) FIG. 14 shows another possibility of assigning movers 19 to different transport planes. In this embodiment, a comparatively short track section 41 is provided which is movable in the vertical direction (as indicated by the double arrow) perpendicular to the direction of transport T and which is also called a lift ordue to its relatively small lengtha mini-lift.

(102) Generally any desired number of incoming tracks can communicate with generally any desired number of outgoing tracks by a transfer of movers 19 with one another using one or more such track sections 51 arranged vertically movably above one another together or independently of one another.

(103) This special functional region of a track system in accordance with the invention also utilizes the circumstance that the transport system in accordance with the invention can generally be configured such that gaps provided between consecutive track sections 41 can be traveled over by the movers 19 without problem, i.e. without creating undefined states. This is the case with the initially explained LSM drive principle. Depending on the specific embodiment of the track system, such gaps, which can be traveled over without problem, can amount, for example, to a plurality of millimeters or can be in an order of magnitude of approximately 1 to 2 cm.

(104) As mentioned at another point, it can be desirable for the handling of food portions on their route between the slicer and the packaging machine or also in other situations to flip over the portions, i.e. to turn them upside down, in order thus e.g. to ensure that a respective desired side of the portion is visible in a package.

(105) The transport principle in accordance with the invention opens up a possibility, which is comparatively simple to be implemented and is space-saving, to carry out such a flipping over of portions. FIG. 15 shows a flip-over station which comprises a track section 41 which is designed as circular here and which defines a plane which extends perpendicular to the direction of transport. The arrangement of the flip-over station is selected such that the central axis lies above the level of the support surface 39 of the carrier 29 of an incoming motor 19 and in particular approximately at the centerviewed in the vertical directionof a portion 11 to be flipped.

(106) The flip-over station comprises two pairs of rotational or flip-over movers 72 which are mutually diametrically opposed and which are movable in the track section 41, in particular in each case like a pendulum alternately by a respective 180 in the one direction and in the other direction, with the flip-over movers 75 being controllable by means of the control device to a common operation coordinated with one another with the same sense of revolution. A straight track section 41 belonging to the flip-over station is associated with each pair of flip-over movers 75.

(107) Movers 19 incoming into the flip-over station move into one of the two straight track sections 41 of the flip-over station and their carriers 29 especially formed for this purpose at the outer sides and each provided with a slit come into engagement with inwardly projecting projections of the flip-over movers 75. A portion 11 to be flipped is then respectively located between the carrier 29, by which it is carried on the running in, and the carrier 29 of a waiting mover 19 held in an analog manner by the other pair of flip-over movers 75 arranged with its rotor 27 in the other straight track section 41.

(108) The two flip-over mover pairs 75 are subsequently rotated together in the same sense of rotation by 180 about the center axis. The originally upper upside down mover 19 now thereby takes over the role of the mover 19 carrying the portion 11 so that it can now move the movers 19 carrying the portion 11 onward in a track section adjoining the outlet side with the portion 11 flipped over by this process.

(109) The spacing between the two support surfaces of the carriers 29 can in particular be changed during the flip-over process for holding the portion 11 in that the two flip-over movers 75 of the one pair are moved together with the carrier 29 held by them toward the two flip-over movers 75 of the other pair.

(110) A possibly required vertical compensation to adapt the level for the mover 19 incoming into the flip-over station or outgoing out of the flip-over station can also be carried out by this generally given travelability of the flip-over movers 75 and thus by the vertical adjustability of the respective carriers 29 held by flip-over pair.

(111) FIG. 16 shows a further specific functional region of a track system in accordance with the invention in which the transport principle in accordance with the invention can be used for a vertical movability of movers 19 to implement a so-called vertical buffer, for example.

(112) In this embodiment, the vertical buffer serves to take over complete movers 19 and to move them in a vertical direction. The movers 19 and consequently the portions 11 disposed on their carriers 29 can thus be stored temporarily in buffer towers requiring a comparatively small construction space. The control device can know the dwell time of each individual portion 11 in the buffer due to the individual identifiability and localization capability of the movers 19 so that it is ensured that a respectively prescribed dwell time for the portions 11 is not exceeded.

(113) In the lower region of FIG. 16 a transfer point is shown at which transport movers 19 having portions to be buffered run into the vertical buffer over an especially designed track section 41. The direction of transport of this incoming track section 41 thus extends perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of FIG. 16.

(114) A special feature of this incoming track section 41, for example in comparison with the track section 41 shown in FIG. 1, comprises the guide rails 33 being configured and arranged differently to FIG. 1 such that an upward removal of the rotor 27 is made possible.

(115) The vertical buffer comprises two track section 41 of the U type which extend in parallel in the vertical direction and whose open sides face one another. Functional movers 19 which respectively cooperate in pairs, which are disposed mutually oppositely at the same level and which are here also called lift movers are moved in the vertical direction by means of the control device in these vertical track sections 41.

(116) Sections of the rotors 27 projecting inwardly each come into contact with the lower side of a carrier 29 over the guide rails 33 of the vertical track sections 41 by moving the lift movers 19 upwardly. The two cooperating lift movers 19 can thus raise the total respective mover 19 via a carrier 29 and can move it along the vertical buffer.

(117) The possibility in accordance with the invention is not shown that the vertical buffer merges into a horizontal line into which the lift movers can each merge together with a transport mover 19 held by them to carry out a buffering or a provisional transport in a horizontally extending line. It is also possible, starting from such a horizontal line, to bring the transport movers 19 at another vertical line back to the original transport level or to another transport plane and to deploy them into corresponding track sections there.

(118) In an alternative embodiment, the carriers 29 of the transport movers 19 can be designed as removable from the respective rotor 27 such that only the carriers 29 can each be moved together with a portion 11 lying thereon into the vertical buffer by means of the lift movers 19. The rotors 27 hereby respectively freed from their carrier 29 are then moved on in a suitable manner in order, for example, to accept carriers 29 again at another point.

(119) A further special functional region of a track system in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIG. 17. This functional region is a branch 47 which lies in a vertical plane.

(120) This branch 47 comprises track sections 41 of the so-called C type which are thus laterally open so that (cf. FIG. 18) the rotors 27 of movers 19 moved in such C tracks do not lie above or beneath the stator 43, but rather extend along the left and right sides of the stator 43.

(121) As FIG. 18 shows, a correspondingly angled holder 31 between the rotor 27 and the carrier 29 can, for example, provide that the support surface 39 of the carrier 29 extends in a horizontal plane on such a lateral guide of the movers 19 at the track sections 41.

(122) As mentioned at another point, the transport system in accordance with the invention is generally able to allow the movers 19 to overcome rising and falling slopes. An oblique position of the support surface 39 of the carrier 29 adopted in this respect, as illustrated in FIG. 17 at the mover 19 at the left there, can be avoided in a possible embodiment of the rotors 19 when, for example, a pendulum mechanism is provided which provides that the support surface 39 of the carrier 29 always remains horizontally aligned independently of the orientation of the rotor 27. Such a measure is, however, not compulsory. In practice, the rising slopes to be overcome by the movers 19, e.g. at vertical branches, can be considerably smaller than is illustrated in FIG. 7 only for illustration purposes.

(123) A vertical branch with track sections of the U type can generally also take place in accordance with the principle illustrated in FIG. 6. For this purpose, it is only necessary to imagine the horizontal branch of FIG. 6 only tilted by 90 in the vertical and provided with movers 19 in accordance with FIG. 18 such that the support surfaces 39 of the carriers 29 are oriented horizontally.

(124) With vertical branches which consequently do not have to have any curved track sections such as in FIG. 17, but which rather only include right-angled changes of direction analog to the branch in FIG. 6, space available in the vertical direction can advantageously be used such that it is not necessary to move in the width with the transport system.

(125) As mentioned at another point, the track system in accordance with the invention can comprise different track types which in particular differ as to how the rotor of each mover is arranged with respect to the stator of the track. With a track of the U type, the rotor is located above or beneath the stator. With a track of the C type, the rotor movers laterally next to the stator.

(126) In a respective total system, the track system in accordance with the invention can comprise only tracks of a single type. It is alternatively possible to use different track types within the track system in order, for example, to use the advantages of the respective track type directly in each case for the respective application or applications or special functional regions. Provision can be made in such a hybrid track system that the movers cannot change between the part systems. Possibilities are then provided to transfer portions or carriers carrying portions between movers of the one system and movers of the other system.

(127) It can alternatively be desirable so-to-say to design the border between the part systems as permeable such that movers can change between tracks of different types without limits and in particular without any impairment of a gentle transport of the portions and in particular without stopping the movers.

(128) A possibility of how this can be implemented in a comparatively simple manner is illustrated schematically in FIGS. 19 to 22.

(129) Three track sections 41 are shown in FIG. 19 which follow one another directly in the direction of transport T and which can be run through without interruption and with a gentle portion transport by special movers 19 which are shown in more detail in FIGS. 20 to 22.

(130) A transition or hybrid track section 51, which will be described in more detail in the following, is located between a track section 41 of the U type shown at the bottom in FIG. 19 and a track section of the C type shown at the top in FIG. 19.

(131) FIGS. 20 to 22 each show in a section perpendicular to the direction of transport T the respective track section 41 shown respectively at the left in FIG. 19 in a plan view. FIG. 20 thus shows the track section 41 of the C type, whereas in FIG. 22 the track section 41 of the U type is shown and FIG. 21 shows the transition or hybrid track section 41.

(132) The movers 19 configured for such transitions are so-called hybrid transport movers 19 which are provided with special hybrid rotors 27. As indicated in FIGS. 20 to 22, such hybrid rotors 27 can be characterized in that they are provided with two spatially separate permanent magnet arrangements M of which a respective one can cooperate with a stator 43 of a track of the U type (cf. FIG. 22) and the other one can cooperate with a stator 43 of a track of the C type (cf. FIG. 20).

(133) The hybrid rotor 27 is furthermore provided with slits 35 for guide rails 33 of the respective track sections 41 said slits being configured mutually opposite, i.e. in mutually oppositely disposed side surfaces.

(134) The slits 35 are configured for the guidance at track sections of the U type (cf. FIG. 22) in accordance with the embodiment described above with reference to FIG. 1 in the left and right side surfaces of the hybrid rotor 27. In accordance with the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 18, the hybrid rotor 27 is additionally provided with a pair of guide slits 35 which are configured at the lower and upper side surfaces and which (cf. FIG. 20) cooperate with guide rails 33 of track sections of the C type.

(135) The hybrid track section in accordance with FIG. 21 is inter alia characterized in that two stators 43 are provided which can be controlled independently of one another by means of the control device. This hybrid track section 41 is furthermore provided with only one single guide rail 33 of the U type (cf. the left in FIG. 21) and with only one single guide rail 33 of the C type (cf. the top in FIG. 21).

(136) Such a hybrid track section 41 can be run through without problem by correspondingly configured hybrid movers 19 both in a mechanical aspect and drive control-wise when the two stators 43 are controlled accordingly. The hybrid track section 41 can take over a mover 19 incoming from the pure U type track section 41 (cf. FIG. 22) with its own U stator (cf. bottom in FIG. 21) and can transfer it first to its own C stator (cf. right in FIG. 21) and then transfer it to the adjoining purely C type track section 41 (cf. FIG. 20).

(137) The provision of such hybrid track sections which combine properties of different track types in themselves in a certain manner is, however, not compulsory to effect transitions between track sections of different types in a track system. It is thus generally possible to arrange track sections of different types directly following one another. The respective guide rails 33 can be extended in the direction of the respective other track section at the transition points and can in particular overlap one another to ensure a problem-free guidance of the movers or their rotors beyond the transition points in a mechanical aspect and thus to ensure an unchanging constant transport of the portions.

(138) It has been explained in the introduction part that a general aspect of the invention comprises having two or more movers cooperate. The cooperating movers can be moved in the same track and in particular directly after one another. In this respect, the movers can be permanently associated with one another and in particular mechanically coupled to one another. An auxiliary mover, which is permanently present, can thus, for example, be associated with each transport mover 19. Such an embodiment will be explained in more detail in the following in connection with FIGS. 23 and 24.

(139) It is alternatively possible not to provide any permanent association of movers, but rather only to bring it about temporarily and only as required to implement an additional function of any kind whatsoever.

(140) In both variants, however, the generally independent movability of the movers in the track system is utilized and thus the circumstance that the spacing between two mutually following movers can be set during operation, i.e. while the movers move along a track, as desired and with a very high precision by means of the control device and can in particular be varied. Such a spacing change can be converted into an influencing of at least one of the movers by suitable means which can be of a mechanical kind, but with this not being compulsory.

(141) In the embodiment of FIGS. 23 and 24, a so-called auxiliary mover 19, which is moved in the direction of transport T behind the transport mover 19 in the respective track section 41, is associated with a transport mover 19 which is provided with a carrier 29 for a portion, not shown. In the embodiment shown here, the two movers 19 are connected to one another by a coupling rod 79 which is connected in an articulated manner to the carrier 29 of the transport mover 19 with a spacing from an axis of rotation 77 about which the carrier 29 is rotatable relative to the rotor 27, with the axis of rotation 77 and the axis of the articulated connection between the coupling rod 79 and the carrier 29 extending in parallel with one another and perpendicular to the direction of transport T and perpendicular to the support surface of the carrier 29.

(142) As the comparison of FIG. 23 with FIG. 24 shows, a rotation of the carrier 29 relative to the rotor 27 can be brought about by means of the coupling rod by changing the spacing between the two movers 19. If the spacing between the two movers 19 is comparatively small (cf. spacing a in FIG. 23), this represents a starting situation with a non-rotated carrier 29. If, e.g. with movers 19 moving in the track section 41, the speed of the auxiliary mover 19 running behind the transport mover 19 reduces, the spacing between the two movers (cf. spacing A in FIG. 24) increases, whereby the carrier 29 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 24.

(143) The angle of rotation can be set as desired by a corresponding relative positioning of the two movers 19 during the travel and can in particular be kept constant with high precision. Positional corrections of portions on the carrier 29 can hereby be carried out, for example. It is equally possible to change the alignment of portions between a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, i.e. to rotate portions by 90, such as can be necessary, for example, for the transfer or taking over of portions for adapting to devices provided for this purpose.

(144) FIGS. 25 to 27 illustrate a possibility in accordance with the invention to allow a simple removal of portions 11 by external deviceshere by a roboti.e. by devices not belonging to the track system by a special configuration of the carriers 29 of the transport movers 19.

(145) In the embodiment shown here, the carrier 29 is formed in the manner of a fork or rake at oppositely disposed side regions and is provided with spaced apart tines 83 between which correspondingly fork-like or rake-like grippers 81 of a robot, not shown in any more detail here, can meshingly engage from below in order in this manner to be able to take up a portion 11 lying on the carrier 29.

(146) A carrier 29 of such a configuration can consequently remain at the mover 19 on a portion transfer.

(147) FIG. 25 shows the situation before the removal of the portion 11. In the situation in accordance with FIG. 26, the grippers 81 have moved from below through the carrier 29 and have in so doing taken up the portion 11 which can thereupon be brought to a respective desired location by means of the robot.

(148) The placement of portions 11 on such a carrier 29 by means of robot comprising such a gripper 81 is possible in reverse order.

(149) FIG. 27 shows a plan view of the situation in FIG. 25, for example, in which it can in particular be recognized that the tines of the fork-like grippers 81 of the robot lie in the intermediate spaces between the times 83 of the carrier 29 in order in this manner to be able to grip beneath the portion 11 which comprises (cf. FIG. 26) a plurality of product slices 17 disposed above one another.

(150) FIGS. 28 to 30 illustrate another possibility for removing portions 11 from movers 19. In this embodiment, the carrier 29 does not remain at the mover 19 In this embodiment, the grippers 81 of the robot, on the one hand, and separable segments 29a, 29b of the carrier 29, on the other hand, are rather coordinated with one another such that the grippers 81 can each be coupled to one of the carrier segments 29a, 29b, whereby so-to-say the carrier segments 29a, 29b become a component of the robot grippers 81.

(151) The portion 11 can thus be removed from the mover 19 together with the carrier 29 formed by the two segments 29a, 29b by means of the robot. This situation is shown in FIG. 29 without the residual mover substantially formed by the rotor 27. Subsequently, in accordance with FIG. 30, the two grippers 81 can each be moved apart together with the coupled carrier segment 29a or 29b in order to drop the portion 11 into a packaging, not shown, for example.

(152) It can be ensured by suitable manes, for example in the form of a latch, that when the grippers 81 are moved apart in accordance with FIG. 30, the carrier segments 29a, 29b remain at the respective gripper 81 and can thus be reliably moved away, in particular abruptly, to the side below the portion 11.

(153) Alternatively to the substantially horizontal moving apart in accordance with FIG. 30, a pivot movement to the bottom, in particular taking place abruptly, can also be effected relative to the grippers 81, for example, for the carrier segments 29a, 29b. It is also possible to pivot the grippers 81 respectively together with the coupled carrier segment 29a or 29b to the outside and to the bottom to release and drop the portion 11.

(154) The manner of the coupling between the grippers 81 and the carrier segments 29a, 29b is generally as desired and is only schematically indicated here in FIGS. 28 to 30.

(155) FIG. 31 illustrates a cooperation of two movers 19 which can be used, for example, but not exclusively, for the formation of multi-sort packs which are becoming more and more important in practice. The embodiment of the movers 19 shown in FIG. 31 explained in more detail below allows portions 11 to be transferred gently from one mover 19 to another mover 19. When the portions 11 to be transferred are part portions, it is in particular hereby possible to transfer a part portion of a first sort to a mover on which a part portion of one or more different sorts is already disposed so that hereby a portion transfer from mover to mover and thus the formation of a total portion of a plurality of sorts is directly possible on a mover 19, and indeed generally at any desired point within the track system and thus independently of the installation site of the slicers at which the different product sorts are sliced.

(156) It is thus not necessary, for example, to move by means of a portion carrier to different stations after one another in the form of slicers or of conveyor belts coming from slicers in order consecutively to pick up part portions of different sorts.

(157) The formation of multi-sort portions can be implemented extremely variably and flexibly in this manner.

(158) Provision is made for this purpose in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 31 that the carriers 29 of the movers 19 are each formed by a continuous conveyor belt 85.

(159) The movers 19 can each be provided with their own energy supply for the drive of the conveyor belts 85. This will not be looked at in more detail at this point since the possibilities for an energy supply of movers 19 are explained at another point.

(160) It is, however, generally also possible to effect a conveyor belt operation for transferring portions 11 between movers 19 in each case without any separate energy sources of the movers 19. A drive of the conveyor belts 85 can take place, for example, by means of correspondingly moved auxiliary movers on the basis of the basic principle explained with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 23 and 24. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible for the drive of the conveyor belts 85 to allow the movers 19 to cooperate with the track system, i.e. respectively to use the relative movement between the respective mover 19 and a track section 41. The movers 19 can also be moved relative to an external device which does not directly belong to the track system and which cooperates, for example on passing by, in a suitable manner with the respective conveyor belt 85, for example which holds a continuous belt running freely around deflection rollers in order to effect the desired movement relative to the rotor 72 of the continuous belt and thus of a portion 11 to be handed over or to be taken over by a corresponding movement of the rotor 27 in the track section 41.

(161) The cooperation of conveyor belts for transferring food portions is generally known so that it will not be looked at in any more detail here. A special feature of the embodiment of FIG. 31 nevertheless comprises a moving away from the conveyor belt principle taking place, on the one hand, by the movers 19 movable individually in the track section 41, but again simultaneously providing the movers 19 in question here with a conveyor belt function.

(162) It is possible, but not compulsory, to implement a vertical travelability of the conveyor belts 85 or of the holders 31 in order to implement the different height levels between the cooperating conveyor belt movers 19 illustrated in FIG. 31. It is alternatively possible to use movers 19 having different, in particular unchangeable, height levels for the conveyor belts 85 for different product sorts. During the operation of the total system, the control device can provide that different part portions, which have to be transferred between conveyor belt movers 19, are each formed on a conveyor belt mover 19 or are transported thereto for the purpose of the transfer which has a conveyor belt level suitable for such a transfer.

(163) A cooperation of conveyor belt movers 19 such as shown in FIG. 31 does not have to take place between movers 19 located in the same track, but a transfer of portions or part portions is also possible in accordance with the invention from one track to an adjacent track, that is between movers 19 located in different tracks and in particular directly adjacent tracks. At least one of the movers 19 involved in such a cross-track transfer of a portion or part portion can be provided with a conveyor belt whose conveying direction extends transversely to the direction of transport. The conveyor belt can permanently have such a transverse alignment. Alternatively, the conveyor belt can be rotatable by at least 90 relative to the rotor of the mover in order to selectively be able to provide a conveying direction facing in the direction of transport or facing perpendicular thereto. A cross-track transfer can also involve more than two adjacent tracks or track sections. A mover located in a middle track can thus e.g. receive part portions from adjacent tracks at either side.

(164) FIGS. 32 and 33 show a further possibility in accordance with the invention to take portions 11 from the carrier 29 of a transport mover 19 or to transfer portions 11 to a carrier 29.

(165) An external transfer device 82 is provided for this purpose which does not directly belong to the track system and which comprises a plurality of drivable, narrow conveyor belts 88 which are arranged like the tines of a fork spaced part from one another in parallel and which are also called a finger belt or finger belts.

(166) A carrier 29 cooperating with such a conveyor belt fork is of grid shape or rake shape and comprises a plurality of parallel rods 89 arranged spaced apart from one another, with the intermediate spaces between the rods 89 being sufficiently large to allow a meshing moving through of the conveyor belts 88 of the transfer device 87.

(167) As indicated by the arrows in FIG. 32, the transfer device 87 can, on the one hand, be moved in the direction of transport T and in the opposite direction and thus in parallel with the track section 41 in which a mover 19 is moved to transfer a portion 11. On the other hand, the transfer device 87 can vary the height of the transfer fork formed by the narrow conveyor belts 88.

(168) A portion transfer can take place, for example, such that an incoming mover 19 stops in the position shown in FIG. 32, whereupon the transfer device 87 moves with sufficiently lowered conveyor belts 88 beneath the portion 11 between the rods 89 of the carrier 29. The conveyor belts 88 are subsequently moved sufficiently vertically upwardly to raise the portion 11 from the support surface of the carrier 29 formed by the rods 89. The conveyor belts 88 can subsequently be set into motion to convey the portions 11 further in the direction of the transfer device 87, that is to the left in FIG. 32. The transfer device 87 can then be retracted as a whole from the track section 41, whereupon the now empty mover 19 can be moved on in the track 41.

(169) As indicated by the curved track section 73 in FIG. 32, the mover 19 can in this respect, so-to-say, dip down and can, for example, be moved back below the shown track section 41 against the direction of transport T in an upside down position and can e.g. be cleaned during this return.

(170) It can in particular be recognized in the plan view of FIG. 33 how the narrow conveyor belts 88 of the transfer device 87 lie between the rods 89 of the carrier 29 of the mover 19 like the tines of a fork. The portion 11 is not shown in FIG. 33.

(171) The use of conveyor belts is nevertheless not absolutely necessary for a transfer of portions 11. A passive device, for example in the form of a fork such as has been explained e.g. in connection with FIGS. 25 to 27 can likewise be used. An advantage of the use of conveyor belts 88 comprises their being able to transfer a portion 11 to a different conveyor belt, for example, or to be able to place it directly into a package, which is not easily possible or which is not possible in a manner gentle for the portion with a rigid, passive transfer fork.

(172) FIG. 34 shows in a schematic plan view a further embodiment of a carrier 29 of a mover 19 suitable for a cooperation with fork transfer devices 87.

(173) In this embodiment, the support surface of the carrier 29 is formed for a portion, not shown here, by a plurality of projections 91, which are for example of nub type, with here square base surfaces which define passage-like intermediate spaces extending in parallel with and perpendicular to one another both in the transverse direction and in the longitudinal direction. Such a carrier structure makes it possible that transfer devices 87 can engage from directions offset by 90 with respect to one another between the projections 91 to cooperate with the carrier 29 for a transfer of portions.

(174) Movers 19 equipped with such a carrier 29 can thus be used more flexibly and with greater variety than other movers. The transfer possibilities are in particular so-to-say non-variant with respect to 90 rotations of the carrier 29 relative to the rotor 27 with such a carrier 29, i.e. such carriers 29 can in particular be used advantageously when it is not possible to predict the rotational position in which the carrier 29 runs into a transfer station in which transfer devices 87 are provided for receiving or discharging portions.

(175) Instead of the passive transfer devices 87 which are shown in FIG. 34 and whose tines 83 can respectively engage between the projections 91 of the carrier 29, it is also possible to work in this embodiment of the carrier 29 with transfer devices 87 which are provided with narrow conveyor belts 88 in accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 32 and 33.

(176) As mentioned at another point, the individual transport system in accordance with the invention can completely replace conventional conveyor belt systems. This also applies to a replacement of the so-called portioning belts or portioning units which are arranged directly in the region of a slicer and with which portions are formed from the falling slices so-to-say freshly cut off from a product and formed portions are transferred to following conveyor units.

(177) A possibility how such a portioning can take place by means of the transport system in accordance with the invention is illustrated schematically in FIGS. 35 and 36.

(178) FIG. 35 shows a side view of a transport mover 19 arranged directly at a slicer 15 in the portioning region, whereas it can inter alia be seen from the plan view of FIG. 36 that in this embodiment the slicer 15 is formed with three lanes, i.e. can slice three products 13 simultaneously which are disposed in parallel next to one another, wherein the transport system in accordance with the invention is configured in this portioning region correspondingly with three lanes and comprises three transport movers 19 arranged next to one another.

(179) In accordance with FIG. 35, the products 13 to be sliced are supplied in lying form on a product support, not shown, which extends in an inclined manner with respect to the horizontal by means of a product supply, not shown, in a direction of conveying F to a cutting plane 14 which is defined by a revolving cutting blade 16, for example a scythe-like blade, which rotates at high speed about an axis of rotation extending in parallel with the direction of conveying F.

(180) Slices 17 cut off from the front product end fall onto a waiting transport mover 19 whose carrier 29 is formed by an endless conveyor belt 93. The belt 93 runs over deflection rollers which are rotatably supported about axes of rotation 95. As regards the possibilities for a drive of the conveyor belt 93, reference is made to the corresponding statements on FIG. 31, for example, to avoid repetition.

(181) It is, however, not absolutely necessary for the portion formation that the conveyor belt 93 is driven. The formation of overlapping portions 11 (cf. in particular FIG. 36) in which the slices 17 forming the portion 11 only partly overlap one another can, for example, also take place by moving the mover 19 in the track section 41.

(182) The transport system in accordance with the invention is also able to move the rotors 27 of the movers 19 with a very high positioning precision at low speeds by means of the control device, i.e. predefined portion patterns can be exactly produced by a corresponding movement of the movers 19. In other words, the carrier 29 formed by the conveyor belt 93 can be moved by means of the rotor 27 in the falling region of the cut-off slices 17 such that generally any desired portion pattern can be generated from the falling slices 17, optionally by a multiple moving to and fro of the rotor 27 in the direction of transport T and against the direction of transport T.

(183) As indicated by the double arrows in FIG. 36, a movement of the carrier 29 transversely to the direction of transport T optionally required for the portion formation (cf. the lower, additionally transversely overlapping portion 11 in FIG. 36) can be achieved, for example, in that the track sections 41 are movable in the transverse direction. Alternatively or additionally, such a transverse movability can be integrated into the movers 19 themselves in that the latter are able to move the respective conveyor belt 93 forming the carrier 29 in a transverse direction relative to the respective rotor 27.

(184) It is also possible to move the movers 19 in a track section extending perpendicular to the direction of transport T in order to achieve a transverse movement of the carriers 29 optionally required for the portioning.

(185) Contrary to what is shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, it is also possible to provide the movers 19 with such drivable conveyor belts which allow a conveying movement transversely to the direction of transport T, with which that is the axes of rotation of the deflection rollers for the belts each extend in the direction of transport T. A transverse movement can consequently also be achieved by driving such transverse conveyor belts, whereas a movement in the direction of transport T and against the direction of transport T can be achievedas explained aboveby a movement to and fro of the rotors 27 in the respective track section 41.

(186) In this manner, a product placement can be implemented with each mover 19 which is also called an x-y table and which is movable in two directions perpendicular to one another.

(187) Additional placement possibilities can furthermore or alternatively be achieved when the carriers 29 of the movers 19 are rotated either by the movers 19 own drives or by means of external devices, e.g. in the form of auxiliary movers in the respective track sections 41. So-called round layers can, for example, be produced with the aid of the transport movers 19 in accordance with the invention.

(188) The track section 41 is shown in a horizontal alignment in FIG. 35 in which the portions 11 are formed on the conveyor belts 93 and the respective mover 19 is in each case moved away from the slicer 15 in the direction of transport T after completion of a portion 11. It is sufficient in this respect if the portioning track sections 41 shown here and arranged directly at the slicer 15 are comparatively short and if the outgoing movers 19 are transferred to following track sections, not shown. As indicated in FIG. 35, the portioning track sections 41 can each be pivotable about an axis 71 extending horizontally transversely to the direction of transport T. The left end of each portioning track section 41 not shown in FIG. 35 can be brought by such a pivoting into alignment with a track section (not shown) which extends in a plane which is disposed beneath that plane in which the movers 19 are transported away in the horizontal position of the portioning track sections 41 shown in FIG. 35.

(189) In the downwardly pivoted position, the portioning track sections 41 can respectively accept unloaded transport movers 19 coming from the left in FIG. 35 which are then ready to receive falling slices 17 to form a new portion 11 after pivoting back the portioning sections 41 into the horizontal position in accordance with FIG. 35.

(190) Whereas FIGS. 35 and 36 relate to that region of a total system in accordance with the invention at which the transport system in accordance with the invention cooperates with a slicer 15 for forming portions 11 on the transport movers 19, the other end of a transport system in accordance with the invention is shown so-to-say in FIG. 37 at which the portions 11 depart the transport system in accordance with the invention and are placed into a packaging 97.

(191) When, in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 37, the movers 19 are provided with carriers 29 which are configured as a conveyor belt 93 and which can be driven, a gentle placement of portions 11 into a packaging 97 can take place overall by cooperation of the conveying movement of the conveying belt 93 and of the movement of the mover 19 in the track section 41.

(192) The superposition of the movement generated by driving the conveyor belt 93 in a conveying direction F, on the one hand, with the opposite movement in the direction of transport T generated by moving the rotor 27 in the track section 41, on the other hand, has the consequence for the portion 11 disposed on the conveyor belt 93 that the portion 11 is stationary relative to the stationary packaging 97 when the two opposite movements in the conveying direction F, on the one hand, and in the direction of transport T, on the other hand, take place at the same speed. The portion 11 to be placed down then so-to-say has the floor pulled from under its feet. The portion 11 is hereby placed down gently.

(193) In this manner, the transport system in accordance with the invention is used to implement a so-called tipping such as is generally known in connection with conventional conveyor belt systems for the placement of food portions. This embodiment is consequently also an example of how functions of conventional conveyor belt systems can be produced with the individual transport system in accordance with the invention.

(194) It is not absolutely necessary for the production of a tipping belt to design the movers 19 such that the conveyor belt 93 can be driven by means of a band drive of the mover. It is alternatively possible that an additional device is provided in the region of the placement point shown here in FIG. 37, with the additional device not being shown and being able to be a part of the track system or being able to be provided externally and being able to hold a non-driven, freely movable conveyor belt 93. In this manner, the required tipping movement of the conveyor belt 93 and thus a gentle placement of the portion 11 can be implemented by moving the rotor 27 in the track section 41 in the direction of transport T.

(195) The holding and releasing of the conveyor belt 93 by means of the mentioned additional device can in each case be effected with the aid of the control device associated with the transport system.

(196) FIG. 38 shows another possibility in accordance with the invention to place portions 11 directly from a mover 19 moved in a track section 41 into a package 97.

(197) This embodiment makes use of gravity and comprises a track section 41 of the U type which extends in a vertical plane and by means of which the movers 19 are first moved in the direction of transport T in an upper horizontal plan and are moved on in the opposite direction of transport T in an upside down arrangement in a lower horizontal plane after running through a curved 180 section 73.

(198) A packaging station with waiting packages 97 is located beneath the part of the track section 41 extending in the lower horizontal plane.

(199) As soon as a mover 19 is above a packaging 97 in an upside down arrangement, holding arms 99 are activated and are pivoted into a release position to release a portion 11 to be discharged which can thus fall into the packaging 97. On this transfer, the portions 11 are simultaneously flipped over in that they lie upside down in the packaging 97 than originally on the carrier 29 of the mover 19.

(200) As shown in the upper part of FIG. 38, the holding arms 99 located in a holding position before the release of the portion 11 provide that the portion 11 remains securely on the carrier 29, while the mover 19 is moved in an upside down position in accordance with the representation in the lower part of FIG. 38.

(201) The pivoting of the holding arms 99 can take place by means of a drive integrated in the mover 91. Alternatively, an external trigger device can be provided which acts on the holding arms 99, for example mechanically, electrically or magnetically, when the mover 19 reaches the release position above the packaging 97.

(202) Instead of the pivotable holding arms 99 shown in FIG. 38, other means for holding and releasing the portions 11 can be provided at the carrier 29 in alternative embodiments of the invention. It is thus possible, for example, to hold a portion 11 at the carrier 29 by means of a vacuum, for example by suction via suction openings formed in the carrier 29. A previously securely held portion 11 can be released and thus dropped by switching the vacuum source off for dispensing to a packaging 97.

(203) It is possible in a further alternative embodiment to pull the packs 97 in each case over a portion 11 lying on the carrier 29, i.e. with a normally oriented mover 19 not upside down, to place the packaging 97 onto the portion 11 with its open side face down. The placement of the portion 11 thus already in the packaging 97 together with the packaging 97 can then take place, for example, again by moving the mover 19 into an upside down position. In order in this respect to hold the portion 11 in the packaging 97 securely at the mover 19 up to the release, holding means of any design can be provided integrated in the mover 19 or externally.

(204) Adjustable holding arms such as are shown in FIG. 38 with the holding arms 99 only for a portion 11 can, for example, serve as integrated holding means for the packaging 97 with the portion 11.

(205) A holding rail which, for example, extends above the track section 41 can be provided as an external holding means and defines, together with the track section 41, an intermediate space or a type of tunnel in which the mover 19 travels after the placing on of the packaging 97, which holds the packaging 97 together with the portion 11 during the tunnel movement and which releases the packaging 97 together with the portion 11 located therein after moving out the mover 19 then moved into the upside down arrangement such that the packaging 97 and the portion 11 fall down and can thus be released from the carrier 29.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

(206) 11 portion 13 product 14 cutting plane 15 slicing apparatus, slicer 16 cutting blade 17 slice 19 transport mover 21 track system 23 track 25 control device 27 rotor 29, 29 carrier 29a carrier segment 29b carrier segment 31 holder 33 guide rail 35 slit 37, 37 coupling section 39, 39 support surface 41 track section 43 stator 45 return line 47 branch 49 format 51 buffer line 53 switch section 55 holder 57 functional station 61 scale 63 rejection line 65 cleaning belt 67 connection element 69 connection element 71 pivot axis 73 curved section 75 flip-over mover 77 axis of rotation 79 coupling rod 81 gripper 83 tines 87 transfer device 88 conveyor belt 89 rod 91 packaging machine 92 projection 93 conveyor belt 95 axis of rotation 97 packaging 99 holding arm T direction of transport R return direction M permanent magnet arrangement F conveying direction