SLICING MACHINE FOR FOODSTUFFS IN BLOCK FORM

Abstract

A slicing machine for foodstuffs in block form has a slicing blade for the foodstuff in block form and a shaft for receiving the foodstuff. The longitudinal direction of the shaft corresponds to the feed direction of the foodstuff in block form. The shaft has a first shaft region and a second shaft region which are at least partially separated from one another by a slot. At least one offset lies between the two shaft regions. The two shaft regions can be moved relative to one another such that the offset can be reduced by the movement.

Claims

1. A method for cutting block-like foodstuffs by means of a slicing machine, comprising the following method steps: the block-like foodstuff is inserted into a shaft of the slicing machine, wherein the shaft has two shaft regions, which are at least partially separated from each other by a slot, the block-like foodstuff is guided past a cutting blade in the direction of feed, the relative position of the two shaft regions one to the other is altered, the block-like foodstuff is once again guided past the cutting blade in the opposite direction of feed, wherein the cutting of the block-like foodstuff takes place in the first or second run past the cutting blade and the inserted foodstuff block is rotated within the shaft prior to the first run past the cutting blade.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] The invention is described and explained in greater detail below with reference to the illustrative embodiments represented in the drawing, wherein

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a front view of a first embodiment of the slicing machine according to the invention, having a shaft, slightly inclined with respect to the vertical, for receiving the block-like foodstuff,

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a section along the line A-A according to FIG. 1,

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the transitional region between the two shaft regions according to FIG. 2,

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a top view of a second embodiment of the slicing machine according to the invention with horizontal shaft, the longitudinal direction of which is arranged roughly perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the slicing machine, wherein a foodstuff is present in the insertion region,

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a top view of the slicing machine according to FIG. 4, in which the inserted foodstuff has been rotated, and

[0036] FIG. 6 shows a top view of the slicing machine according to FIG. 4, in which the inserted foodstuff has been transported rearward.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] A first embodiment of the slicing machine 10 according to the invention is represented in FIGS. 1 to 3. In the present exemplary case, the slicing machine 10 is configured as a rotary blade machine having a circular blade 12. The circular blade 12 is coupled in the usual way to a blade drive 14, which provides for the rotation of the circular blade 12 and its movement through the foodstuff to be cut.

[0038] The slicing machine 10 possesses a shaft 20, the longitudinal direction of which corresponds to the direction of feed of an inserted block-like foodstuff 18. In the present exemplary case, the shaft 20 is present slightly inclined with respect to the vertical. The shaft 20 of the slicing machine 10 possesses a first, upper shaft region 22 and a second, lower shaft region 24, which are separated from each other by a slot 26. Driven by the blade drive 14, the circular blade 12 travels through this slot 26, so that the foodstuff 18 present in the region of the slot 26 is sliced at this place. In relation to the drawing, a foodstuff slice is then formed beneath this slot 26. Above the slot 26, the foodstuff 18 is present in a still unsliced state.

[0039] The foodstuff 18 to be sliced is placed in the upper shaft region 22 onto the rear channel wall 30 thereof. In the present exemplary case, the rear channel wall 30 is present slightly inclined with respect to the vertical, the upper end 32 of the rear channel wall 30 being tilted rearward, so that the inserted foodstuff 18 does not fall out of the shaft 20. The rear channel wall 30 is present roughly at right angles to a side wall 34, which in the illustrative embodiment represented in the drawing is represented on the right. This side wall 34 could be arranged in a longitudinally displaceable manner on the rear channel wall 30, so that the width of the upper shaft region 22 could be variably adjusted by a certain amount in order to adapt the shaft width to the size of the inserted foodstuff 18.

[0040] For the slicing, the foodstuff block 18 is pushed by a transport slide 40 in the direction of the slot 26. The transport slide 40 can have, for instance, a plurality of mutually adjacent claws, which in the cutting operation dig sufficiently firmly into the end of the foodstuff from above.

[0041] In order to prevent the cut slices of the foodstuff block 18 from falling down, a slice support 44 is arranged beneath the inserted foodstuff 18. Prior to the start of the cutting operation, the unsliced foodstuff 18 rests on this slice support 44 (see in particular FIG. 3). Parallel to the advancement of the transport slide 40, the slice support 44 also moves incrementally downward, so that the cut slices can rest on the slice support 44. In the represented illustrative embodiment, the slice support 44 and the transport slide 40 are thus coupled together.

[0042] The lower shaft region 24 likewise possesses a rear channel wall 50, which in the present exemplary case is present parallel to the rear channel wall 30 of the upper shaft region 22. Parallel to the side wall 34 of the upper shaft region 22, a side wall 52 of the lower shaft region 24 is present. In the lower shaft region 24, the cut slice pack is collected, wherein the rear channel wall 50, in conjunction with the slice support 44, provides for a secure storage of the slice pack.

[0043] In order to obtain a clean and high-quality cut by the circular blade 12, an offset 54 is present between the rear channel wall 30 of the upper shaft region 22 and the rear channel wall 50 of the lower shaft region 24. Between the side wall 34 of the upper shaft region 22 and the side wall 52 of the lower shaft region 24, an offset 56 is also present. This offset 54, 56 would get in the way when the slice support 44 is raised, since the slice pack can bang against the offset 54, 56, which can result in damage to the cut slices or toppling of the slice pack.

[0044] For this reason, in the present exemplary case the lower shaft region 24 is configured movably. After the completion of the cutting operation, the lower shaft region 24 can be displaced somewhat in the transverse direction (arrow 60) in order to compensate the offset 54. At the same time, the lower shaft region 24 can be displaced somewhat in the transverse direction of the side wall (arrow 62) in order also to be able to compensate the offset 56. Ideally, the upper shaft region 22 can thus be aligned with the lower shaft region 24.

[0045] In addition thereto, a further movement of the lower or the upper shaft region could also be made in the longitudinal direction of the shaft region, so that the lower shaft region would somewhat overlap the upper shaft region. In this case, the slot 26 would be fully closed off.

[0046] In contrast to the illustrative embodiment which is represented here, the offset between the upper and the lower shaft region could also be reduced by a rotation of one of the two shaft regions.

[0047] A second embodiment of the slicing machine 10.4 according to the invention is represented in FIGS. 4 to 6. The slicing machine 10.4, like also the slicing machine 10, is configured as a rotary blade machine. The slicing machine 10.4 possesses a shaft 20.4, the longitudinal direction 70 of which corresponds to the direction of feed of the inserted block-like foodstuff 18. In the present exemplary case, the shaft 20.4 is present roughly horizontally. However, the longitudinal direction 70 of the shaft 20 is present roughly perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 72 of the slicing machine 10.4, so that the longitudinal direction 70 of the shaft 20.4 corresponds to the transverse direction of the slicing machine 10.4.

[0048] The shaft 20.4 of the slicing machine 10.4 possesses a first, front shaft region 22.4 and a second, rear shaft region 24.4, which are separated from each other by a slot 26.4. Driven by the blade drive 14, the circular blade 12 travels through this slot 26.4, so that the foodstuff 18 present in the region of the slot 26.4 is sliced at this place.

[0049] The foodstuff 18 to be sliced can be inserted from the front side 82 of the slicing machine 10.4 by an operator 80, who can be a member of the sales staff or an end customer. The foodstuff 18 to be sliced is placed in the front shaft region 22.4 onto its lower channel wall 30.4. The lower channel wall 30.4 is present roughly at right angles to a side wall 34.4, which in the illustrative embodiment represented in the drawing is represented on the right. This side wall 34.4 could be arranged in a longitudinally displaceable manner on the lower channel wall 30.4, so that the width of the front shaft region 22.4 could be variably adjusted by a certain amount in order to adapt the shaft width to the size of the inserted foodstuff 18.

[0050] The longitudinal axis 74 of the inserted foodstuff 18 should generally be oriented within the longitudinal axis 70 of the shaft 20.4, and thus in the direction of feed. A foodstuff 18, which according to FIG. 4 has been inserted in a different orientation, can therefore firstly be rotated such that its longitudinal axis 74 lies according to FIG. 5 within the longitudinal axis 70 of the shaft 20.4.

[0051] For the slicing, the foodstuff block 18 is drawn by a transport slide 40.4, firstly over the slot 26.4, rearward onto the second, rear shaft region 24.4. For this purpose, the transport slide 40.4 has a plurality of mutually adjacent claws, which dig sufficiently firmly into the end of the foodstuff 18 from above. In this run past the circular blade 12, initially no cutting operation takes place. The front shaft region 22.4 and the rear shaft region 24.4 are here arranged in such a way relative to each other that the respective lower channel walls 30.4 and 50.4 are mutually aligned.

[0052] After this, the foodstuff 18 is pushed by the transport slide 40.4 once again past the circular blade 12. In this second run past, the cutting of the foodstuff 18 takes place. The cut foodstuff block can then be rotated back again in accordance with FIG. 5 to enable it to be comfortably removed from the front shaft region 22.4.