PROCESS FOR CUTTING ELASTIC STRANDS, IN PARTICULAR MEAT STRANDS AND CUTTING MACHINE THEREFOR

Abstract

To slice meat loafs (100) with cross sections that vary across their longitudinal extension into accurately weighted slices (101), it is known to bring the loaf (100) into a defined shape with a uniform cross section across its length inside a forming tube (2) by means of pressing before it is sliced.

According to the invention, the pressing is performed in the longitudinal direction (L, 10) and the transversal direction (Q, 11) in a predefined order and in particular in multiple pressing steps (+Q, +L), which also comprise relieving strokes (Q, L) for the purpose of reducing the force exertion for pressing, on the one hand, and, on the other, for keeping the tissue structure of the loaf (100) intact.

Claims

1. Method for forming an irregularly shaped, elongated loaf (100) of an elastic material, e.g. a meat loaf (100) of unprocessed meat, into a shape that has a uniform cross section (100) across its length, and in particular for subsequently cutting it into slices (101), in particular accurately weighted slices, by a) pressing the loaf (100) in its longitudinal direction (L, 10) as well as in at least a transversal direction (Q, 11.1, 11.2) to the longitudinal direction (10) until it has a mostly uniform cross section (100) across its length (99), characterized in that during pressing b) in a first pressing step, a first pressing plunger (4 or 5) is placed against the loaf (100) in a first pressing direction (Q or L), then is advanced further by a pressing stroke (+Q or +L) for the purpose of pressing, and/or c) in a second pressing step, a second pressing plunger (5 or 4) is placed against the loaf (100) in a second pressing direction (L or Q), then is advanced further by a pressing stroke (+Q or +L) for the purpose of pressing, d) following at least one pressing stroke (+Q or +L), the pressing plunger (4, 5) is withdrawn in the opposite direction by a relieving stroke (Q or L) to relief the loaf (100) in at least one of the pressing steps b) and/or c).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the steps b) and/or c) and/or d) are performed multiple time in succession, wherein, in particular during repetition, the pressing plunger (4, 5) already rests against the loaf (100), and/or a pressing stroke (+Q or +L) and/or a relieving stroke (Q or L) can be performed in multiple stages, between which in particular a pressing stroke (+Q or +L) can be performed in the respectively other pressing direction.

3. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a) the pressing is performed in a forming tube (2) with a circumferentially closed hollow forming space that is already open at both face ends and has a constant cross section along its longitudinal direction (10a) by means of b) a transversal pressing plunger (5) that can be moved in a transversal direction (11.1, 11.2) of the forming tube (2), as well as a longitudinal pressing plunger (4) that can be moved in the longitudinal direction (10a) of the forming tube (2).

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control parameters for the pressing strokes (+Q or +L) and/or the relieving strokes (Q or L) are the compressive force or the position of the pressing plunger (4, 5) of its pressing direction (Q, L), in particular the control parameter for the strokes (+L or L) in the longitudinal direction (10) is the compressive force.

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing is continued in each pressing stroke (+Q or +L) and the relief is continued in each relieving stroke (Q or L) until a stroke target value of the control parameter that is predefined for this stroke is reached, the pressing and relief are in total continued until an end target value of the control parameter is reached, wherein the end target value is in particular the stroke target value of the last stroke in this direction, which is in particular a measuring force (Km), before the end target value(s) for the individual pressing directions are reached, stroke target values for the individual pressing directions can be predefined, with their maximum stroke target values being higher than the end target value in this pressing direction, in particular they can be up to three times as high.

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control parameter, in particular of the longitudinal pressing plunger (4), is the compressive force, in a pressing stroke, the pressing step is stopped even before the stroke target value of the compressive force is reached if the feed velocity of the pressing plunger (4, 5) to which the stroke target value of the compressive force is applied falls below the predefined threshold value.

7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control parameter of the transversal pressing plunger (5) is the compressive force, in particular during transversal pressing, the transversal pressing plunger (5) only moves into such transversal positions that the remaining free cross section of the hollow forming space (7) in the transversal pressing direction (Q) corresponds to at least the smallest possible extension of the longitudinal pressing plunger (4), and/or to no more than the maximally possible extension of the longitudinal pressing plunger (4) in the transversal pressing direction. (Preferred: Begin of Transverse Pressing)

8. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first pressing direction is a transversal direction (Q, 11.1, 11.2) and the second pressing direction is the longitudinal direction (L, 10), and/or during the transversal pressing stroke (+Q), the longitudinal pressing plunger (4) is positioned at a distance to the loaf (100), in particular if the longitudinal pressing plunger (4) has a variable extension in the direction of the transversal pressing direction (Q). (Concrete Flow)

9. Method according to any of the preceding claims, with the following steps (S1 to S4) characterized in that S1) in a first pressing step, the transversal pressing plunger (5) is moved forwards in a first transversal pressing direction (Q, 11.1) against the loaf (100) and, as soon as it rests against the loaf (100), is moved further by a transversal pressing stroke (+Q) for pressing until a stroke target value of the transversal control parameter is reached, S2) following this pressing stroke (+Q), the transversal pressing plunger (5) is withdrawn by a transversal relieving stroke (Q) of in particular 0.5 mm to 6 mm, S3) simultaneously or subsequently, in a second pressing step, the longitudinal pressing plunger (4) is moved forwards (10) against the loaf (100) in the longitudinal direction and, as soon as it rests against the loaf (100), is moved further by a longitudinal pressing stroke (+L) for pressing until a stroke target value of the longitudinal control parameter is reached, S4) following this longitudinal pressing stroke (+L), the longitudinal pressing plunger (4) is withdrawn by a longitudinal relieving stroke (L) of in particular 6 mm to 20 mm, where appropriate, one or both pressing steps are repeated with increased stroke target values, in particular S5) the longitudinal pressing plunger (4) is moved forward in the longitudinal direction (10) against the loaf (100) by a longitudinal pressing stroke (+L) for pressing, in particular until a longitudinal measuring force (Km) is applied to it, S6) in particular after the two end target values in the two pressing directions correspond to the respective measuring force (Km) in this direction, the cross section (100), the length (99) and thus the volume of the loaf (100) are estimated based on the position of the two pressing plungers (4, 5), wherein, prior to the estimation, the last pressing step is preferably a longitudinal pressing step (+L).

10. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that following step S4 and in particular prior to the pressing step which has the measuring force (Km) as the stroke target value in the longitudinal direction (10), at first a transversal relieving stroke (Q) and subsequently a transversal pressing stroke (+Q) are performed with respectively the same value of the distance travelled. (Exception)

11. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a loaf (100) that has a support structure in its longitudinal direction (10) that extends partially or entirely across its length (99) and that cannot be compressed with the force (Km) in the longitudinal direction (10), in particular a bone or a bone strand, the loaf (100) is received without force or at most with a very low longitudinal compressive force, which is in particular no more than 1/10 of the longitudinal measuring force (Km), before the first transverse pressing in the longitudinal direction (10) at the face ends between end stops, of which one is in particular the longitudinal pressing plunger (4). (Temporal Relationship)

12. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing is performed in both pressing directions (Q, L) with a partial or complete time overlap, in particular the one pressing plunger (5 or 4) already begins to advance while the other pressing plunger (4 or 5) is being withdrawn. (Measure of Relief)

13. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stroke target value of the relieving stroke (Q or L) is chosen so as to be smaller than the stroke target value of the previous pressing stroke (+Q or +L), in particular, the stroke target value of the relieving stroke (Q or L) is maximally 30%, better maximally 20%, better maximally 10% of the stroke target value of the pressing stroke (+Q or +L). in particular the relieving stroke (Q or L) is between 2 mm and 6 mm, better between 3 mm and 5 mm, in the transversal direction and/or is between 2 mm and 20 mm, better between 3 mm and 15 mm, better between 4 mm and 10 mm, in longitudinal direction. (Over-Pressing)

14. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that as the pressing plunger (4 or 5) is being advanced, the end target value of its control parameter is exceeded, and is reached or undershot again as it is being withdrawn, with the compressive force as the control parameter, the end target value is exceeded by maximally 250%, better only by maximally 150% better only by maximally 100%, in particular in the transversal direction, and/or with the pressing position as the control parameter, the end target value is exceeded by maximally 15 mm, better by maximally 10 mm, better by maximally 6 mm, better only by maximally 4 mm, in particular in the longitudinal direction. (Forming Width Adjustable)

15. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in another transversal direction (11.2), which is positioned perpendicularly with respect to the transversal pressing direction (11.1) according to one of the preceding claims, a transversal restricting plunger at least rests against the loaf (100), in particular is pushed forwards beyond it in this other transversal direction (11.2), in particular up to one of in particular multiple target positions in this other transversal direction (11.2).

16. Machine (1) for forming an irregularly shaped loaf (100) of an elastic material, e.g. a meat loaf (100), so that it has a cross section (100) that is uniform across its entire length (99), and in particular for subsequently cutting it into slices (101), in particular accurately weighted slices, wherein the machine (1) comprises at least one forming tube (2) that is open in the front and the back, and extends in the longitudinal direction (10), the axial direction, for respectively one loaf (100), and preferably comprises multiple such forming tubes (2) arranged in parallel next to each other, for each of the forming tubes (2), a longitudinal pressing plunger (4) is present, which can be displaced in a precisely fitting manner inside the forming tube (2) from the rear loading end (2b) in the longitudinal direction (10) of the forming tube (2) and back, for each of the forming tubes (2), a transversal pressing plunger (5) is present as a part of the wall of the forming tube (2), which can be radially inserted into the forming tube duct (2) in the transversal pressing direction (11.1, 11.2) of the forming tube (2.1), an axial stop collar for the loaf (100) is present at the frontal cutting blade end (2a) of the forming tube (2) or in its frontal end area, comprising a control (20) that controls all movable parts of the machine (1), characterized in that the control (20) is capable of controlling the movable parts of the machine (1) according to the method according to any of the preceding claims, a blade (3) for cutting off slices (101) from the at least one strand (100) is arranged in particular in front of the frontal cutting edge end (2a) of the forming tube (2).

Description

[0092] FIGS. 1a-1c show the forming tube 2 in a principle drawing, wherein in FIGS. 1a, b the loaf 100 to be pressed is still in its initial state in which it is approximately elongatedovate, or has the shape of an American football, with a cross section 100 that changes in the longitudinal direction 10, the direction of its greatest length 99, and has the maximum cross section 100max approximately in the central area.

[0093] As shown in the sectioned view in the longitudinal direction 10 according to FIG. 1c, the forming tube duct 2 consists of a forming tube duct 2.1 that is U-shaped in this cross section and into which a transversal pressing plunger 5 is plunged in a precisely fitting manner from the open side, usually from above, so that together they form a forming tube 2 that is open on the face end at the front and the back.

[0094] As shown in FIGS. 1a, b, for pressing the loaf 100, the front end, the cutting blade end 2a, of the forming tube 2 is closed by a longitudinal stop collar, in this case for example the stop plate 13 that will be explained in the following, while a longitudinal pressing plunger 4 is plunged into the back end, the loading end 2b, of the inner free space 7 and can be moved in the longitudinal direction 10 to press the loaf 100 in the longitudinal direction 10.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 1c, the inner surfaces of the side walls of the U-shaped forming tube duct 2.1 extend in parallel and at a non-variable distance to each other, so that the transversal pressing plunger 5 can have a fixed width in the direction of the width of the opening of the forming tube duct 2.1, the second transversal direction 11.2, and can also have a fixed length in the length 10, namely e.g. corresponding to the length of the forming tube duct 2.1.

[0096] For, as shown in FIG. 1b, the longitudinal pressing plunger 4which in most cases is located at the frontal end of an indicated piston rod 12 of a working cylinder unit that is not shownmoves between the transversal pressing plunger 5, with one side resting against the press surface of the transversal pressing plunger 5 that points downwards in FIG. 1b, and the base of the forming tube duct 2.1.

[0097] In order to always completely fill out the free cross section 7 between the forming tube duct 2.1 and the transversal pressing plunger 5 independently of the position of the transversal pressing plunger 5 in the transversal pressing direction Q, the first transversal direction 11.1, it consists of two parts 4a, 4b (as in FIG. 1c, left half) that alternatingly have prongs and recesses on the mutually facing sides and thus mesh into each other, and in this way the transversal pressing plunger 5 can be varied in its extension in this transversal direction 11.1, which is performed automatically since the two parts 4a, b are pre-stressed by means of springs in directions that point away from each other.

[0098] In FIGS. 1a, b, the loaf 100 is still in its initial state and in the longitudinal direction 10 rests without force e.g. against the stop plate 13, on the one hand, and at the longitudinal pressing plunger 12, on the other hand, and also in the transversal direction 11.1 rests against the base of the forming tube duct 2.1, on the one hand, and at the transversal pressing plunger 5, on the other hand. As a general rule, the transversal pressing plunger 5 is also arranged at the frontal end of a piston rod 12 of a working cylinder unit that is not shown here and that can apply a force to the transversal pressing plunger 5 analogously to the longitudinal pressing plunger 4.

[0099] Usually, the longitudinal direction 10 of the loaf 100 that is placed in the initial state into the forming tube 2 corresponds to the longitudinal direction 10 of the forming tube 2the longitudinal pressing direction L of the longitudinal pressing plunger 4, which is assumed in the present application.

[0100] In this state, the present hollow spaces in the inner free space 7 of the forming tube 2 around the loaf 100 can be seen, which are not yet filled out by the loaf 100 that is still approximately elongate-ovate.

[0101] By further advancing from this state of the longitudinal pressing plunger 4 in the longitudinal pressing direction L in the direction of the cutting blade end 2a of the forming tube 2 and/or of the transversal pressing plunger 5 in the transversal pressing direction Q, the transversal direction 11.1, the loaf 100 is increasingly brought into a shape that completely fills out the inner remaining free space 7 inside the forming tube 2 between the longitudinal stop collar and the longitudinal pressing plunger 4. As can be seen in FIG. 1c in the final pressed state, the loaf 100 has an approximately rectangular cross section with rounded corners corresponding to the design of the cross section of the inner free space 7, and that uniformly across the entire length of the pressed loaf 100.

[0102] Since as a general rule longitudinal pressing as well as transversal pressing is performed, in the final pressed state, the pressed loaf 100 has a smaller length in the longitudinal direction 10 and also a differently formed cross section 100, also in particular a smaller maximum cross-sectional surface 100max than in the non-pressed initial state.

[0103] According to the invention, the longitudinal pressing and the transversal pressing are performed not only through the pressing strokes in the respective pressing direction +Q and +L, but also through relieving strokes in the respective pressing direction, i.e. L, Q, which are performed in between.

[0104] Here, FIG. 1a shows a typical flow of the pressing procedure, starting from the shown non-pressed state of the loaf 100 to the final pressed state in which the loaf 100 fills out the entire remaining inner free space 7 inside the forming tube 2.

[0105] Preferably, the longitudinal pressing plunger 4 is already located in the forming tube, i.e. between the transversal pressing plunger 5 and the forming tube duct 2.1, already in the initial state, i.e. in the above-described state in which the non-pressed loaf 100 still rests against the corresponding parts of the forming tube 2 as well as at the stop plate 13 and the longitudinal pressing plunger.

[0106] After the pressing plunger 4, 5 rests against the loaf 100, the pressing is performed as follows:

[0107] First, in a first step S1, the transversal pressing plunger 5 is moved in a transversal pressing stroke +Q, i.e. in the direction towards the base of the forming tube duct 2.1, and the loaf 100 is thus pressed together in this first transversal direction 11.1.

[0108] Subsequently, in a step S2, a relieving stroke Q is performed with the transversal pressing plunger 5 in the opposite direction by a distance that is smaller than the value of the pressing stroke +Q, and preferably is 2-6 mm, preferably to reduce the adhesive friction between the loaf 100 and the circumferential walls of the forming tube duct 2.

[0109] Subsequently or simultaneously, i.e. possibly already during the transversal relieving stroke Q, or possibly even already during the transversal pressing stroke +Q, in a third step S3 a further advancement of the longitudinal pressing plunger 4 with a longitudinal pressing stroke +L is started in the pressing direction 10 in the direction of the closed cutting blade end 2a of the forming tube 2, thus compressing the loaf 100 in the longitudinal direction 10.

[0110] For example, the transversal relieving stroke Q can be performed in multiple stages with multiple partial target values, and a new part of the longitudinal pressing stroke +L, which is also carried out in steps, can be performed after each stage.

[0111] Subsequently, as the step S4, the longitudinal pressing plunger 4 performs a longitudinal relieving stroke L in the counter direction, with its distance representing only a part of the value of the previous pressing stroke +L in this direction, in particular 6 mm to 20 mm. This longitudinal relieving stroke L is preferably performed only after the transversal forward stroke +Q, in particular also the transversal relieving stroke Q, has been concluded.

[0112] In individual cases, i.e. if a strong reshaping of the loaf 100 is necessary, this flow and/or only the transversal pressing +Q and/or the transversal relief Q, can be performed repeatedly.

[0113] Usually, the transversal pressing plunger 5 as well as the longitudinal pressing plunger 4 are power-controlled, i.e. controlled via the force applied to the respective pressing plunger, which in the completely pressed state of the loaf is supposed to have a certain end target value.

[0114] This end target value may for example be the so-called measuring force, which is predefined separately for the longitudinal pressing plunger 4 and the transversal pressing plunger 5, and which is to be applied to the pressing plungers 4 or 5 if the size of the cross section 100 of the inner free space 7 of the forming tube 2 (which in that case is uniform across its length), and thus of the pressed loaf 100 as well as the length 99 in the longitudinal direction 10 is determined.

[0115] This is in particular realized by determining the positions of the pressing plungers 4, 5 in their respective pressing direction Q, L with respect to the forming tube duct 2.1 or the longitudinal stop collar, e.g. in the form of the stop plate 13 at the cutting blade end 2a of the forming tube 2, for example by means of position sensors, which are not shown and which can be installed in the working cylinder units, which are not shown and which act on the pressing plungers 4, 5.

[0116] Usually, the end target value is not yet applied to the longitudinal pressing plunger 4 during its first longitudinal pressing stroke +L, but only a stroke target value is applied to it, so that in a subsequent at least fifth step S5 the end target value, e.g. the measuring force, is now applied to the longitudinal pressing plunger andwhen the transversal pressing plunger 5 has also reached its measuring forcethe cross section and length of the loaf 100 are determined, based on which the control 20 of the machinewhich is shown in the following FIGS. 2a-cdetermines the number of slices 101 of a predefined weight that can be produced therefrom.

[0117] As can best be seen in FIG. 2b, FIGS. 2a, b show the entire cutting machine 1 which in addition to the forming tube 2 and the pressing plungers 4, 5 comprises a cutting unit 6 for cutting off slices 101 from the pressed loaf 100.

[0118] With respect to the forming tube 2, it can be seen that the forming tube 2 in FIG. 2b is arranged so as to be oriented obliquely downwards, and in addition an intermediate plate 18 can be inserted into the forming tube 2 close to the cutting blade end 2a of the forming tube 2 in such a manner that it closes its entire free cross section 7 of the inner free space 7. This is for not having to press the loaf 100 against the stop plate 13 that is moved towards the forming tube 2 during the pressing of the loaf 100, but the intermediate plate 18 that is mounted in a more stable manner inside the forming tube 2 itself.

[0119] As the position of the pressing plungers 4, 5 in the longitudinal direction 10 is known, it is nevertheless possible to determine the length 99 of the loaf 100 in the longitudinal direction 10 and its cross-sectional surface 100 as well as the design of the cross-sectional surface in the transversal directions 11.1, 11.2, which are positioned at a right angle to each other and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 10, from the positions of the pressing plungers 4, 5 in their pressing directions Q, L in the pressed state.

[0120] As shown in FIG. 2a, for rendering the loading easier as well as for other purposes, the forming tube duct 2.1 can be folded down into a horizontal position about a pivot axis in its frontal area, here the lower edge at the cutting blade end 2a of the forming tube 2, extending in the second transversal direction 11.2, while the transversal pressing plunger 5 and the longitudinal pressing plunger 4 remain in the original position.

[0121] In this folded-down arrangement of the forming tube duct 2.1, a new loaf 100 can be inserted into the forming tube duct 2.1 from the rear loading side end 2b, for example by means of the shown feed conveyor 14.

[0122] Subsequently, the forming tube duct 2.1 with the loaf 100 is folded back up in the pressing position extending [in parallel] to the longitudinal pressing direction L, wherein the transversal pressing plunger 5 and the longitudinal pressing plunger 4 are respectively in their maximally retracted position, in which they barely plunge into the forming tube duct 2.1, so as to not collide with the non-pressed loaf 100 inside the forming tube duct 2.1 as the latter is being pivoted upwards.

[0123] Subsequently, according to FIG. 2b, the loaf (not shown) is pushed forward against an intermediate plate 18 by means of the longitudinal pressing plunger 4, and also comes into contact with the transversal pressing plunger 5 as the latter is moved in.

[0124] Subsequently, the loaf 100 is pressed only as the pressing plunger 4, 5 is advanced further, as described in FIGS. 1a, b, c, namely with the measuring force Km indicated in FIG. 2b in the longitudinal direction 10.

[0125] FIG. 2c shows the subsequent automatic slicing of the pressed loaf 100 into slices 101:

[0126] For this purpose, after the intermediate plate 18 is removed, the pressed loaf 100 is further advanced by means of the longitudinal pressing plunger 4 with a feed force Kv, which preferably corresponds to the measuring force Km, and namely to beyond a cutting blade end 2a of the forming tube 2 to beyond a desired slice thickness, so that, with its frontal end face, the loaf 100 should rest at a longitudinal distance that is set to a corresponding distance 17 with respect to the forming tube 2.

[0127] If the position of the loaf 100 for cutting off the next slice 101 in the longitudinal direction 10 is thus reached, the cutting edge of a blade 3, which in this case is round or sickle-shaped and rotates about a blade axis 3, increasingly plunges in the transversal direction into the cross section of the loaf 100 and cuts off a slice.

[0128] As the blade 3 plunges in, the stop plate 13 is also moved in the same transversal direction, so that the cut-off slice 101 can fall over the upper edge of the stop plate 13 and onto the removal conveyor 8 located directly below it, which transports it away and then transfers it to a further removal conveyor 9. One of the two removal conveyors, preferably the downstream removal conveyor 9, comprises a scale 16 for weighing the individual produced slices 101, and its weight can be provided as a feedback to the control 20 of the machine for automatically correcting the weight of the following slices 101.

[0129] For this purpose, the blade 3 as well as the stop plate 13 are mounted in a movable manner at a base frame 15 of the cutting unit 6, along which the stop plate 13 can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction 10 and along which also the blade 3, which is held at a support arm 19, can be moved at least in one of the transversal directions to the longitudinal direction 10, preferably in the first transversal direction 11.1, the transversal press direction Q of the transversal pressing plunger 5.

PARTS LIST

[0130] 1 cutting machine [0131] 2 forming tube [0132] 2.1 forming tube duct [0133] 2a cutting blade end [0134] 2b loading end [0135] 3 blade [0136] 3 blade axis [0137] 3 blade plane [0138] 3a cutting edge [0139] 4 longitudinal pressing plunger [0140] 5 transversal pressing plunger [0141] 6 cutting unit [0142] 7 inner free space [0143] 7 inner free cross section [0144] 8 removal conveyor [0145] 9 removal conveyor [0146] 10 longitudinal direction, axial direction, feed direction [0147] 11.1 first transversal direction [0148] 11.2 second transversal direction [0149] 12, 12 piston rod [0150] 13 stop plate [0151] 14 feed conveyor [0152] 15 base frame [0153] 16 scale [0154] 17 distance [0155] 18 intermediate plate [0156] 19 support arm [0157] 20 control [0158] 99 length [0159] 100 loaf, meat loaf [0160] 100 cross section [0161] 100max maximum cross section [0162] 101 slice [0163] 110 serving [0164] Dmax maximum thickness, maximum diameter [0165] Km measuring force [0166] Kv feed force [0167] L longitudinal pressing direction [0168] +L longitudinal pressing stroke [0169] L longitudinal relieving stroke [0170] Q transversal pressing direction [0171] +Q transversal pressing stroke [0172] Q transversal relieving stroke