Slicing Apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus, in particular a high-speed slicer, for slicing food products into portions comprising at least one slice, having a slicing unit which is configured to separate slices from a product, wherein, in a cutting region, the slices drop, as a stream of slices, directly onto at least one carrier and form a portion on the carrier, having a moving apparatus for moving the carrier laden with portions out of the cutting region, having an introduction apparatus which is configured to introduce at least one further carrier into the stream of slices as soon as a portion has been formed on a preceding carrier, and having at least one control device for controlling the movements of the carriers, the slicing unit and/or the introduction apparatus.

Claims

1. A high-speed slicer apparatus for slicing food products into portions, comprising: at least one slice, having a slicing unit that is configured to cut slices from a product, wherein the slices fall directly onto at least one carrier as a slice stream in a cutting region and form a portion on the carrier; a movement apparatus for moving the carriers loaded with portions out of the cutting region; an introduction apparatus that is configured to introduce at least one further carrier into the slice stream as soon as a portion has been formed on a preceding carrier; and at least one control device for controlling the movements of the carriers, the slicing unit and/or the introduction apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the slicing unit is configured to cut slices continuously from a product, with the slice stream being continuous.

3. the apparatus of claim 1 wherein the movement apparatus comprises a plurality of individually movable transport movers and a path system for the transport movers in which the transport movers are movable along at least one predefined path in a transporting away direction, with the transport movers in particular each comprising at least one runner cooperating with the path system and a holding device for receiving at least one carrier at the runner.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control device controls the slicing unit such that no blank cuts are carried out.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control device controls the slicing unit such that the spacing between falling slices of a product is constant.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a transfer apparatus is provided that transfers the portion from the carrier to a packaging apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portion remains on the carrier up to the transfer to a packaging apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein two carriers are provided for each portion and complement one another in the cutting region to form a common support for the portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the introduction apparatus comprises at least one holder that temporarily fixes the carrier.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the holder is configured to transfer the carrier loaded with a portion to the movement apparatus, in particular to a transport mover or to a holding device.

11. The apparatus of claim , wherein two holders are provided that are configured to alternately transfer a carrier loaded with a portion to the movement apparatus, in particular to a transport mover or to a holding device, and to introduce a further carrier into the slice stream.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the carriers are introduced into the slice stream which is above a transporting away plane in which the carriers loaded with portions are moved out of the slicing region.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the introduction apparatus comprises a feed for the carriers inclined with respect to a transporting away plane.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the introduction apparatus is configured to introduce the carriers into the slice stream from at least one side.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the introduction apparatus comprises a pivoting apparatus for the carriers that is supported pivotably about a pivot axis, in particular about a vertical pivot axis (S).

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the introduction apparatus comprises a positioning apparatus that is configured to position the carrier during an acceptance of slices, in particular to lower it, to rotate it and/or to move it in the X/Y direction relative to the slice stream.

17. A method for slicing food products into portions, using the apparatus of claim 1, comprising: making at least one slice using the slicing apparatus; in which slices are cut from a product; wherein the slices fall directly onto at least one carrier as a slice stream in a cutting region and form a portion on the carrier; wherein the carriers loaded with portions are moved out of the cutting region; and at least one further carrier is introduced into the slice stream as soon as a portion has been formed on a preceding carrier.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the preceding carrier (16) is transported away with the portion (18) while the further carrier (16) receives slices (14).

Description

[0065] The invention will be described in the following by way of example with reference to the drawings. There are shown:

[0066] FIG. 1 a side view of an embodiment of a slicing apparatus in accordance with the invention;

[0067] FIG. 2 to FIG. 4 plan views of further embodiments of a slicing apparatus in accordance with the invention;

[0068] FIG. 5 a side view of an embodiment of an introduction apparatus in accordance with the invention;

[0069] FIG. 6 a plan view of the introduction apparatus of FIG. 5,

[0070] FIG. 7 a side view of an embodiment of an introduction apparatus in accordance with the invention;

[0071] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 side views of an embodiment of a carrier in accordance with the invention;

[0072] FIG. 10 a plan view of the carrier of FIGS. 8 and 9:

[0073] FIG. 11 a plan view of an embodiment of a slicing apparatus in accordance with the invention;

[0074] FIG. 12 a side view of an embodiment of a slicing apparatus in accordance with the invention;

[0075] FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 side views of different embodiments of a positioning apparatus in accordance with the invention; and

[0076] FIG. 15 a side view of an embodiment of a slicing apparatus in accordance with the invention.

[0077] It must first be noted that the embodiments shown are of a purely exemplary nature. The number of shown tracks, carriers, transport movers, holding devices and holders can in particular vary. The features of one embodiment can also be combined as desired with features of another embodiment. It is in particular also possible that a plurality of carriers arranged in parallel tracks, in particular two carriers arranged next to one another, are taken up by a common transport mover and are moved by it through the path system.

[0078] FIG. 1 shows a slicing apparatus in which a product 10 is cut into slices 14 by a slicing unit 12. The slices 14 fall directly onto a carrier 16 and form a portion 18 there.

[0079] The carriers 16 are introduced into the slice stream by an introduction apparatus 20. The carriers 16 loaded with portions 18 are subsequently moved out of the cutting region in a transporting away direction A with the aid of a movement apparatus 22.

[0080] The movement apparatus 22 has a plurality of individually movable transport movers 24 that can be moved in a path system 26.

[0081] The introduction apparatus 20 comprises an obliquely inclined feed 28 and a holder 30. The feed 28 can be adjusted by an adjustment path X at its end region facing the holder 30. The holder 30 can in turn be pivoted about a horizontal pivot axis S.

[0082] Empty carriers 16 move over the feed 28 into the cutting region in the feed direction Z and are fixed by the holder 30 there. Slices 14 are cut from the product 10 continuously and form a continuous slice stream. The slices 14 here fall directly and without impediment onto the carrier 16.

[0083] The holder 30 can be pivoted out of the inclined position about the pivot axis S into a horizontal position. The feed 28 can here be withdrawn by the adjustment path X. The freedom of movement for the holder 30 is ensured by the withdrawal or by the length variability of the free end of the feed 28.

[0084] Once a portion 18 has been prepared on the carrier 16, the holder 30 hands over the carrier 16 to the transport mover 24 of the movement apparatus 22. The transport mover 24 can wait just behind or e.g. also beneath the cutting region. The transport movers 24 can in particular be brought into the cutting region on a track-related circular path. The transport mover 24 equipped with a portion 18 is thereupon moved on the path system 26 out of the slicing region in the transporting away direction A, for example to a packaging apparatus. The track relationship is maintained here, i.e. the carrier 16 remains in a track region and the track width is not departed from on the leading away.

[0085] A further carrier 16 is moved obliquely from above via the feed 28 into the cutting region, is fixed in the holder 30, and is thus introduced into the continuous slice stream. The carrier 16 there takes up slices 14 that in turn form a portion 18 on the carrier 16.

[0086] It is made possible in this manner that completely prepared portions 18 can be transported away without the continuous slice stream having to be interrupted. The introduction apparatus 20 namely makes it possible to introduce empty carriers 16 into the continuous slice stream without having to interrupt the slice stream. It is nevertheless generally also possible to briefly interrupt the slice stream, e.g. by the carrying out of blank cuts, to obtain more time for introducing an empty carrier 16.

[0087] An oblique feed 28 is in particular advantageous in multitrack operation with at least three tracks.

[0088] If, for example, only two parallel tracks are provided, the empty carriers 16 can also, as shown in FIG. 2, be introduced or pushed into the cutting region from the side. The feed direction Z of the carriers 16 preferably extends at a right angle to the transporting away direction A.

[0089] The two carriers 16 can be taken up by a common transport mover 24 and can be transported by them. Alternatively, a separate transport mover 24 can also be associated with each carrier 16.

[0090] A further embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. The introduction apparatus 20 can in this respect be pivoted about an at least substantially vertical pivot axis S. The carriers 16 are accordingly rotated laterally into the cutting region, preferably at a right angle to the transporting away direction A.

[0091] The pivot axis S can also be inclined with respect to the vertical. This is in particular advantageous when the carriers 16 are introduced into the cutting region on an obliquely inclined feed 28 such as is shown in FIG. 1, for example. The rotating in of the empty carriers 16 can take place above completed portions 18 in this case.

[0092] The holder 30 can preferably vertically adjustable, in particular lowerable. For this purpose, the holder 30 can e.g. comprise a telescopic arm extending along the pivot axis S.

[0093] Alternatively or additionally, the holder 30 can comprise a fork 31, tong and/or clip, in particular controllable, at the region in which the carrier 16 is fixed. The fork 31 can preferably be opened and closed to fix the carrier 16 at least temporarily to the holder 30.

[0094] It is advantageous if the carrier 16 is introduced laterally into the fork 31 since then the fork opening already faces in the transporting away direction A after an inward pivoting so that the carrier 16 can be transferred to a transport mover 24 in a simple manner.

[0095] The carrier 16 can be introduced into the slice stream laterally or from below. The carrier 16 can also fall from a feed 28 into the holder 30, in particular into the fork 31.

[0096] With a single-track or two-track slicing apparatus, the track width does not necessarily play a role for the movement of the carrier 16. The carrier 16 can be led in or out both obliquely from above and from the side, e.g. via a rotating and/or pivoting movement.

[0097] With the slicing apparatus that is shown in FIG. 4, the empty carriers 16 move in a plane above the transporting away plane via a distributor 32 to the feed 28. This can be obliquely inclined, as shown in FIG. 1. A plurality of parallel feeds 28 can be equipped with empty carriers 16 by the distributor 32. The carriers 16 move over the oblique feeds 28 into the cutting region and are transferred to the holders 30. In a transporting away plane disposed thereunder, the carriers 16 equipped with portions 18 can subsequently be transported away out of the cutting region in the transporting away direction A.

[0098] The feed from above is advantageous since there is sufficient construction space available above the transporting away plane. The distributor 32 and the introduction apparatus 20 consequently do not require any additional space. This embodiment is particularly advantageous in a multitrack operation. The method shown is, however, generally also usable with only a single track.

[0099] The loading of the carriers 16 with slides 14 can take place synchronously in the tracks. It is, however, also generally possible that the carriers 16 are loaded with slices 16 and transported away independently of one another.

[0100] An introduction apparatus 20 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The introduction apparatus 20 has two holders 30 that can, for example, work alternately. A holder 30 can thus hand over a carrier 16 with a completed portion 18 to the movement apparatus 22 while the other holder 30 picks up a subsequent carrier 16 in the fork 31.

[0101] The holder 30 can in particular also be longitudinally adjustable to expel the carriers 16 toward the front to the movement apparatus 22.

[0102] The fork 31 can in particular be open toward the feed direction and/or removal direction, preferably at the front or laterally. The holder 30 can preferably correspond to a corresponding receiver at a lower side of the carrier 16.

[0103] The holder 30 can in particular be lowered, preferably in dependence on the portion height.

[0104] The holder 30 can also carry out an X/Y movement, for example. In this manner, longitudinally and transversely overlapping portions can be prepared on the carrier 16.

[0105] The holder 30 can, however, not only e.g. be adjusted longitudinally. It is thus, for example, also possible to configure the head, in particular the fork 31, of the holder 30 as rotatable in order, for example, to be able to receive carriers 16 laterally.

[0106] The holding devices 30 can also each be axially displaceable along the pivot axis S to move the carriers 16 into the track center. They can thus provide a transverse movement of the carriers 16 for the portion formation. The portions 18 on a carrier 16 of the left or right holder 30 would otherwise always be positioned offset from one another and would later have to be brought onto a common track axis.

[0107] In accordance with the embodiment that is shown in FIG. 7, the carriers 16 can also be moved over or along the holder 30. No direct feed, timed supply or transfer is necessary. Nor is a change of direction required. The carriers 16 can thus be fed in and transported away along a single direction. This principle is conceivable for a holder 30 that is pivoted at the feed side, at the removal side or also laterally with respect to a track.

[0108] It is sufficient here if a new, empty carrier 16 is always subsequently conveyed into the cutting region in an end position of the holder 30, preferably in the oblique position before the handing over of the carrier 16.

[0109] It is shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 that two carriers 16 can also be provided for a single portion 18. These carriers 16 can be introduced into the slice stream from the side. This in particular has the advantage that the carriers 16 can be introduced faster into the continuous slice stream of the falling slices.

[0110] As can be seen in FIG. 9, a portion 18 conveyed on the carriers 16 can also be handed over into a packaging 34 in a simple manner. The carriers 16 are here separated from one another above the packaging 34 so that the portion 18 can fall down. This can, for example, take place at the end of a track system 26. The portion 18 is subsequently located in a packaging depression, e.g. in a tray.

[0111] In the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 11, a plurality of holders 30 are each arranged laterally next to a track. These holders 30 provide the feed of the empty carriers 16 and can be moved in the X direction and in the Y direction.

[0112] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the empty carriers 16 can be introduced into the cutting region via a timed supply unit 36 beneath a cutting edge. The carriers 16 can here already be connected to a transport mover 24 or can be transported into the cutting region in a different manner, e.g. via a conveyor belt. In the cutting region, the transport movers can be moved forward and backward as desired with the carrier 16 to prepare a desired placement pattern. This cutting region in which the portions are prepared can also be arranged separately from the path system 26 which provides the transporting away.

[0113] A positioning apparatus 38 is symbolically indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 13 and 14. The introduction apparatus 20 can thus comprise a positioning apparatus 38 in these embodiments that provides a lifting and/or rotary movement of the carriers 16. The positioning apparatus 38 is active before the carriers 16 are transferred to the transport movers 24. The positioning apparatus 38 can also rotate the carriers 16 to arrange the slices 14 in a circle, for example.

[0114] The positioning apparatus 38 can furthermore comprise a scale, for example, to weigh the portion 18 in this step.

[0115] The positioning apparatus 38 can detect the carrier 14 from the outside and can guide it. The positioning apparatus 38 can also lower the carrier 16 and transfer it to the transport mover 24 waiting underneath. It is conceivable here that the carrier 16 is dropped into a holding device of the transport mover 24 with the help of gravity.

[0116] The handling of the slices 14 or of the portions 18 thus takes place in three planes so-to-say. The holder 30 for the carriers 16 is provided in the topmost plane. The start of the portion preparation takes place in this plane. The positioning apparatus 38 that handles the completed portions 18 is arranged in the middle plane. The transport movers 24 finally wait in the bottommost plane and provide the transporting away of the carriers 16.

[0117] In the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 15, the introduction apparatus 20 comprises a rotary apparatus. A plurality of holders 30 are rotatably arranged about an axis of rotation D here. The carriers 16 can, figuratively speaking, be moved as with a Ferris wheel and can be introduced into the cutting region after one another. A rotary joint 40 at the respective end region of the holders 30 provides that the carriers 16 are always horizontally oriented.

[0118] The holders 30 can be longitudinally adjustable. It is also conceivable that the respective holders are vertically adjustable. The carriers 16 can preferably carry out an X/Y movement and/or a rotary movement due to the holders 30.

[0119] The rotary apparatus can in particular be arranged laterally next to the track or next to the movement apparatus 22. Two rotary apparatus having a common axis of rotation D can be provided for each track and feed carriers 16 alternately into the cutting region. This can take place from one side or from both sides. The portions 18 can also be weighed prior to the transfer to the transport mover 24.

[0120] Blank cuts can thus be avoided in accordance with the invention. The apparatus does not require any equipment for this purpose, i.e. the slicing unit dos not have to have any disengagement mechanism or the like for this purpose. The product 10 also does not have to be moved against the feed direction. Since the slices 14 fall directly onto the carriers 16 and no longer have to be removed from them up to the packaging apparatus, a high portion quality is achieved. The portion build-up is namely not negatively influenced by possible belt transitions during the transport.

[0121] A high cutting power can be ensured in accordance with the invention since the slice stream is not interrupted by blank cuts.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0122] 10 product [0123] 12 slicing unit [0124] 14 slice [0125] 16 carrier [0126] 18 portion [0127] 20 introduction apparatus [0128] 22 movement apparatus [0129] 24 transport mover [0130] 26 path system [0131] 28 feed [0132] 30 holder [0133] 31 fork [0134] 32 distributor [0135] 34 packaging [0136] 36 timed supply unit [0137] 38 positioning apparatus [0138] 40 rotary joint [0139] A transporting away direction [0140] Z feed direction [0141] X adjustment path [0142] S pivot axis [0143] D axis of rotation