Apparatus and method for slicing food products

Abstract

An apparatus for slicing food products is configured to supply products to be sliced to a cutting blade to slice the products into individual slices. The apparatus comprises a portioning unit for forming portions from slices falling down and comprises an engagement apparatus which is arranged in the region of the falling path of the slices and which is configured to influence the falling movement of the slices at least at times in order hereby to bring about a placement of the slices on the portioning unit in accordance with a desired placement shape. The engagement apparatus is adjustable during the slicing operation between a first configuration, in which it brings about a placement of the slices falling down in accordance with a first placement shape, and a second configuration, in which it brings about a placement of the slices falling down in accordance with a second placement shape differing from the first placement shape.

Claims

1. An apparatus for slicing food products which is configured to supply products to be sliced on one track or on multiple tracks to a cutting blade moving in a cutting plane to slice the products into individual slices, comprising a portioning unit for forming portions from slices falling down and comprising an engagement apparatus which is arranged in the region of the falling path of the slices and which is configured to influence the falling movement of the slices at least at times in order hereby to bring about a placement of the slices on the portioning unit in accordance with a desired placement shape, the engagement apparatus being adjustable during the forming of a portion, the forming of a portion comprising arranging a plurality of slices, the engagement apparatus adjustable at least between a first configuration, in which it brings about a placement of the slices falling down in accordance with a first placement shape, and a second configuration, in which it brings about a placement of the slices falling down in accordance with a second placement shape differing from the first placement shape, the first configuration being an active configuration in which the engagement apparatus influences the slices falling down, whereas the second configuration is an inactive configuration in which the engagement apparatus does not influence the slices falling down, and a control device of the apparatus configured to adjust the engagement apparatus at least once from the active configuration into the inactive configuration, or vice versa, during the forming of a portion; in which the engagement apparatus comprises an engagement rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation, the engagement apparatus having an outer diameter varying in at least one of a peripheral direction and an axial direction.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the engagement apparatus is adjustable from the first configuration into the second configuration or vice versa between two consecutive cuts of the cutting blade.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the engagement apparatus is adjustable between the first configuration and the second configuration in dependence on the temporal progress of the cutting movement of the cutting blade.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the engagement apparatus is configured to influence the falling movement of the slices in at least one configuration such that a folded placement of the slices on the portioning unit takes place.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, in which the portioning unit comprises a portioning conveyor for transporting away the slices in a removal direction, wherein a control device of the portioning conveyor is configured to vary at least one of a conveying speed and a conveying direction of the portioning conveyor in dependence on the configuration of the engagement apparatus.

6. An apparatus for slicing food products which is configured to supply products to be sliced on one track or on multiple tracks to a cutting blade moving in a cutting plane to slice the products into individual slices, comprising a portioning unit for forming portions from slices falling down and comprising an engagement apparatus which is arranged in the region of the falling path of the slices and which is configured to influence the falling movement of the slices at least at times in order hereby to bring about a placement of the slices on the portioning unit in accordance with a desired placement shape, the engagement apparatus being adjustable during the forming of a portion, the forming of a portion comprising arranging a plurality of slices, the engagement apparatus adjustable at least between a first configuration, in which it brings about a placement of the slices falling down in accordance with a first placement shape, and a second configuration, in which it brings about a placement of the slices falling down in accordance with a second placement shape differing from the first placement shape, the first configuration being an active configuration in which the engagement apparatus influences the slices falling down, whereas the second configuration is an inactive configuration in which the engagement apparatus does not influence the slices falling down, and a control device of the apparatus configured to adjust the engagement apparatus at least once from the active configuration into the inactive configuration, or vice versa, during the forming of a portion; in which the engagement apparatus comprises an engagement rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation, in which at least one eccentric cam element is provided at the engagement rotor.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6, in which the engagement apparatus is adjustable from the first configuration into the second configuration or vice versa between two consecutive cuts of the cutting blade.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6, in which the engagement apparatus is adjustable between the first configuration and the second configuration in dependence on the temporal progress of the cutting movement of the cutting blade.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6, in which the engagement apparatus is configured to influence the falling movement of the slices in at least one configuration such that a folded placement of the slices on the portioning unit takes place.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6, in which the portioning unit comprises a portioning conveyor for transporting away the slices in a removal direction, wherein a control device of the portioning conveyor is configured to vary at least one of a conveying speed and a conveying direction of the portioning conveyor in dependence on the configuration of the engagement apparatus.

11. An apparatus for the multitrack slicing of food products which is configured to supply products to be sliced on multiple tracks to a cutting blade moving in a cutting plane to slice the products into individual slices, comprising a portioning unit for forming total portions from slices falling down in the individual tracks, and comprising at least one engagement apparatus in each track which is arranged in the region of the falling path of the slices and which is configured to influence the falling movement of the slices in the respective track at least at times in order hereby to bring about a placement of the slices on the portioning unit in accordance with a desired placement shape, an engagement apparatus adopting a first configuration in at least one first track during the forming of a first partial portion, the forming of the first partial portion comprising arranging a first plurality of slices, the first configuration of the engagement apparatus providing a placement of the first plurality of slices of the respective track falling down in accordance with a first placement shape; and an engagement apparatus adopting a second configuration in at least one second track during the forming of a second partial portion, the forming of the second partial portion comprising arranging a second plurality of slices, the first partial portion and the second partial portion forming a total portion, the second configuration of the engagement apparatus providing a placement of the second plurality of slices of the respective track falling down in accordance with a second placement shape differing from the first placement shape, the first configuration being an active configuration in which the engagement apparatus influences the slices falling down, whereas the second configuration is an inactive configuration in which the engagement apparatus does not influence the slices falling down, in which the engagement apparatus comprises an engagement rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation, the engagement rotor having an outer diameter varying in at least one of a peripheral direction and an axial direction.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein means for combining the individual portions into a total portion are provided.

13. The apparatus in accordance with claim 11, in which the engagement rotor has an outer side asymmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation.

14. An apparatus for the multitrack slicing of food products which is configured to supply products to be sliced on multiple tracks to a cutting blade moving in a cutting plane to slice the products into individual slices, comprising a portioning unit for forming total portions from slices falling down in the individual tracks, and comprising at least one engagement apparatus in each track which is arranged in the region of the falling path of the slices and which is configured to influence the falling movement of the slices in the respective track at least at times in order hereby to bring about a placement of the slices on the portioning unit in accordance with a desired placement shape, an engagement apparatus adopting a first configuration in at least one first track during the forming of a first partial portion, the forming of the first partial portion comprising arranging a first plurality of slices, the first configuration of the engagement apparatus providing a placement of the first plurality of slices of the respective track falling down in accordance with a first placement shape; and an engagement apparatus adopting a second configuration in at least one second track during the forming of a second partial portion, the forming of the second partial portion comprising arranging a second plurality of slices, the first partial portion and the second partial portion forming a total portion, the second configuration of the engagement apparatus providing a placement of the second plurality of slices of the respective track falling down in accordance with a second placement shape differing from the first placement shape, the first configuration being an active configuration in which the engagement apparatus influences the slices falling down, whereas the second configuration is an inactive configuration in which the engagement apparatus does not influence the slices falling down, in which the engagement apparatus comprises an engagement rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation, in which at least one eccentric cam element is provided at the engagement rotor.

15. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14, wherein means for combining the individual portions into a total portion are provided.

16. The apparatus in accordance with claim 14, in which the engagement rotor has an outer side asymmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation.

Description

(1) The invention will be described in the following by way of example with reference to the drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a simplified side view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention for slicing food products;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the invention for slicing food products;

(4) FIGS. 3a-3e show different variants of engagement apparatus for an apparatus in accordance with the invention for slicing food products;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a portion of cut-off slices of food product slices which was produced by an apparatus in accordance with FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a portion of cut-off slices of food product slices which was produced by an alternatively designed apparatus in accordance with the invention;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a portion of cut-off slices of food product slices which was produced by an again alternatively designed apparatus in accordance with the invention;

(8) FIG. 7a shows a front view of an engagement apparatus which is suitable for producing portions as shown in FIG. 6;

(9) FIG. 7b shows a plan view of the engagement apparatus in accordance with FIG. 7a in a first configuration;

(10) FIG. 7c shows a plan view of the engagement apparatus in accordance with FIG. 7b in a second configuration;

(11) FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the engagement apparatus in accordance with FIG. 7b;

(12) FIG. 9 shows a further engagement apparatus for an apparatus in accordance with the invention for slicing food products;

(13) FIGS. 10-12 show plan views of further apparatus in accordance with the invention for slicing food products;

(14) FIG. 13a shows a plan view of an apparatus for slicing food products in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, wherein a wire hoop of an engagement apparatus is located in a non-engagement position;

(15) FIG. 13b shows the apparatus in accordance with FIG. 13a with a wire hoop located in an engagement position;

(16) FIG. 14a shows a plan view of an apparatus for slicing food products in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, wherein an articulated arm arrangement of an engagement apparatus is located in a non-engagement position; and

(17) FIG. 14b shows the apparatus in accordance with FIG. 14a with an articulated arm arrangement located in an engagement position.

(18) FIG. 1 shows a high-performance slicer 11 having a cutting blade 13 which moves in a cutting plane Sfor example in a rotating manner and or in a planetary motion. A product supply 15 of the high-performance slicer 11 serves to supply product bars or product loaves 17 lying on it automatically to the cutting plane S in order thus to effect a repeated cutting off of slices 19 from the product bar 17. Depending on the size of the cutting blade 13, a plurality of product bars 17 located next to one another can also be supplied simultaneously to the cutting plane S, which is called multitrack operation. The slices 19 falling down land on a portioning unit 20 which is here configured as a portioning conveyor 21. The portioning conveyor 21 comprises an arrangement of belt conveyors or strap conveyors 22 which conveys the slices 19 away from the cutting blade 13 along a removal direction A. It is possible to vary the conveying speed and the conveying direction of the portioning conveyor 21 as required by means of an electronic control device, not shown, of the portioning unit 20 in order thus to produce portions 23 having a desired placement design, that is, for example, overlapping or stacked portions 23.

(19) An engagement apparatus 24 is configured to influence the falling movement of the slices 19 at least at times is arranged in the region of the falling path of the slices 19 in order hereby to place the slices 19 on the portioning conveyor 21 in a specific manner. In the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 1, the engagement apparatus 24 is configured as an engagement rotor 25 which is driven rotatably and in an opposite sense to the removal direction A about an axis of rotation R extending at right angles to the removal direction A. The engagement rotor 25 is thus able to bring about a folded placement of the slices 19 in cooperation with the portioning conveyor 21, as is generally known from DE 195 44 764 A1.

(20) To be able to prepare not only portions with slices 19 placed folded, but also portions 23 with slices 19 placed non-folded using the high-performance slicer 11 shown in FIG. 1, the engagement rotor 25, including the support and the drive, both not shown, is displaceable in and against the removal direction A, as is illustrated by the double arrow. Starting from the active configuration shown in FIG. 1, the engagement rotor 25 can be moved completely out of the falling path of the slices 19 by displacing it so that an influencing of the slices 19 falling down no longer takes place by the engagement rotor 25. If the engagement rotor 25 is located in such an inactive configuration, a non-folded, flat placement of the slices 19 on the portioning conveyor 21 takes place.

(21) An actuator, which is not shown and is preferably electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic is able to adjust the engagement rotor 25 from the active configuration into the inactive configuration or vice versa during the slicing operation and in particular between two consecutive cuts of the cutting blade 13. Portions 23 can thus be produced which are formed by an alternating sequence of folded and non-folded slices 19, 19. In order in this respect to ensure the shown uniform overlap within a portion 23, it may be necessary to operate the portioning conveyor 21 by a predetermined amount against the removal direction A after each slice 19 placed down flat to compensate that offset which results due to the front half of a slice 19 which is turned back on folding. The portioning conveyor 21 can also be displaceable transversely to the removal direction A or rotatable about a vertical axis, whereby further possibilities for placement designs result.

(22) FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of a high-performance slicer 11 in accordance with the invention which has a similar design to the previously described high-performance slicer 11. Accordingly, components having the same effect are provided with the same reference numerals. The engagement apparatus 24 in the form of the engagement rotor 25 is, however, immovably fastened to a base frame of the high-performance slicer 11, not shown, in the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 2. The adjustment between the active configuration and the inactive configuration takes place by an eccentric cam element 27 which is provided at the engagement rotor 25 and which projects either into the falling path of the slices 19 or not in dependence on the rotational position of the engagement rotor 25. In this embodiment, only relatively smaller masses have to be moved so that a particularly fast change is possible between the active configuration and the inactive configuration. If the cutting blade 13 is a cutting blade driven in a rotating or revolving manner, the rotational speed of the engagement rotor 25 should be selected in direct dependence on the rotational speed of an associated blade shaft. It is specifically preferred that an engagement rotor 25 having a single cam element 27, as shown in FIG. 2, revolves at half the rotational blade speed. With two cam elements 27 arranged opposite one another, it would in contrast be preferred that the engagement rotor 25 only rotates at a quarter of the rotational blade speed.

(23) FIGS. 3a to 3e show by way of example further possible embodiments for an adjustable engagement apparatus. FIG. 3a specifically shows an engagement apparatus 34 in the form of an engagement rotor 35 in which an asymmetrical cross-section, in elliptical form here, is generally provided instead of a separate cam element. In accordance with FIG. 3b, the engagement rotor 45 of an engagement apparatus 44 is composed of two half-shell elements 29a, 29b. It can be achieved by a radial moving apart of the half-shell elements 29a, 29b that the previously inactive engagement rotor 45 reaches into the falling path of the slices 19 and influences it. FIG. 3c shows an embodiment in which the engagement apparatus 54 comprises an inflatable casing 30. The outer diameter of the casing 30 can be increased so much by supply of compressed air via a supply line 31 that the previously inactive casing 30 projects into the falling path of the slices 19 and from then on influences their falling movement. The outer diameter of the casing 30 can be reduced again by a controlled release of the compressed air from the casing.

(24) A belt conveyor 64 is shown in FIG. 3d which forms an adjustable engagement apparatus. As shown by the double arrows, the position of individual rollers 73 of the belt conveyor 64 and thus the belt guide of the belt conveyor 64 is variable. In this manner, the working edge 75 of the belt 70 can be moved in and out of the falling path of the slices 19 while maintaining the belt tension. A movement of the total belt conveyor 64 including its drive is therefore not necessarily required.

(25) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3e, a belt conveyor 64 is likewise provided as an engagement apparatus. Three sliders 65, 66, 67 each having different cross-sectional shapes are attached to the outer side of the belt 70. Further sliders can be provided as required. As illustrated by the double arrows, the sliders 65, 66, 67 can be moved in and against the conveying direction by a correspondingly controlled belt drive of the belt conveyor 64. The belt conveyor 64 is positioned such that each of the sliders 65, 66, 67 can be moved into or out of the falling path of the slices 19 by a travel movement of the belt 70. The cross-sectional shape of the sliders 65, 66, 67 is respectively adapted to a specific product type or application or to a respective desired placement shape.

(26) It is understood that a number of further possibilities are conceivable in dependence on the respective application to move an engagement apparatus 24 as a whole or only a component or an operative surface thereof out of the falling path of the slices 19 or into the falling path of the slices 19. In all cases, a fast change of the engagement apparatus 24 from an active configuration into an inactive configuration or vice versa is possible during the regular slicing operation.

(27) The invention in particular allows the automatic preparation of overlapping portions 23 in which folded slices 19 and non-folded slices 19 are arranged alternately. An example for such a portion is shown in FIG. 4.

(28) In the portion 23 shown in FIG. 5, a row of folded slices 19 and non-folded slices 19 overlapping to the right and a row of folded slices 19 and non-folded slices 19 overlapping to the left are placed next to one another in a symmetrical arrangement. An individually non-folded slice 19 is located in the center of the arrangement. Such symmetrical portions 23 can be achieved by displacing an engagement rotor such as the engagement rotor 25 shown in FIG. 1 in the removal direction A (FIG. 1). The symmetrical arrangement of two or more overlapping individual portions of folded slices 19 and non-folded slices 19 can take place using a turntable associated with the portioning unit 20. Alternatively or additionally, two overlapping individual portions, which each comprise folded slices 19 and non-folded slices 19, can be positioned symmetrically next to one another or behind one another by means of an overlapper or inserter disposed downstream of the high-performance slicer 11, in particular in accordance with FIG. 5, such that the folding edges 77 of the folded slices 19 of the one individual portion adjoin the folding edges 77 of the folded slices 19 of the other individual portion.

(29) The operation of the individual components or assemblies, in particular of the engagement apparatus 24, 24 and of the portioning conveyor 21 coordinated in dependence on the respective application takes place by one or more control devices (not shown) which are connected to or integrated in a central control of the slicer 11, 11.

(30) FIG. 6 shows a portion 23 of folded slices 19 arranged overlapping, wherein the folding edges 77 of the folded slices 19 each extend obliquely to the removal direction A. As shown, the folding edges 77 are inclined in different directions with respect to the removal direction A, wherein the differently inclined extents of the folding edges 77 alternate with slices 19 placed down after one another.

(31) Such portions 23 can, for example, be prepared using an engagement apparatus 84 shown in FIGS. 7a-c and 8. It is in this respect an engagement rotor 85 which is composed of two separate cam elements 87, 88. The cam elements 87, 88 each have a half-tapered or half-conical base shape and are arranged oppositely with respect to the extent of the cone. A folding edge 77 is thus produced which is inclined clockwise or anti-clockwise with respect to the cutting plane S (FIG. 6) depending on the rotational position of the engagement rotor 85. The rotational speed of the engagement rotor 85 can be adapted such that the two cam elements 87, 88 engage alternately into the falling path of the slices 19. To achieve an offset between slices placed down consecutively which is also lateral with respect to the removal direction A, the two cam elements 87. 88 are displaceable with respect to one another in an axial direction with respect to the axis of rotation R of the engagement rotor 85, as can be recognized in FIGS. 7b and 7c. In the schematic diagram in accordance with FIG. 8, optional modifications of the conical form for one of the cam elements 87 is shown in dashed lines. The outer surface of the cam elements 87, 88 can accordingly also be slightly arched, inwardly or outwardly depending on the application.

(32) FIG. 9 shows a further embodiment for an engagement apparatus 94 which is configured as a single-part engagement rotor 95 having an inwardly arched conical shape.

(33) The engagement apparatus 104 shown in FIG. 10 has a base body 105 and an elongate engagement rotor 25 projecting from the base body 105. As shown, the axis of rotation R of the engagement rotor 25 is inclined with respect to the cutting plane S so that the folding edges 77 of the placed down slices 19 also accordingly extend obliquely to the cutting plane S. The base body 105 of the engagement apparatus 104 is pivotable about a vertical pivot axis SW and is additionally displaceable in and against the removal direction A, as is indicated by double arrows in FIG. 10. It is understood that numerous different placement designs can be produced by means of the engagement apparatus 104 on the basis of this adjustability. A portion 123 having folding edges 77 extending in parallel and a portion 223 having folding edges 77 extending inclined to one another are shown by way of example in FIG. 10.

(34) FIG. 11 shows a cutting plane S to which product bars 17 are supplied on three tracks. An engagement apparatus 104 which is designed like the engagement apparatus 104 shown in FIG. 10 is associated with each track. To allow a common pivoting of the engagement rotors 25 of the engagement apparatus 104, the base bodies 105 of the engagement apparatus 104 are coupled to one another by a coupling linkage 106.

(35) In accordance with FIG. 12, the engagement rotors 23 of different tracks can also be inclined differently. In the example shown, the axes of rotation R of two adjacent engagement rotors 25 are arranged symmetrically in order thus to produce part portions 123 having symmetrically extending folding edges 77. The two part portions 123 can then be combined to a total portion 323 in which the folding edges 77 come into contact with laterally adjacent slices 19 in the manner of an arrow.

(36) FIGS. 13a and 13b show a further embodiment for an engagement apparatus 204. The engagement apparatus 204 is configured here as an elongate deformation element in the form of an elastically flexible wire hoop 205. The wire hoop 205 is anchored at respective fastening points 206 of a suitable frame (not shown) in the region of its longitudinal ends. If the spacing between the two fastening points 206 is reduced, starting from the extended base position shown in FIG. 13a, the wire hoop 205 bends, as shown in FIG. 13b, and forms a bulge 207 which projects into the falling path of the slices 19. A change can thus be made between a folded and a non-folded slice placement by varying the spacing between the two fastening points 206. The wire hoop 205 can be rigid or can be rotatable abut its longitudinal axis. A rotatability of the wire hoop 205 about the fastening points 206, on the one hand, allows a pivoting away of the bent wire hoop 205 out of the falling path and, on the other hand, a temporary pivoting along of the wire hoop 205 with a falling slice 19. Exactly adapted degrees of slice influencing can be achieved by adjusting the wire hoop 205 into intermediate positions.

(37) Alternatively to a wire hoop, an articulated arm arrangement 205 as shown in FIGS. 14a and 14b can also be provided which forms an elongate deformation element of an engagement apparatus 204. Such an articulated arm arrangement 205 in a similar manner forms a bulge 207 like the wire hoop 205 shown in FIGS. 13a and 13b on a reduction of the spacing of the fastening points 206. The central section of the articulated arm arrangement 205 can support a rotatably supported sleeve 210.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

(38) 11, 11 high-performance slicer 13 cutting blade 15 product supply 17 product bar 19, 19 slice 20 portioning unit 21 portioning conveyor 22 belt conveyor or strap conveyor 23, 23, 23 portion 24, 24 engagement apparatus 25, 25 engagement rotor 27 cam element 29a, 29b half-shell element 30 casing 31 supply line 34 engagement apparatus 35 engagement rotor 44 engagement apparatus 45 engagement rotor 54 engagement apparatus 64, 64 belt conveyor 65, 66, 67 slider 70 belt 73 roller 75 working edge 77 folding edge 84 engagement apparatus 85 engagement rotor 87, 88 cam element 94 engagement apparatus 95 engagement rotor 104, 104 engagement apparatus 105 base body 106 coupling linkage 123 portion 204, 204 engagement apparatus 205, 205 deformation element 206 fastening point 207 bulge 210 sleeve 223 portion 323 portion A removal direction S cutting plane R axis of rotation SW pivot axis