PRODUCT CONVEYOR DEVICE FOR SUPPLYING FOOD PRODUCTS TO A SLICING UNIT

Abstract

A product conveying apparatus for feeding food products to a slicing unit of a food slicing machine is disclosed. The product conveying apparatus may comprise a first conveying lane comprising a first deflection roller, a first drive roller, and a first circulating conveying device guided around the first deflection roller and the first drive roller and presenting a first conveying surface. A second conveying lane may comprise a second deflection roller and an additional deflection roller, a second drive roller, and a second circulating conveying device guided around the second deflection roller, the additional deflection roller, and the second drive roller and presenting a second conveying surface.

Claims

1. (canceled)

2. The product conveying apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first conveying surface and the second conveying surface are coplanar.

3. The product conveying apparatus of claim 15, wherein the additional deflection roller and the first drive roller (are arranged coaxially.

4. The product conveying apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first axis of the first drive roller and the second axis of the second drive roller are spaced from one another and are disposed in parallel.

5. The product conveying apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: a first drive for driving the first drive roller; and a second drive for driving the second drive roller, wherein the first drive and the second drive are arranged at a same side that is lateral to a conveying direction of the product conveying apparatus.

6. The product conveying apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first drive roller is removably couplable to a first drive shaft.

7. The product conveying apparatus claim 15, wherein, by relaxing the second circulating conveying device, the additional deflection roller is detachably connected to the second drive roller, which is provided fixedly on a second drive shaft.

8. The product conveying apparatus according to one of the preceding claims of claim 15, wherein the second drive roller is provided at a second drive shaft, wherein the second drive shaft is mounted in a support tube.

9. The product conveying apparatus according to one of the preceding claims which comprises of claim 15, further comprising: a fourth conveying lane, comprising: a fourth deflection roller and a second additional deflection roller; a fourth drive roller drivable about a fourth axis; a fourth circulating conveying device guided around the fourth deflection roller, the fourth drive roller, and the second additional deflection roller, and presenting a fourth conveying surface extending from the fourth deflection roller to the second additional deflection roller.

10. The product conveying apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second conveying lane comprises at least one further circulating conveying device, wherein only the second circulating conveying device is guided around the second drive roller, and wherein the at least one further circulating conveying device is guided only around the second deflection roller and the second additional deflection roller.

11. The product conveying apparatus of claim 15, further comprising: a belt cartridge comprising the first conveying lane, the second deflection roller, and the additional deflection roller of the second conveying lane; and a belt cartridge receptacle comprising the second drive roller, wherein the belt cartridge is arranged in a detachable manner in the belt cartridge receptacle .

12. (canceled)

13. The food slicing machine of claim 16, wherein the first drive shaft and the second drive shaft are arranged in parallel.

14. (canceled)

15. A product conveying apparatus for feeding food products to a slicing unit of a food slicing machine, comprising: a first conveying lane, comprising: a first deflection roller; a first drive roller drivable about a first axis; a first circulating conveying device guided around the first deflection roller and the first drive roller and presenting a first conveying surface extending from the first deflection roller to the first drive roller; a second conveying lane, comprising: a second deflection roller and an additional deflection roller; a second drive roller drivable about a second axis; a second circulating conveying device guided around the second deflection roller, the additional deflection roller, and the second drive roller and presenting a second conveying surface extending from the second deflection roller to the additional deflection roller; and a third conveying lane, comprising: a third deflection roller; a third drive roller drivable about a third axis; and a third circulating conveying device guided around the third deflection roller and the third drive roller and presenting a third conveying surface extending from the third deflection roller to the third drive roller; wherein the first conveying lane, the second conveying lane, and the third conveying lane are arranged in parallel.

16. A food slicing machine, comprising: a first conveying lane, comprising: a first deflection roller; a first drive roller drivable about a first axis; and a first circulating conveying device guided around the first deflection roller and the first drive roller and presenting a first conveying surface extending from the first deflection roller to the first drive roller; a second conveying lane, comprising: a second deflection roller and an additional deflection roller; a second drive roller drivable about a second axis; and a second circulating conveying device guided around the second deflection roller, the additional deflection roller, and the second drive roller and presenting a second conveying surface extending from the second deflection roller to the additional deflection roller; a third conveying lane, comprising: a third deflection roller; a third drive roller drivable about a third axis; a third circulating conveying device guided around the third deflection roller and the third drive roller and presenting a third conveying surface extending from the third deflection roller to the third drive roller; wherein the first conveying lane, the second conveying lane, and the third conveying lane are arranged in parallel; a belt cartridge comprising the first conveying lane, the second deflection roller, and the additional deflection roller of the second conveying lane; a belt cartridge receptacle comprising the second drive roller; a first drive shaft coupled to the first drive roller via a detachable coupling when the belt cartridge is arranged in the belt cartridge receptacle; and a second drive shaft on which the second drive roller remains when the belt cartridge is removed from the belt cartridge receptacle.

17. The food slicing machine of claim 16, wherein the first axis and the third axis are coaxial, wherein the second axis is offset from the first axis and the third axis.

18. The food slicing machine of claim 16, further comprising a slicer for slicing food products, wherein the belt cartridge is adjacent a cutting edge of the slicer.

19. A method for removing belt cartridges from a belt cartridge receptacle of a food slicing machine, comprising: providing a belt cartridge, comprising: a first conveying lane having a first deflection roller, a first drive roller, and a first circulating conveying device; a second conveying lane having a second deflection roller and an additional deflection roller, a second drive roller, and a second circulating conveying device; relaxing the second circulating conveying device by moving at least one of the second deflection roller or the additional deflection roller relative to the second drive roller; unhooking the second circulating conveying device from the second drive roller, and removing the belt cartridge from the belt cartridge receptacle.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first drive roller is drivable about a first axis and the second drive roller is drivable about a second axis, the first axis being offset from the second axis.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] Embodiments of the invention shall be described in more detail hereafter with reference to the figures, where

[0061] FIG. 1: shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a product conveying apparatus with four conveying lanes,

[0062] FIG. 2: shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a product conveying apparatus with two conveying lanes,

[0063] FIG. 3: shows a sectional view of a left side of the first embodiment of the product conveying apparatus,

[0064] FIG. 4: shows a perspective view of the first embodiment of the product conveying apparatus,

[0065] FIG. 5: shows a schematic view of a food slicing machine.

[0066] Corresponding components are each provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a product conveying apparatus 1 in a perspective view, comprising a first conveying lane 10, a second conveying lane 20, a third conveying lane 30 and a fourth conveying lane 40. First conveying lane 10 comprises a first conveying device 11 as well as two further conveying devices 3. Second conveying lane 20 comprises a second conveying device 21 as well as two further conveying devices 3. Third conveying lane 30 comprises a third conveying device 31 as well as two further conveying devices 3. Fourth conveying lane 40 comprises a fourth conveying device 41 as well as two further conveying devices 3.

[0068] Conveying devices 11, 3 of first conveying lane 10 run around a first deflection roller 14 and a first drive roller 15 which are covered by three conveying devices 11, 3 in this illustration.

[0069] Conveying devices 21, 3 of second conveying lane 20 run around a second deflection roller 24 and a first additional deflection roller 26, where second deflection roller 24 and first additional deflection roller 26 are covered by the three conveying devices 11, 3 in this illustration. Second conveying device 21 additionally runs around second drive roller 25. Second drive roller 25 is disposed offset downwardly relative to first additional deflection roller 26.

[0070] Conveying devices 31, 3 of third conveying lane 30 run around a third deflection roller 34 and a third drive roller 35 which are covered by the three conveying devices 31, 3 in this illustration.

[0071] Conveying devices 41, 3 of fourth conveying lane 40 run around a fourth deflection roller 44 and a second additional deflection roller 46, where fourth deflection roller 44 and second additional deflection roller 46 are covered by the three conveying devices 41, 3 in this illustration. Fourth conveying device 41 additionally runs around fourth drive roller 45. Fourth drive roller 45 is disposed offset downwardly relative to second additional deflection roller 46.

[0072] A first drive shaft 17 connects first drive roller 15 to an angular gear 53 and a first drive 13.

[0073] A second drive shaft 27 connects second drive roller 25 to an angular gear 53 and a second drive 23.

[0074] A third drive shaft 37 connects third drive roller 35 to an angular gear 53 and a third drive 33.

[0075] A fourth drive shaft 47 connects fourth drive roller 45 to an angular gear 53 and a fourth drive 43.

[0076] Mounting plates 55 and a cross member 57 serve as support or fastening elements, respectively. Drive shaft 27 of second conveying lane 20 and drive shaft 47 of fourth conveying lane 40 are each mounted in a support tube 59. Support tubes 59 are each mounted on cross member 57 by way of a spacer element 61. Conveying lanes 10, 20, 30, 40 are mounted on support tubes 59 by way of two support elements 63. Product conveying apparatus 1 is expediently arranged in a food slicing machine such that a food product is fed to a slicing unit in a conveying direction 500. First conveying device 11 comprises an upper first span 18. First span 18 forms a first conveying surface 19. Second conveying device 21 comprises an upper second span 28. Second span 28 forms a second conveying surface 29. Third conveying device 31 comprises an upper third span 38. Third span 38 forms a third conveying surface 39. Fourth conveying device 41 comprises an upper fourth span 48. Fourth span 48 forms a fourth conveying surface 49. In this embodiment, the upper spans of further conveying devices 3 also contribute to conveying surfaces 19, 29, 39, 49. In embodiments in which there is only one conveying device present for every lane, accordingly only first conveying devices 11, 21, 31, 41 contribute to conveying surfaces 19, 29, 39, 49.

[0077] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a product conveying apparatus 1 with two conveying lanes 10, 20. Unlike FIG. 1, first conveying lane 10 is there arranged at the right side of second conveying lane 20. In addition, conveying lanes 10, 20 there each only comprise one conveying device 11, 21. First conveying lane 10 comprises a first deflection roller 14, a first drive roller 15, and a first conveying device 11. First conveying device 11 comprises an upper first span 18. First span 18 forms a first conveying surface 19.

[0078] Second conveying lane 20 comprises a second deflection roller 24, a second drive roller 25, a first additional deflection roller 26, and a second conveying device 21. Second conveying device 21 comprises an upper second span 28. Second span 28 forms a second conveying surface 29. Like in FIG. 1, product conveying apparatus 1 is arranged such that a food product is moved along conveying direction 500. Deflection rollers 14, 24 can therefore directly adjoin a cutting edge. First drive roller 15 is rotatable about a first axis 100 and second drive roller 25 is rotatable about a second axis 200. In this embodiment, first axis 100 is both the central axis of rotation of first drive roller 15 as well as of first additional roller 26. First conveying lane 10 as well as second deflection roller 24 and additional deflection roller 26 of second conveying lane 20 can be removable together as a belt cartridge 65 from product conveying apparatus 1 or from a food slicing machine, respectively. Second conveying device 21, like first conveying device 11, can be removed and therefore be part of belt cartridge 65. In a further embodiment, product conveying apparatus 1 including second drive roller 25 can be configured as a belt cartridge 65 and can be arranged to be detachable in a belt cartridge receptacle of a food slicing machine.

[0079] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of a left side of the first embodiment according to FIG. 1 of the product conveying apparatus 1. A coupling 67 connects first drive shaft 17 to first drive roller 15. A coupling 67 additionally connects first drive shaft 17 to an angular gear 53. A coupling 67 connects second drive shaft 27 to an angular gear 53. First additional deflection roller 26 is mounted to be freely rotatable on a rod 69 and is driven by second drive roller 25 by way of second conveying device 21. Second additional deflection roller 46 is mounted to be freely rotatable on rod 69 and is driven by fourth drive roller 45 by way of fourth conveying device 41. Support tubes 59 are each mounted on cross member 57 by way of spacer element 61. Support elements 63 support conveying lanes 10, 20, 30, 40 on support tubes 59. Ball bearings 71 are used to mount the rotating elements. Mounting plate 55 is used for mechanical fixation, where a housing wall can be arranged between mounting plate 55 and seals 73 in order to position drives 13, 23 outside a machine housing and to position the remaining components within the machine housing.

[0080] First drive roller 15 is rotatable about a first axis 100, second drive roller 25 is rotatable about a second axis 200, third drive roller 35 is rotatable about a third axis 300, and fourth drive roller 45 is rotatable about a fourth axis 400. First axis 100 and third axis 300 are aligned in this embodiment. Second axis 200 and fourth axis 400 are likewise aligned in this embodiment.

[0081] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the first embodiment of product conveying apparatus 1 according to FIG. 1 in an orientation rotated by approximately 180 degrees and thus with a perspective opposite to conveying direction 500. Second drive roller 25 drives second conveying device 21 such that second conveying device 21 drives second deflection roller 24, and second deflection roller 24 in turn drives further conveying devices 3. Entire second conveying lane 20, which in this embodiment comprises three conveying devices 21, 3, is then driven. Likewise, fourth drive roller 45 drives fourth conveying device 41 such that fourth conveying device 41 drives fourth deflection roller 44, and fourth deflection roller 44 in turn drives further conveying devices 3. Drive shaft 27 of second conveying lane 20 and drive shaft 47 of fourth conveying lane 40 are each mounted in a support tube 59.

[0082] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a food slicing machine 75 with a belt cartridge 65 in a belt cartridge receptacle 77. Belt cartridge 65 comprises four independent conveying lanes 90, 91, 92, 94. A food product 79 is fed to belt cartridge 65 in conveying direction 500 by way of a feed conveyor 81 arranged as a product conveyor belt upstream of belt cartridge 65 in order to then be fed from belt cartridge 65 to a slicing unit 83. For this purpose, belt cartridge 65 reaches up to a cutting edge 85. Slicing unit 83 comprises a cutting knife 95 and a cutting knife drive 96 which drives cutting knife 90 so that cutting knife 95 rotates relative to cutting edge 85 and slices product slices 87 off from food products 79 that are supplied in parallel. Due to the independent drive of conveying lanes 90, 91, 92, 94, slices of different thicknesses can be sliced off in each lane. Product slices 87 sliced off from food product 79 are then fed to further processing stations by a discharge conveyor 89 as a portioning belt. Belt cartridge receptacle 77 can be formed by mounting plates 55 and comprise a left and right element, where belt cartridge 65 can be arranged to be detachable in belt cartridge receptacle 77 by way of couplings 67, as shown in FIG. 3.