METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING PRODUCTS

Abstract

In a method for processing products, in particular for processing fresh meat, in a processing line comprising a plurality of work stations, the products are transported along a transport path on one track or multiple tracks from work station to work station and at least one parameter is determined at at least one work station and is considered at another position of the processing line.

Claims

1.-53. (canceled)

54. A method for processing food products to be sliced or to be divided in a processing line, wherein the processing line comprises a plurality of work stations, wherein the products are transported along a transport path on one track or multiple tracks from work station to work station, and wherein at least one parameter is determined at at least one work station and is considered at another position of the processing line.

55. A method in accordance with claim 54, wherein the parameter relates to at least one of a feature of the product or a control variable of the one work station.

56. A method in accordance with claim 54, wherein a signal perceptible to a user is generated in dependence on the parameter.

57. A method in accordance with claim 54, wherein the parameter determined at the one work station is considered in the processing of the products at at least one other work station.

58. A method in accordance with claim 54, wherein an instruction is generated in dependence on the parameter, wherein the instruction demands at least one of an adaptation of at least one control variable of at least one other work station; a suspension of the processing at another work station; or an adaptation of the transport path.

59. A method in accordance with claim 58, wherein the generated instruction is adapted considering previous instructions that have already been executed.

60. A method in accordance with claim 58, wherein the generated instruction is automatically executed.

61. A method in accordance with claim 54, wherein a sorting and/or alignment device by means of which the products are handled in dependence on the at least one parameter is arranged upstream of at least one of the work stations with respect to the transport path.

62. A method in accordance with claim 61, wherein the orientation of the products is changed by means of the sorting and/or alignment device.

63. A method in accordance with claim 61, wherein the products are distributed over a plurality of tracks by means of the sorting and/or alignment device.

64. A method in accordance with claim 63, wherein the products are guided in at least one of the tracks into at least one of a removal region or a checking region.

65. A method in accordance with claim 63, wherein the products are guided in at least one of the tracks past at least one of the subsequent work stations.

66. A method in accordance with claim 63, wherein the products are returned in at least one of the tracks to a work station arranged upstream of the sorting and/or alignment device or to a functional unit arranged upstream of the processing line.

67. A method in accordance with claim 54, wherein at least one functional unit arranged upstream or downstream of the processing line is provided, wherein a control variable of the at least one functional unit is adapted in dependence on the at least one parameter, or wherein at least one further parameter is determined at the at least one functional unit and is considered at at least one position of the processing line.

68. A method in accordance with claim 67, wherein at least one further parameter is determined at the at least one functional unit and is considered at at least one position of the processing line, wherein the at least one further parameter is considered in the same manner as the at least one parameter determined at the work station.

69. A method in accordance with claim 54, wherein a product store is provided which is arranged upstream of the processing line with respect to the transport path and in which the products are stored, wherein a control variable of the product store is adapted considering the at least one parameter, or wherein at least one further parameter is determined at the product store and is considered at at least one position of the processing line.

70. A method in accordance with claim 54, wherein a packaging machine arranged downstream of the processing line with respect to the transport path is provided by means of which the processed products are packaged, wherein at least one control variable of the packaging machine is adapted in dependence on the at least one parameter, or wherein at least one further parameter is determined at the packaging machine and is considered at at least one position of the processing line.

71. A method in accordance with claim 54, wherein a marking device is provided in which the products are marked, wherein the processing line comprises an identification device in which the marked products are detected.

72. A method in accordance with claim 71, wherein at least one control variable of at least one work station is adapted in dependence on the detected product.

73. A method in accordance with claim 54, wherein an examination device by means of which at least one product feature is determined is arranged upstream of at least one work station with respect to the transport path.

74. A method in accordance with claim 73, wherein the product feature is considered in the processing of the products at at least one work station arranged downstream of the examination device.

75. A method in accordance with claim 73, wherein the product feature is considered in the processing of the products at at least one work station arranged upstream of the examination device.

76. A method in accordance with claim 73, wherein the at least one product feature is considered at another position of the processing line in the same manner as the at least one parameter determined at the work station.

77. A method in accordance with claim 54, wherein one of the work stations of the processing line is a cooling device at which the products are cooled at a predefined or predefinable cooling temperature or at which the products are cooled to a predefined or predefinable temperature.

78. A method in accordance with claim 77, wherein at least one of the cooling temperature or a dwell time is determined as a parameter at the cooling device.

79. A method in accordance with claim 77, wherein at least one of the cooling temperature or a dwell time is adapted in dependence on at least one parameter determined at at least one other work station.

80. A method in accordance with claim 54, wherein one of the work stations of the processing line is a pressing and/or shaping device at which the products are compressed or shaped.

81. A method in accordance with claim 80, wherein at least one of a temperature of the products, a force occurring during the pressing, or a return path is determined as a parameter at the pressing and/or shaping device.

82. A method in accordance with claim 80, wherein a control variable of the pressing and/or shaping device is adapted in dependence on a parameter determined at another work station.

83. A method in accordance with claim 54, wherein one of the work stations is a cutting apparatus at which the products are cut or divided into slices.

84. A method in accordance with claim 83, wherein at least one of a temperature of the products, a degree of freezing of the products, or a cutting force is determined as a parameter at the cutting apparatus.

85. A method in accordance with claim 83, wherein a control variable of the cutting apparatus is adapted in dependence on a parameter determined at another work station.

Description

[0272] The invention will be described purely by way of example in the following with reference to embodiment examples and to the drawings. They only represent possible embodiments of the invention, wherein further embodiments can be seen from the description and the claims.

[0273] There are shown:

[0274] FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a system for processing products comprising a processing line having three work stations, three examination devices, and two sorting and/or alignment devices for illustrating the flexible control of such a system while considering determined parameters;

[0275] FIG. 2 a further schematic representation of a system for processing products comprising a processing line having three work stations, three examination devices, and two sorting and/or alignment devices with products moving along the transport path for illustrating possible processing steps and adaptations to be made; and

[0276] FIGS. 3A to 3C schematic representations of a pressing and/or shaping device, in particular as a possible work station of a processing line.

[0277] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a system in accordance with the invention for processing products 11, said system comprising a processing line 13 that has three work stations 15, 17, and 19 that are each shown as a diamond. In this respect, the products 11 to be processed are transported in two tracks S1 and S2 by means of a transport device 41 along a transport path T from a work station 15 or 17 to a work station 17 or 19 arranged downstream. Furthermore, the work stations 15, 17, and 19 have at least one respective means 43 by which at least one parameter can be determined. Such a parameter can, for example, relate to a property of the product 11 or to a control variable of the respective work station 15, 17, or 19.

[0278] In addition to the work stations 15, 17, and 19, the processing line 13 comprises three circularly shown examination devices 33, 35, and 37 in which the products 11 are examined and at least one product feature is determined. Furthermore, two sorting and/or alignment devices 21 and 23 are provided at the processing line 13 and can, for example, serve to align the products 11 or to distribute the products 11 over different tracks S1 and S2 or to the track S3 of the functional path F. On this functional path F, the products 11 are conveyed against the direction of the transport path T, wherein the products 11 can move from the transport path T onto the functional path F via two branches 69 and 70 and can move from the functional path F to the transport path T via two feeds 71 and 72.

[0279] The system further comprises a functional unit 27 arranged upstream of the processing line 13 and a functional unit 29 arranged downstream of the processing line 13. A marking device 31, in which the products 11 are marked, is located directly upstream of the transport path T.

[0280] All of the work stations 15, 17, and 19, the examination devices 33, 35, and 37, and the sorting and/or alignment devices 21 and 23 are connected to an evaluation and control device 45 so that the mentioned components can generally both transmit information in the form of specific parameters or product features to the evaluation and control device 45 and receive control signals from said evaluation and control device 45. Similarly, the functional units 27 and 29 arranged upstream and downstream are also connected to the evaluation and control device 45 and have means 53 and 55 to determine parameters. The evaluation and control device 45 is in this respect configured to evaluate the information transmitted by all the devices and to generate one or more control signals in dependence thereon.

[0281] The evaluation and control device 45 is further connected to a warning device 47 and a display and input device 49, wherein the warning device 47 is configured to trigger a warning signal perceptible to a user in response to a control signal of the evaluation and control device 45. This can take place if a faulty processing is recognized based on the information or parameters transmitted from the further components to the evaluation and control device 45.

[0282] Specific indications or instructions for an adaptation of settings of one or more of the work stations 15, 17, or 19 to be made can additionally or alternatively be displayed on the display and input device 49 in that the evaluation and control device 45 transmits a control signal to that effect to the display and input device 49. Furthermore, a user can enter commands at the display and input device 49 to adapt the settings of the work stations 15, 17, or 19. Accordingly, due to the display of adaptations to be made at the display and input device 49 and to the possibility of directly entering commands, both the monitoring and the control of the operation of the processing line 13 can be performed by a user at a common location.

[0283] Consequently, the warning device 47 and the display and input device 49 enable a communication with the user so that the operation of the system can be considerably facilitated in that the user is assisted in this process by the indications and receives input or action requests. Thus, a processing as desired of the products 11 can also be ensured when the user operating the system does not have sufficient experience in the operation of the processing line 13 and the setting of the work stations 15, 17, and 19.

[0284] As already mentioned, the connection of the evaluation and control device 45 to the work stations 15, 17, and 19 generally also allows them to be directly controlled and set by the evaluation and control device 45. This can enable an automatic and optimized operation in that the evaluation and control device 45 is configured to evaluate the information or parameters transmitted by the components of the processing line 13 as well as the functional unit arranged upstream 27 and the functional unit 29 arranged downstream and to perform the control while considering this information.

[0285] Such an automatic operation of the processing line 13 can in particular also take place only after an explicit enabling by a user if the evaluation and control device 45 is configured for this purpose so that the control of the operation can generally be incumbent on a user and the automatic operation only takes place when the release is granted. In this respect, provision can also be made that the evaluation and control device 45 can change predefined limit values for control variables of the work stations 15, 17, or 19 and can thus implicitly also consider external conditions in the control, wherein a release by the user can in particular take place for such a shifting of limit values. In this respect, such limit value adaptations can, for example, take place on the basis of detected trends or on the basis of statistics generated and evaluated by the evaluation and control device 45.

[0286] Furthermore, in the representation shown, a processor 51 that is configured to execute a self-learning algorithm is integrated into the evaluation and control device 45. Due to this processor, the control signals which the evaluation and control device 45 outputs can be optimized while considering the results of previously output control signals. In this respect, this optimization can take place with respect to the signals for controlling the warning device 49 to generate warning messages, with respect to the signals for controlling the display and input device 49, and/or with respect to the control signals transmitted directly to the work stations 15, 17, and 19.

[0287] This schematic representation of a system for processing products and in particular fresh meat merely serves to illustrate a possible design of such a system and the possibilities resulting in this respect for the communication and intelligent control by a linking of the components. However, the concepts in accordance with the invention presented in the present application can generally also be implemented by other arrangements of the components of the system, an omission of components, or an addition of further devices or other linkings.

[0288] As FIG. 1 shows, a functional unit 27 can be arranged upstream of the processing line 13. This functional unit can, for example, be a product store 27 in which the products 11 are cooled prior to the processing. Here, the product store 27 has at least one means 53 by which a parameter can be determined, wherein said parameter can in particular relate to the cooling temperature of the product store 27. Since the functional unit 27 arranged upstream is connected to the evaluation and control device 45, the determined parameter can in principle be considered in the processing of the products 11 at the work stations 15, 17, and 19 of the processing line 13. Conversely, settings can also be made at the functional unit 27 arranged upstream in dependence on a parameter determined within the processing line 13 in that said parameter is evaluated by the evaluation and control device 45 and a control signal is transmitted therefrom to the functional unit 27.

[0289] A marking device 31 is provided directly before the products 11 enter the processing line 13 in order to mark the products 11. For this purpose, a barcode can, for example, be applied to the products 11 by a stamp or a chip can be inserted so that the respective products 11 can be individually identified. In this respect, the identification of the products 11 can, for example, take place by means of an identification device 33 that here corresponds to the first examination device 33. However, the individual work stations 15, 17, and 19 can also have means for identifying the individual products 11 or an integrated identification device.

[0290] Such an identification of the products 11 enables a large amount of information on the specific product 11 to be directly retrieved and transmitted to the evaluation and control device 45. The processing of the products 11 at the work stations 15, 17, and 19 can thereby, in principle, be performed individually adapted to the respective product 11. For example, due to the identification of a product 11, information on its weight, the size, or the dimensions of the product 11, as well as a fat or meat content, or also the surface property of the product 11 can be retrieved and can be accordingly considered in the processing.

[0291] The first work station 15 of the processing line 13 can in particular be a cooling device 15 for cooling the products 11 to optimally prepare the products 11 for the subsequent processing at the work stations 17 and 19. The second work station 17 can further be a pressing and/or shaping device 17 in which the products 11 are compressed and their shape is changed. The work station 19 can in particular be provided as a cutting apparatus 19 in which the products 11 are cut into slices 39 and portions are formed from these slices 39. Said portions can be forwarded to a functional unit 29 arranged downstream that can in particular be a packaging machine 29.

[0292] In the following, the possible communication and control of the system for processing products 11 will be described assuming a configuration of the work stations 15, 17, and 19 and of the functional units 27 and 29 as explained by way of example above. However, the system of these components represents only one possible embodiment, with further embodiments being possible that can in particular be seen from the description and the claims. Thus, other, additional or only some of the mentioned components can also be used in a system for processing products 11.

[0293] The work stations 15, 17, and 19 each have a means 43 by which at least one parameter can be determined that can be transmitted to the evaluation and control device 45. Such a means 43 can, for example, be a thermal imaging camera, a scanner, a scale, a laser thermometer, a camera for surface analysis, an image recognition program, or an X-ray device that can in particular be used to recognize the location of a bone.

[0294] The determined parameter can relate to the respective product 11 that is processed at the respective work station 15, 17, or 19 and that can in this respect relate to or be derived from a product feature such as the size or temperature of the product 11. Furthermore, the parameter can also reproduce a control variable or a value to which a control variable of the work stations 15, 17, or 19 can be set. Accordingly, the means 43 can also be configured to perform measurements in the operation of the respective work station 15, 17, or 19 in order, for example, to check the pressing forces by means of a force development measurement in the pressing and/or shaping device 17, whereby splintering bones can in particular be recognized. The cutting forces occurring during the cutting in the cutting apparatus 19 or other relevant values such as the cutting angle can likewise be determined and transmitted to the evaluation and control device 45.

[0295] Products 11 arriving on the processing line 13 from the product store 27 are first examined by means of the first examination device 33, wherein specific product features such as the size of the product 11, the product weight, the quality, the position or the alignment of the product 11, its temperature, fat or meat content, or the surface property of the product 11 can be determined. Furthermore, the transport duration of the products 11 from the product store 27 to the processing line 13 can, for example, be determined and transmitted to the evaluation and control device 45, with the evaluation and control device 45, for example, being able to cause an adaptation of the cooling temperature of the product store 27 based on said transport duration. For this purpose, the evaluation and control device 45 can, for example, control the warning device 47 connected to it in order to alert a user through a generated warning message to an adaptation to be made. Provision can further be made that the evaluation and control device 45 transmits a control signal to the display and input device 49 that displays an indication of a change to be made to the storage temperature and, if necessary, the optimal temperature to be set. In both cases, the operation of the processing line 13 by the user can be considerably simplified since the user neither has to perform the product examination himself nor has to have any particular experience to recognize and to make the necessary adaptation.

[0296] Provision can also be made that the evaluation and control device 45 automatically performs the necessary adaptation of the cooling temperature at the product store 27 in that the evaluation and control device 45 automatically transmits a control signal to the product store 27. In general, all of the subsequently described instructions for adapting the processing process can be automatically executed and/or can be transmitted to a user by means of the display and input device 49 and/or the warning device 47 so that the user can make the adaptation. In this respect, the resulting possibilities in particular depend on the provided components of the processing line 13 and on the design and connection of the evaluation and control device 45.

[0297] At the first examination device 33, the temperature of the products 11 can, for example, be determined and transmitted to the evaluation and control device 45. Based on the temperature of the products 11 determined by the examination device 33, the temperature of the product store 27 can, for example, subsequently be adapted in particular if it is detected that the products 11 do not move sufficiently cooled onto the processing line 13. Likewise, based on the measured temperature, the cooling temperature of the cooling device 15 arranged downstream can be adapted so that a possibly insufficient storage temperature at the product store 27 can be compensated. The dwell time of the products 11 in the cooling device 15 can also be adapted based on the determined temperature, whereby the cooling effect to be achieved during the processing in the cooling device 15 can likewise be adapted in dependence on the temperature of the products 11 determined by the examination device 33.

[0298] Similarly, the weight, the dimension, or the surface or the contour of the surface of the products 11 can be determined by means of the examination device 33 and an adaptation of the cooling temperature or of the dwell time of the products 11 at the cooling device 15 can be made on the basis of these parameters.

[0299] Following the first examination device 33, the products 11 move along the transport path T to the cooling device 15 at which further parameters of the product 11 can be determined by the means 43 and can be transmitted to the evaluation and control device 45. In this respect, the cooling temperature can in particular be transmitted and can, for example, be considered at the pressing and/or shaping device 17 in the setting of the pressing forces for compressing and shaping the product 11.

[0300] Furthermore, a sorting and/or alignment device 21 is provided which is arranged downstream of the cooling device 15 and by means of which the products 11 are handled. In this respect, the orientation of the products can in particular be changed to transport them further in the optimal alignment for the following processing at the pressing and/or shaping device 17 and to feed them to the latter. The alignment can in particular be adapted by rotating the products 11 or tilting them to one side so that a product 11 can, for example, be brought into an orientation such that that a bone 67 recognized at the examination device 33 is positioned in such a manner that a splintering of this bone 67 in the pressing and/or shaping device 17 can be prevented (cf. also FIGS. 2 and 3A to 3C).

[0301] Furthermore, the products 11 can be distributed over different tracks S1, S2, or S3 by means of the sorting and/or alignment device 21. In this respect, the tracks S1 and S2 are part of the transport path T, while the track S3 is associated with the functional path F that extends in the opposite direction to the functional path T.

[0302] Due to a distribution of the products 11 over the tracks S1 and S2 of the transport path T, it can, for example, be achieved that products 11 of an approximately equal total weight are transported in both tracks S1 and S2. Furthermore, a sorting of the products 11 can also take place in dependence on their quality so that the products 11 are fed depending on their quality to the cutting apparatus 19 where the products 11 are cut into slices 39 and portions are formed from at least one slice 39. The processed products 11 or the portions thus leave the processing line 13 sorted by their quality so that their further handling and, for example, packaging in the packaging machine 29 arranged downstream can likewise take place directly and in dependence on quality without a further examination.

[0303] The sorting of the products 11 in the sorting and/or alignment device 21 can in particular take place based on the dimension determined at the first examination device 33, the weight, or the surface contour of the products 11.

[0304] In addition to the distribution of the products 11 over the tracks S1 and S2 of the transport path T, they can also be distributed via the branch 69 to the track S3 of the functional path F, wherein the products 11 are transported on said track oppositely to the transport path T. Products 11 located on the functional path F can again be guided to the transport path T via the feed 71 so that the products 11 again reach the cooling device 15. It can be achieved by this feed 71 that products 11 that were initially not sufficiently cooled at the cooling device 15 can be processed by the latter again so that a satisfactory cooling can ultimately take place. In this respect, this return of a product 11 via the branch 69 and the feed 71 can in principle also take place a multiple of times and in particular so often until the desired cooling effect has been achieved at the cooling device 15.

[0305] Furthermore, the products 11 can be guided on the functional path F into a removal and/or checking region 25. Products 11 guided into this region can be checked by a user and can, if necessary, again be inserted onto the transport path T at a specific position of the processing line 13. Unusable or deficiently processed products 11 can furthermore be brought into a reject zone by the user after a check by the user.

[0306] In particular on an automatic control of the processing line 13 by the evaluation and control device 45, it is, however, also possible for the removal and/or checking region 25 to be an automatic reject zone and for no further check to take place by a user. In this respect, the evaluation and control device 45 or the processor 51 can comprise an ejection mode or can execute an ejection algorithm that reliably recognizes products 11 to be ejected, but still minimizes the product waste.

[0307] In principle, products 11 that have entered the removal and/or checking region 25 can also be fed directly therefrom to a further processing process that is not associated with the processing line 13 so that products 11 that are unsuitable for the processing along the processing line 13 can also be used and processed elsewhere.

[0308] Products 11 transported further by means of the transport device 41 from the sorting and/or alignment device 21 along the transport path T are conveyed to the second examination device 35, which is thus arranged directly upstream of the pressing and/or shaping device 17. In this examination device 35, the temperature of a product 11 or the temperature development along this product 11 can, for example, be determined and can be transmitted to the evaluation and control device 44. Based on these parameters, the cooling temperature of the cooling device 15 or the dwell time of the products 11 at the cooling device 15 can be adapted, for example. Equally, the degree of freezing of a product 11 or the crystallization at its surface can be determined in the examination device 35 and the cooling device 15 can be adapted in dependence thereon.

[0309] In this respect, a retroactive adaptation of the cooling device 15 takes place on the basis of the product features detected in the examination device 35, wherein ultimately the result of the cooling is checked and the cooling device 15 is set while considering this result to be able to optimally process subsequent products 11. Thus, both work stations 15, 17, or 19 arranged downstream and work stations 15 or 17 arranged upstream can be adapted based on a determined product feature so that as complete and flexible as possible a linking of the processing line 13 can be achieved.

[0310] Furthermore, the dimension or the surface contour of a product 11 can again be determined at the examination device 35 and the pressing and/or shaping device 17 arranged downstream can be set based thereon to provide an optimal processing of the products 11. In dependence on the parameters detected, the pressing forces occurring during the compression and/or shaping of the products 11 in the pressing and/or shaping device 17 or the process course can in particular be adapted with respect to the gradients of the pressing forces during the processing, for example. Equally, the optimal position of the product 11 in the pressing and/or shaping device 17 can be determined and the product 11 can be brought into this position so that the processing can be performed specifically adapted to the respective product 11.

[0311] The pressing and/or shaping device 17 can further have different contact elements 57, 59, 61, and 63 (cf. FIGS. 3A to 3C) by means of which a product 11 is compressed or shaped by a respective opposite movement of the contact elements 57 and 61 or 59 and 63 towards one another. In this respect, the pressing and/or shaping device 17 can have different types of such contact elements 57, 59, 61, and 63 that can in particular be of a punch-like design, wherein a suitable selection of these contact elements 57, 59, 61, and 63 can be provided for the compression or shaping of the respective product 11 on the basis of the parameters determined in the examination device 35. Due to this selection of the punches that is specifically coordinated with a specific product 11, a varying processing can also take place within a batch and is in each case individually and optimally coordinated with a respective product 11.

[0312] Furthermore, a bone located in a product 11 can be detected in the examination device 35 and its length, position, or diameter can be determined, for which purpose the examination device 35 can, for example, have an X-ray device. This information can also be transmitted to the evaluation and control device 45 that can thereupon set the pressing and/or shaping device 17 or prompt a user to make such a setting through a display at the display and input device 49 or a warning message at the warning device 47. In this respect, the pressing forces, their direction, or the force development can in particular be adapted during a compression of the products 11. Furthermore, the temperature of the product 11 or the temperature development along the product 11 can in turn be determined at the examination device 35 and can be considered at the pressing and/or shaping device 17.

[0313] During the processing of the products 11 at the pressing and/or shaping device 17, their temperature can also be determined and, based thereon, an adaptation of the cooling device 15 with respect to the cooling temperature or the dwell time of the products 11 in the cooling device 15 can be made by means of the evaluation and control device 45. The pressing forces occurring during a compression or the return forces acting on the contact elements 57, 59, 61, and 62 can also be determined and considered in the setting of the cooling temperature or of the dwell time at the cooling device 15. This retroactive communication from the pressing and/or shaping device 17 to the cooling device 15 is therefore in particular relevant since the temperature of the products 11 can be directly reflected in their deformability and the required pressing forces and the setting of the cooling device 15 can thus exert a direct influence on the processing of the products 11 at the pressing and/or shaping device 17.

[0314] Following the pressing and/or shaping device 17, the compressed or shaped products 11 move to a further examination device 37. At this examination device 37, the temperature or the temperature development along a product 11 can, for example, in turn be determined and transmitted to the evaluation and control device 45. The product feature determined at the examination device 37 can be considered in the setting of the cooling device 15. This product feature can also be used to change a setting of the pressing and/or shaping device 17 in order in particular to adapt a cooling of the products 11 that takes place before or during the processing at the pressing and/or shaping device 17.

[0315] Furthermore, a possible burr formation of the products 11 can be determined by means of the examination device 37 and, in dependence on said possible burr formation, the pressing and/or shaping device 17 can in particular be adapted with respect to the generated pressing forces, or the process sequence, or the force development. It can thereby be achieved that no cracks form in subsequent products 11 during the compression or shaping thereof and that uniform slices 39 can be produced by the cutting apparatus 19.

[0316] The surface contour of the compressed product 11 can also be determined by the examination device 37 and can be transmitted to the cutting apparatus 19 so that, for example, any necessary trimming of the respective product 11 can take place there or the cutting angle can be adapted to the contour of the product 11.

[0317] After the product examination by the examination device 37, the products 11 are transported to a further sorting and/or alignment device 23. The orientation or alignment of the products 11 can also be changed at this sorting and/or alignment device 23 to be able to feed them to the cutting apparatus 19 in an optimally aligned manner. A track distribution of the products 11 can likewise take place and unsatisfactorily processed products 11, in particular unsatisfactorily compressed or shaped products 11, can be distributed to the functional path F via the branch 70. Depending on the nature of the products 11, they can, for example, be fed to the pressing and/or shaping device 17 again via the feed 72 so that a desired result of the processing may be achieved. However, it is also possible to guide products 11 distributed by the sorting and/or alignment device 23 to the functional path F back to the transport path T initially via the feed 71 so that the respective product 11 passes through the total processing line 13 again from the cooling device 15.

[0318] Unusable products 11 or products 11 in which errors in the processing, such as a splintered bone 67, have been determined, can further be guided via the functional path F into the removal and/or checking region 25 and can be checked and, if necessary, separated out by a user there (cf. also FIG. 2).

[0319] In the final processing step along the processing line 13, the products 11 are cut into slices 39 by means of a cutting apparatus 19 and portions are formed from these slices 39 (cf. also FIG. 2 and FIG. 3C). In this respect, the cutting forces occurring can, for example, be determined during the cutting and can be transmitted to the evaluation and control device 45, whereupon an adaptation of the cooling device 15 can take place. This retroactive communication can again take account of the direct influence of the temperature on the cutting process.

[0320] The cutting speed within the cutting apparatus 19, wherein the cutting can, for example, take place by means of a revolving circular blade or scythe-like blade, can further be adapted based on a determined fat content of the respective product 11 that can already have been determined at the examination device 33.

[0321] A further examination of the cut slices 39 can be provided, wherein their temperature or the degree of freezing can, for example, be determined in the sense of a crystallization at the surface. These parameters can be considered at the cooling device 15 in that the cooling temperature or the dwell time of the products 11 at the cooling device 15 is adapted. On the basis of these parameters determined directly after the cutting, a possible cooling before or during the compression of the products 11 at the pressing and/or shaping device 17 can likewise be corrected. In this respect, this examination can, for example, take place at the slice surface directly before the cutting, at the cut-off and falling slices 39, or during the portion formation or their further transport.

[0322] The portions formed by means of the cutting apparatus 19 are transferred from the processing line 13 to the packaging machine 29 at which the portions are packaged. Such a packaging machine 29 can be configured as a deep-draw packaging machine, wherein depressions are drawn into a packaging film into which the portions are inserted. Furthermore, trays on which the portions are placed can be brought forward by the packaging machine 29.

[0323] The packaging machine 29 also has a means 55 to determine parameters related to the portions or the slices 39 or related to control variables of the packaging machine 29 and to transmit them to the evaluation and control device 45. These parameters can likewise be considered during the processing of the products 11 along the processing line 13. For example, the packaging machine 29 can communicate the dimensions of the provided packaging spaces to the evaluation and control device 45 that can thereupon set the pressing forces for compressing and shaping the products 11 at the pressing and/or shaping device 17 such that the slices 39 cut from the pressed products 11 and the portions formed therefrom can be packaged at the packaging spaces provided. Conversely, it is also possible that the packaging machine 29 is, for example, set based on the determined dimension of the products 11 and processes are controlled such that the resulting depressions of a deep-draw packaging machine have the required size to receive the cut products 11.

[0324] The system shown here for processing food products 11 to be sliced and/or to be divided, and in particular for processing fresh meat and/or bacon, enables a comprehensive linking of all the work stations 15, 17, and 19 involved in the processing, of the examination devices 33, 35, and 37, and of the sorting and/or alignment devices 21 and 23, and even a communication beyond the processing line 13 with the functional units 27 and 29 arranged upstream and downstream. In this respect, a large amount of information both on the products 11 and with respect to relevant settings of operating values in the region of the total processing line or of functional units 27 and 29 arranged upstream and downstream can be determined and the operation can be performed specifically adapted to the individual products 11 or specific operating situations.

[0325] In particular in the case of an automatic control of the processing line 13 by the evaluation and control device 45, no specific experience or expertise of a user is required in this respect so that the user only generally has to monitor the operation. The generation of signals perceptible to the user by, for example, an indication or an instruction at the display and input device 49 or a generated warning signal at the warning device 47 can also considerably facilitate the operation of the processing line 13. Furthermore, due to the consideration of the parameters determined at different positions of the processing line 13, the processing can be performed in an optimized manner at other positions of the processing line 13 and specifically adapted to the respective products 11 so that optimal results can be achieved.

[0326] In order furthermore to be able to constantly optimize the operation of the processing line 13, the evaluation and control device 45 can in particular have the mentioned processor 51 so that the control can, for example, take place by means of a self-learning algorithm. This can, for example, serve to optimize an adaptation of a control variable of one of the work stations 15, 17, or 19 that is generally to be made while considering adaptations that have already taken place. Accordingly, the results of previous adaptations are considered during the performance of further adaptations so that the automatic control of the processing line 13 can be increasingly and independently improved during the operation.

[0327] FIG. 2 shows a further schematic representation of a system for processing products and in particular for processing fresh meat along a processing line 13. This processing line 13 has the same components as the processing line 13 shown schematically in FIG. 1, wherein the products 11 are shown larger to illustrate the processes taking place and the transport path T comprises only one track S1.

[0328] In this respect, a product 11 conveyed from the product store 27 arranged upstream to the processing line 13 is first examined by the examination device 33 and is forwarded to the cooling device 15 at which the product 11 is cooled and is prepared for the subsequent compression or shaping at the pressing and/or shaping device 17 and the cutting at the cutting apparatus 19. At the sorting and/or alignment device 21, the product 11 is aligned on the basis of the position of the bone 67 detected at the examination device 33 such that a breaking or splintering of this bone 67 can be prevented during the compression of the product 11 at the pressing and/or shaping device 17. Insufficiently cooled products 11 can in turn be distributed to the functional path F via the branch 69 and can, if necessary, be fed to the cooling device 15 again via the feed 71, while in particular unusable products 11 can be conveyed into the removal and/or checking region 25.

[0329] Along the transport path T, the products 11 are conveyed from the sorting and/or alignment device 21 via the examination device 35 to the pressing and/or shaping device 17 where the products 11 are compressed and/or shaped. In this respect, the pressing and/or shaping device 17 can also be configured to change the shape of the products 11 in a targeted manner and as desired so that a direct shaping of the products 11 can take place. In addition to the detected position of the bone 67, further parameters determined at the components of the processing line 13 arranged upstream and/or downstream can be considered at the pressing and/or shaping device 17 so that the processing can take place individually adapted to the respective product 11.

[0330] After the pressing and/or shaping device 17, the products 11 are again examined by means of the examination device 37 and are conveyed to a further sorting and/or alignment device 23. At the latter, a further change in the alignment of the products 11 can, for example, take place to forward them correctly to the cutting apparatus 19. For example, it is shown here that the respective product 11 is aligned by a further rotation so that slices 39 are cut at the cutting apparatus 19 that do not include any portion of the bone 67. Based on the detected and determined position of the bone 67, the cutting process can be interrupted by retracting the product 11 before a cutting into the bone 67 takes place so that the product residue can be ejected with the bone 67.

[0331] Furthermore, a branch 70, via which the products 11 can be distributed to the functional path F, is also provided downstream of the sorting and/or alignment device 23. In particular products 11 for which it could, for example, be determined on the basis of the pressing forces occurring during the compression at the pressing and/or shaping device 17 or on the basis of the development of said pressing forces that a bone 67 has splintered can be guided via the functional path F into the removal and/or checking region 25 and can be checked or ejected. Insufficiently compressed or unsatisfactorily shaped products 11 can further be fed to the pressing and/or shaping device 17 again via the feed 72 so that a desired result of the processing of the products 11 can ultimately be achieved at said pressing and/or shaping device 17.

[0332] FIGS. 3A to 3C show conceptual representations of an embodiment of a pressing and/or shaping device 17 for which protection is also claimed in the present application independently of the above-described system for processing products 11.

[0333] FIG. 3A shows a product 11 with a bone 67 that has been conveyed into the pressing and/or shaping device 17. Said pressing and/or shaping device 17 has four movable contact elements 57, 59, 61 and 63 that can, for example, be moved by means of a servomotor, not shown, to compress or to shape the product 11. To achieve a compression and to influence the shape of the product 11, the contact elements 59 and 63 can be moved against or along the longitudinal direction L, while the contact elements 57 and 61 are movable with respect to one another in the transverse direction Q. Accordingly, a respective one of the contact elements 57 and 61 or one of the contact elements 59 and 63 forms a respective counter-element 57, 59 (61, 63) of the other contact element 61, 63 (57, 59) that cooperate to compress a product 11 and to change its shape. Furthermore, the pressing and/or shaping device 17 can have further contact elements or counter-elements that are, for example, movable perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction Q to be able to compress or shape the products 11 in this direction as well.

[0334] Directly connected to the contact element 59 in the longitudinal direction L is a cutting plane M in which a blade 20 is moved to cut the product 11 into slices 39. This blade 20 can in particular be configured as a revolving circular or scythe-like blade. Due to the direct connection of the cutting plane M, a slicing apparatus is integrated into the pressing and/or shaping device 17 and the pressing and/or shaping device 17 has an integrated slicer. Thus, the cutting apparatus 19 of FIGS. 1 and 2 are here directly integrated into the pressing and/or shaping device 17.

[0335] To allow a feeding of the product 11 into the cutting plane M after the compression or shaping, the contact element 63 displaceable in the longitudinal direction has two gripper arms 65 by means of which the product 11 can be gripped and can be held during the feed. The contact element 63 can thus advantageously satisfy a dual function in that it serves both for the compression or shaping of the product 11 and as a feed element 63 for feeding said product 11 into the cutting plane M.

[0336] Provision can generally also be made to hold the product 11 by means of the gripper arms 65 or other means even before the compression or shaping and to cut said product 11 to size by cutting means, not shown, that usually differ from the blade 20. A reduction in the size of the product 11 can thereby, for example, be achieved that is not possible by just a compression due to the maximum achievable forces at the contact elements 57, 59, 61, and 63. Furthermore, possibly detected deficient margins of the products 11 can be removed in this manner.

[0337] FIG. 3B shows the product 11 during the compression and/or shaping by the contact elements 57, 59, 61, and 63. During this compression, the gripper arms 65 of the contact element 63 are displaced outwardly so that the contact element 63 can also be used to compress and shape the product 11.

[0338] As will further become clear, the contact element 61 comprises a plurality of part elements 62 by which the contact element 61 is formed with a variable shape. By means of these part elements 62, the contact element 61 can be adapted to the contour of the product 11 and in particular to the shape of the bone 67 so that a breaking and splintering of this bone 67 can be prevented during the compression of the product 11. In this respect, provision can in particular be made that the part elements 62 are already aligned automatically adapted to the course of this bone 67 on the basis of a previously detected position of the bone 67 before the product 11 enters the pressing and/or shaping device 17. Furthermore, provision can also be made that the part elements 62, as indicated here, automatically adapt to the shape of the product 11 or of the bone 67 due to a pressure arising during the compression.

[0339] Since the contact element 61 of variable shape or its part elements 62 can be configured as directly controllable, they can generally also be brought into a predefined or predefinable position before the compression of a product 11 in order thereby to directly act on the contour of the compressed product 11. The product 11 can thereby be brought into a desired shape during the compression, wherein any contour can, in principle, be generated by the change of the shape of the contact element 61 and the contours that can be generated are not limited to rectilinear shapes. For this purpose, provision can in particular be made to form further or all of the contact elements 57, 59, and 63 as uniformly variable in shape.

[0340] In addition to the design of the contact element 61 shown here with a plurality of displaceable part elements 62, provision can also be made that the contact element 61 is produced from an elastic material so that a single-part contact element 61 can adapt to the structure of the product 11. Furthermore, the contact element 61 or specific part regions thereof can be covered by a cushion filled, for example, with a gas, in particular also with air, or with a gel so that a change in shape of the contact element 61 or its surface for an adaptation to a contour of a product 11 can take place due to a pressure on this cushion.

[0341] As FIG. 3C shows, after the completion of the compression or shaping of the product 11, the gripper arms 65 can engage into the product 11 to enable a holding or a feed of the product 11 into the cutting plane M. For this purpose, the gripper arms 65 can, for example, be pivotably arranged at the contact element 63, wherein a retraction of the gripper arms 65 against the longitudinal direction L during the compression and a subsequent extension are also conceivable. Furthermore, a gripper can, for example, be formed with one or more barbs that already engage into the product 11 during the compression or shaping.

[0342] To enable a feed of the product 11 into the cutting plane M, the contact element 59 can in particular also be moved in the transverse direction Q to clear the path for the product 11 in the longitudinal direction L. Furthermore, the contact element 57 can be displaceable in the transverse direction Q such that the product 11 can be pushed in the transverse direction Q from a transport path T onto a functional path F and can, for example, be guided into a removal and/or checking region 25 (cf. FIGS. 1 and 2). Despite the compact design without a separate transport region between the pressing and/or shaping device 17 and the cutting plane M, it can thereby be achieved that products 11 recognized as unusable can be sorted out in a simple manner and without further devices.

[0343] Due to this integration of the cutting apparatus 19 into the pressing and/or shaping device 17, a particularly space-saving design can thus be achieved and the pressing and/or shaping device 17 can be used in a variety of ways. In this respect, only the concept of such a pressing and/or shaping device 17 with an integrated cutting apparatus is also to be illustrated by the embodiment shown here.

REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST

[0344] 11 product [0345] 13 processing line [0346] 15 first work station, cooling device [0347] 17 second work station, pressing and/or shaping device [0348] 19 third work station, cutting apparatus [0349] 20 blade [0350] 21 first sorting and/or alignment device [0351] 23 second sorting and/or alignment device [0352] 25 removal and/or checking region [0353] 27 functional unit arranged upstream, product store [0354] 29 functional unit arranged upstream, packaging machine [0355] 31 marking device [0356] 33 identification device, first examination device [0357] 35 second examination device [0358] 37 third examination device [0359] 39 product slice [0360] 41 transport device [0361] 43 means [0362] 45 evaluation and control device [0363] 47 warning device [0364] 49 display and input device [0365] 51 processor [0366] 53 means of the functional unit arranged upstream [0367] 55 means of the functional unit arranged downstream [0368] 57 first contact element, first counter-element [0369] 59 second contact element, second counter-element [0370] 61 third contact element, third counter-element [0371] 62 part element of variable shape [0372] 63 fourth contact element, fourth counter-element, feed means [0373] 65 gripper arm [0374] 67 bone [0375] 69 first branch [0376] 70 second branch [0377] 71 first feed [0378] 72 second feed [0379] F functional path [0380] L longitudinal direction [0381] M cutting plane [0382] Q transverse direction [0383] S1 first track [0384] S2 second track [0385] S3 track of the functional path [0386] T transport path