Abstract
A transport device transports portions made of elongated casings filled with food mass. The transport device includes a base body, two transport units respectively connected to the base body via a bearing, and the transport units respectively having a drivable transport belt. At least one, in particular both bearings are designed as pivot bearings having an axis of rotation about which the respective transport belt unit is mounted to be pivotable with respect to the base body. The transport belts are movable toward one another and/or away from one another by pivoting about the at least one axis of rotation.
Claims
1. A transport device for transporting portions made of elongated casings filled with food mass, the transport device comprising: a base body, two transport units being respectively connected to the base body via a bearing, and the transport units respectively having a drivable transport belt, the transport belts being arranged adjacent to one another in such a way to define a receiving space therebetween for receiving and transporting the portions in a transport direction, wherein at least one bearing is designed as a pivot bearing, the at least one pivot bearing having an axis of rotation about which the respective transport belt unit is mounted to be pivotable with respect to the base body, and the transport belts are movable toward one another and away from one another by pivoting about the axis of rotation.
2. The transport device of claim 1, wherein the pivot bearings are arranged laterally on the base body.
3. The transport device of claim 1, wherein the transport units are arranged adjacent to one another, and wherein axes of rotation of the adjacent transport units are arranged parallel to one another.
4. The transport device of claim 1, wherein the transport units each have an arm section, which spaces the transport belt away from the pivot bearing, and wherein a spacing between the axis of rotation of the pivot bearing and a lower edge of the assigned transport belt is 2 to 50 times a width of the transport belt.
5. The transport device of claim 3, wherein the adjacent transport units are coupled to one another via a coupling device.
6. The transport device of claim 5, wherein a biasing element assigned to the coupling device is equipped to bias the coupled transport units in the direction of the receiving space.
7. The transport device of claim 5, wherein the coupling device has an adjustable stop which is equipped to adjust an outlet spacing of the transport belts to one another.
8. The transport device of claim 5, wherein the transport units, by pivoting away from one another about the axes of rotation, are pivotable out of a transport position into a cleaning position in which a spacing between the adjacent transport belts is increased, and wherein a crank is provided, which acts on the coupling device for pivoting between the cleaning position and the transport position.
9. The transport device of claim 1, wherein the transport device has a sealing element, which seals a feed through of the pivot bearing into the base body.
10. The transport device of claim 1, wherein the base body has a first outer end face in the transport direction and a second outer end face, which is opposite the first outer end face, and wherein the pivot bearings of the adjacent transport units are arranged laterally on the base body on at least one of the first end face and the second end face.
11. A separating device for separating portions made of elongated casings filled with food mass, the separating device comprising: the transport device of claim 1, and a separating element, which is equipped to separate sausage portions connected to one another in a string of sausages.
12. The separating device of claim 11, wherein the transport device is a first transport device, and wherein the separating device has a second transport device, wherein the second transport device is downstream of the first transport device in the transport direction, and wherein the separating element is arranged between the first and the second transport devices.
13. The separating device of claim 12, wherein each of the transport devices is arranged laterally on a base body of the separating device by at least one pivot bearing, and wherein the separating element is directly coupled to a drive motor, which is arranged at the top in the base body adjacent to the transport belts of the transport devices.
14. The separating device of claim 13, wherein the separating element has a diameter transverse to its axis of rotation that is less than or equal to 200 mm and is greater than 120 mm.
15. The separating device of claim 13, wherein the separating element is designed as a rotatable and symmetrical knife which has two blades, wherein an axis of rotation of the drive motor is arranged coaxially to the axis of rotation of the separating element.
16. A method for operating the transport device of claim 1 having the steps: adjusting an outlet spacing between the adjacent transport belts, by a stop, the outlet spacing being selected to be smaller than a smallest expected diameter of the portions or of a string of sausages to be transported, transporting the portions or the string of sausages in a receiving space between the adjacent transport belts.
17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps: pivoting the transport units about the axes of rotation into a cleaning position, in which the spacing between the adjacent transport belts is increased, cleaning the at least one transport device or the separating device.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] Further features and advantages of the invention arise from the subsequent description, in the exemplary embodiments explained in greater detail by way of the schematic drawings.
[0041] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one exemplary embodiment of a separating device according to the invention having a storage table.
[0042] FIG. 2a is another perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the separating device according to FIG. 1.
[0043] FIG. 2b illustrates further components of the exemplary embodiment of the separating device according to FIG. 1.
[0044] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of the separating device thereof with a partially open housing.
[0045] FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate the exemplary embodiment of the separating device thereof in different operating positions.
[0046] FIGS. 5a-5c illustrate different operating positions of the exemplary embodiment of the separating device thereof.
[0047] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative exemplary embodiment of a separating device according to the invention.
[0048] FIGS. 7a and 7b are perspective views of the exemplary embodiment of the separating device according to FIG. 6.
[0049] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a block diagram of a method according to embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0050] FIG. 1 shows a separating device 100 for separating portions 4 made of elongated casings filled with food mass, in particular sausage portions 4 from a string 5 of sausage portions 4. A storage table 104 is arranged adjacent to separating device 100, on which storage table a string 5 of this type made of sausage portions 4 is schematically depicted. Separating device 100 has a first transport device 2a and a second transport device 2b. Second transport device 2b is arranged in a transport direction t downstream from first transport device 2a. Separating device 100 furthermore has a separating element 102. Separating element 102 is arranged between first and second transport devices 2a, 2b.
[0051] Separating device 100 has a base body 6. Base body 6 is simultaneously the base body of transport devices 2a, 2b. Base body 6 is also designated as machine base 6 and has, in particular, a pyramid shape on its top side. Each of transport devices 2a, 2b has two transport units 8a, 8b. Transport units 8a, 8b are each connected to the base body via a bearing 10. Transport units 8a, 8b each have a drivable transport belt 12a, 12b. Transport belt belts 12a, 12b are driven via drive rollers 14. Transport belt belts 12a, 12b of transport units 8a, 8b are thereby arranged adjacent to one another in such a way that these define a receiving space 16 between themselves for receiving and transporting portions 4 or a string 5 made of sausage portions 4 in transport direction t.
[0052] Bearings 10 of respective transport devices 2a, 2b are designed as pivot bearings 10. Pivot bearings 10 respectively have an axis of rotation 18, about which associated transport belt unit 8a, 8b is mounted to be pivotable with respect to base body 6. Adjacent transport belts 12a, 12b of transport units 8a, 8b are movable toward one another and/or away from one another by the pivoting about axes of rotation 18. Transport units 8a, 8b of both transport devices 2a, 2b are arranged adjacent to one another. Axes of rotation 18 of adjacent transport units 8a, 8b are thereby arranged parallel to one another. A drive motor 20 is thereby assigned to each of transport units 8a, 8b, the drive motor being, in particular, embedded into base body 6. Transport units 8a, 8b respectively have an arm section 22, which is depicted in FIG. 2a. Arm section 22 spaces respective transport belts 12a, 12b apart from relevant pivot bearing 10. The spacing is selected in such a way that, despite the pivot bearing, a lowest possible angular error occurs in the area of transport belts 12a, 12b. A spacing a between axis of rotation 18 of pivot bearing 10 and a lower edge 24 of assigned transport belt 12a, 12b is preferably 2 to 50 times width b of transport belt 12a, 12b.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 2b, adjacent transport units 8a, 8b are coupled to one another via a coupling device 26. A biasing element 34, which is designed in FIG. 2b as a compression spring, is assigned to coupling device 26. Biasing element 34 is equipped to bias coupled transport units 8a, 8b in the direction of receiving space 16. Biasing element 34 ensures that sausage portions 4 to be transported are pressed against transport belts 12a, 12b with a defined force and may be transported. Deviations of sausage portions 4 with respect to caliber and shape may thus be compensated for and slippage-free transport may be guaranteed.
[0054] Coupling device 26 is designed in such a way that a first arm section 28 is connected to first transport belt unit 8a. A second arm section 30 is connected to second transport belt unit 8b. First arm section 28 is coupled to second arm section 30 via a connecting link guide 32. If, as is depicted in FIG. 2b, biasing element 34 is coupled to first arm section 28, then the biasing force applied hereby may also be transferred via connecting link guide 32 to second arm section 30, which is connected to second transport belt unit 8b.
[0055] Coupling device 26 additionally has an adjustable stop 36. Adjustable stop 36 is equipped to adjust an outlet spacing da of transport belts 12a, 12b to one another. For this purpose, adjustable stop 36 acts on second arm section 30. Depending on a vertical position of a lower end of adjustable stop 36, outlet spacing da of transport belts 12a, 12b is adjusted with respect to one another. The adjustment is to be carried out in such a way that spacing da is slightly smaller than the smallest diameter to be expected for sausage portions 4 to be transported. Separating device 100 has a base body 6. Base body 6 has a first outer end face 42a in transport direction t and a second outer end face 42b, which is opposite to first outer end face 42a. Pivot bearings 10 of adjacent transport units 8a, 8b are arranged on first end face 42a and on second end face 42b. FIG. 3 shows coupling device 26 from another perspective view.
[0056] By pivoting about axis of rotation 18, transport units 8a, 8b are, as is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, pivotable away from one another out of a transport position T, which is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b for second transport unit 8b, into a cleaning position R. Cleaning position R, in relation to first transport belt unit 8a, is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b. A spacing d between adjacent transport belts 12a, 12b is increased in cleaning position R. A crank 37, which acts on coupling device 26, is provided for pivoting between cleaning position R and transport position T. This is designed in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4b in such a way that spring 34 is connected to crank 37 via an intermediate segment 33. An actuation of crank 37 acts via intermediate segment 33 on spring 34, and from there on first arm section 28. The actuation of crank 37 additionally acts on second arm section 30 via connecting link guide 32, such that the actuation of crank 37 into the position shown in FIG. 4b in relation to first transport belt unit 8a results in that a spacing d is increased between adjacent transport belts 12a, 12b. By actuating crank 37 into the position shown in FIG. 4b in relation to second transport device 2b, second transport device 2b is transferred into transport position T. In this case, intermediate segment 33 contacts limit pin 35.
[0057] The transport devices additionally have respective sealing elements 38, which seal a feed through 40 of pivot bearing 10 into base body 6. By this, it is ensured that no cleaning fluid or product residues may penetrate into base body 6, and at the same time a lowest possible rotational inertia is ensured in the area of pivot bearings 10, such that transport units 8a, 8b may adapt to the shape of sausage portions 4 to be transported in the manner described.
[0058] FIGS. 5a to 5c illustrate the different operating positions of separating device 100 or transport devices 2a, 2b. In the state shown in FIG. 5a, an outlet spacing da of transport belts 12a, 12b is adjusted with respect to one another via adjustable stop 36. Said outlet spacing is selected, in particular, in such a way that outlet spacing da is slightly smaller than the smallest diameter to be expected for sausage portions 4 to be transported.
[0059] In the state shown in FIG. 5b, a sausage portion 4 is now being transported, which has a larger diameter due to deviations in shape and/or caliber. As a result, transport units 8a, 8b are deflected outward against a spring force of spring 34, however, they still apply a sufficient force between transport units 8a and 8b and sausage portion 4, such that a secure transport of sausage portion 4 is guaranteed. At the same time, it is prevented that the mechanical components of transport units 8a and 8 are unduly burdened or that any blockage of transport belts 12a, 12b occurs, which is achieved, in particular, in that transport belts 12a, 12b may deflect to the outside.
[0060] Respective transport devices 2a, 2b are located in FIGS. 5a and 5b in transport direction T. In FIG. 5c, transport devices 2a, 2b are located in cleaning position R. For this purpose, crank 37 in FIG. 5c is pivoted with respect to FIGS. 5a, 5b, and acts via intermediate segment 33 and spring 34 on first arm section 28, and from there via connecting link guide 32, by which transport units 8a, 8b are kinematically coupled, also on second arm section 30. In cleaning position R, shown in FIG. 5c, the spacing between transport belts 12a, 12b is increased.
[0061] FIG. 6 shows an alternative exemplary embodiment of a separating device 100. This has, as in the previously described manner, two transport devices 2a, 2b, which are designed analogously to transport devices 2a, 2b from FIGS. 1 to 5. However, coupling device 26 is configured differently. An arm section 28, 30 is respectively connected to respective axes of rotation 18 of transport units 8a, 8b. However, arm sections 28, 30 are connected to one another via a connecting link guide 32 in an area between axes of rotation 18. Adjustable stop 36 acts on second arm section 30. First arm section 28 is connected to the housing using a spring 34. Spring 34 acts in this case as a tension spring. Spring 34, shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, acts as a compression spring.
[0062] FIGS. 7a and 7b show separating device 100 according to the invention. As is illustrated in the figures, transport devices 2a, 2b are respectively arranged via two pivot bearings 10, as described in the remaining figures, laterally on a base body 6 of separating device 100 as shown in FIG. 7b. Separating element 102 is directly coupled to a drive motor 106, i.e., in this case merely by the interposition of a short drive shaft. Drive motor 106 is arranged at the top in base body 6 adjacent to transport belts 12a, 12b of transport device 2a. As is particularly clear from FIG. 7b, drive motor 106 is adjacent to the upper side of base body 6 and is thus located in direct proximity to transport belts 12a, 12b. In this way, a diameter D of separating element 102 may be reduced with respect to the solutions known from the prior art. In particular, separating element 102 has a diameter D transverse to its axis of rotation 110 of 200 mm, in particular 180 mm. Diameter D of separating element 102 is preferably greater than 120 mm. Separating element 102 is designed as a rotatable knife 112. Knife 112 is designed, in particular, as symmetrical. Knife 112 has two blades 114a, 114b. Each blade 114a, 114b preferably has two cutting edges, the one cutting edge facing in the direction of rotation and one cutting edge facing in the opposite direction. Symmetrical knife 112 may preferably be mounted both in the position depicted in FIG. 7b and also in a position rotated by 180 along the longitudinal axis, such that the additional cutting edge may then be used for the separating process. As depicted, axis of rotation 116 of drive motor 106 is arranged coaxially to axis of rotation 110 of separating element 102. A direct connection of this type between separating element 102 and drive motor 106, which merely requires the interposition of a short drive shaft, further reduces the mass inertia of separating element 102 and improves its dynamic properties. Separating element 102 is preferably operated intermittently, i.e., preferably only when a string of sausages 5 is positioned relative to separating element 102 in such a way that separating element 102 may cut the connecting region between two sausage portions 4. Due to smaller diameter D of separating element 102, in comparison to the prior art, a larger number of sausage portions 4 from one string of sausages 5 may be separated in a given time, as, in particular, the acceleration and deceleration of separating element 102 may be carried out faster, more dynamically, and also more precisely due to the lower mass inertia.
[0063] FIG. 8 schematically shows a method 200 for operating a transport device 2a, 2b or a separating device 100. Method 200 has the steps: adjusting 202 an outlet spacing da between adjacent transport belts 12a, 12b, in particular by a stop 36, outlet spacing da being selected to be smaller than the smallest expected diameter of portions 4 or of string of sausages 5 to be transported; transporting 204 of portions 4 or string of sausages 5 in a receiving space 16 between adjacent transport belts 12a, 12b; pivoting 206 of transport units 8a, 8b about axes of rotation 18 into a cleaning position R, in which the spacing d between adjacent transport belts is increased; cleaning 208 of at least one transport device 2a, 2b or of separating device 100.
