EP0739692B1 - Cutting device for food products - Google Patents

Abstract

The mechanism is esp. for cheese (6). The knife (1) works in a guide (4) mounted in a frame (7), and a feed mechanism (8) generates relative movement between the frame and a supporting surface (5) for the material to be sliced. The knife and guide slew in the machine frame on an axis (A) parallel to the plane of cut and the supporting surface. With the slewing angle (alpha) at nil, the plane of cut can be at right angles to the work-supporting surface. The angle can be adjustable through +3 deg. and its adjustment can be stepless.

Description

The invention relates to a cutting device for food products, especially for cheese, with one along one in a frame held guide movable cutting knife and feed means to produce a substantially perpendicular to the cutting plane directional relative movement between the frame and a Cutting material support surface, the cutting knife in this way with the guide is coupled that a deflection of the cutting knife due to different, Force components acting perpendicular to the cutting plane is possible.

With such cutting devices, it is problematic that during of the cutting process on the cutting knife next to that of the cutting movement opposing forces also act forces that are perpendicular have components running to the cutting plane. This Force components can lead to an undesirable evasion of the Lead cutting knife during the cutting process, which ultimately an unclean and uneven cut surface is created.

The size of the force components acting perpendicular to the cutting plane is - in addition to the course of the knife grinding - primarily of it depending on how far they are in front of and behind the cutting plane Extend portions of the food product in the conveying direction. If the extension of these sections on both sides of the cutting plane is approximately the same size, they rise perpendicular to the cutting plane acting force components largely and the achievement of a clean cut is possible without major problems. If the longitudinal extension of the section lying in front of the cutting plane, however significantly less than the extent of what lies behind the cutting plane Partial area is - or vice versa - are perpendicular to Cutting plane in the direction of the partial area with the smaller extent acting forces greater than those opposing these forces Forces, which then leads to the mentioned and undesirable evasion of the cutting knife.

This problem occurs in particular if a larger, block-shaped food product to cut off the beginning or end section is which in the course of minimizing the arising Committee must be kept as small as possible.

A cutting device is known from EP-A-0 434 853, in which a knife blade that can be moved perpendicular to the feed direction of the clippings for the purpose of compensating for an undesirable evasion of the knife blade is held on an adjustable carrier. at this cutting device is the cutting knife to compensate for the Evasion adjusted obliquely to the management level of the knife, but the Vertical cut. This changes the on the cutting knife acting force components, so that ultimately a straight cut is achieved.

The present invention is therefore based on the object To create cutting device that allows, especially when Cutting block-shaped food products, clean, flat and in particular also running exactly perpendicular to the product support surface To achieve cut surfaces without having to separate the clippings Bending forces are exposed, cracks or even break.

This object is achieved in that the guide firmly connected to the cutting knife in the frame one parallel to the cutting plane and parallel to the cutting surface extending axis is pivotally mounted.

According to the invention, a dodging or running of the Cutting knife due to different, perpendicular to Deliberately accepted the cutting plane of acting force components, this dodging or running is compensated by that the guidance of the cutting knife is pivoted in the manner will ultimately be a cleaner, vertical cut running to the product support surface results.

If, for example, when cutting the bleed from expected or found a block-shaped food product is that the direction perpendicular to the cutting plane forces acting on the gate are greater than these Forces opposing forces, the leadership of the Cutting knife and thus the cutting plane slightly in Direction of the gate inclined so that the angle between the area under the gate Cut surface and the cutting plane reduced and a deflection of the cutting knife in the direction of the gate is compensated.

It was consequently recognized in the context of the invention that the cutting plane determined by the guidance of the cutting knife and the actual cutting area achieved under certain Conditions do not match, which compensates for this can be that by guiding the cutting knife fixed level is adjusted in such a way that the Deviation of this level from that ultimately achieved Cut area is so large that the cut area in the desired cutting plane, in particular exactly runs perpendicular to the cutting surface.

If it is desired to use the cutting device according to the invention to produce cut surfaces that do not run perpendicular to the cut material support surface, this is also possible since the guidance of the cutting knife can then be pivoted correspondingly with respect to the desired cut surface that runs inclined to the cut good support surface.
As a rule, however, cutting surfaces running perpendicular to the product support surface are desired, in which case, in a preferred embodiment of the cutting device according to the invention, the cutting plane or the guidance of the cutting knife at a swivel angle of 0 ° runs perpendicular to the product support surface and in particular the swivel angle in a range of ± 3 ° is adjustable. The swivel angle is preferably infinitely adjustable.

a) Der erforderliche Schwenkwinkel kann mittels eines oder mehrerer Probeschnitte empirisch ermittelt und für nachfolgend durchzuführende Schnitte entsprechend eingestellt werden.

b) Es können Mittel zur Detektion der Vorschubposition des zu schneidenden Lebensmittelproduktes vorgesehen werden, mittels derer die Abmessungen des zu schneidenden Lebensmittelproduktes vor und hinter der Schneidebene bestimmbar sind, wobei aufgrund dieser Information der Schwenkwinkel der Führung manuell oder automatisch eingestellt werden kann.

c) Die manuelle oder automatische Einstellung des Schwenkwinkels der Führung kann auch aufgrund von Informationen erfolgen, die von Mitteln geliefert werden, die zur Bestimmung der auf das Schneidmesser wirkenden, insbesondere der senkrecht zur Schneidebene gerichteten Kräfte geeignet sind.

d) Anstelle der Kräfte gemäß Punkt c) kann auch die Biegung des Schneidmessers bzw. das Maß des Abweichens des Schneidmessers aus der gewünschten Schneidebene bestimmt werden.

There are various options that can be used alternatively or in combination to adjust the swivel angle according to the respective requirements so that a cutting surface running in the desired plane is achieved:

a) The required swivel angle can be determined empirically using one or more test cuts and set accordingly for cuts to be carried out subsequently.

b) Means for detecting the feed position of the food product to be cut can be provided, by means of which the dimensions of the food product to be cut can be determined in front of and behind the cutting plane, the pivoting angle of the guide being able to be adjusted manually or automatically on the basis of this information.

c) The manual or automatic adjustment of the pivoting angle of the guide can also take place on the basis of information provided by means which are suitable for determining the forces acting on the cutting knife, in particular the forces directed perpendicular to the cutting plane.

d) Instead of the forces according to point c), the bending of the cutting knife or the degree of deviation of the cutting knife from the desired cutting plane can also be determined.

The swivel angle of the cutting knife guide can be on the types described either before or during execution of a cut can be set. This is preferred Adjustment made before or during each cut.

If the swivel angle during the execution of a Cut is set, it is particularly possible to Constantly regulate the swivel angle, which may result during a single cut changing forces on the Cutting knife can be taken into account. This is particularly so when cutting inhomogeneous food products advantageous.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention are in specified in the subclaims.

Figur 1

die Frontansicht des oberen Teils einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung,

Figur 2

die Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 1 bei einem Schwenkwinkel von 0°, und

Figur 3

die Seitenansicht einer Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 1 bei einem Schwenkwinkel α.

The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the drawing; it shows:

Figure 1

the front view of the upper part of a device according to the invention,

Figure 2

the side view of a device according to Figure 1 at a swivel angle of 0 °, and

Figure 3

the side view of a device according to Figure 1 at a pivot angle α.

Figure 1 shows a cutting knife 1 with one on its horizontal Underside arranged grinding 2. The cutting knife 1 is with one on each of its two side edges Guide sleeve 3 connected.

A guide rod extends through the guide sleeves 3 4, these guide rods 4 parallel on the one hand to each other and on the other hand parallel to the cutting plane or to the cutting knife 1.

The guide sleeves 3 and the cutting knife connected to them 1 are in the direction of the arrow along the guide rods 4 vertically displaceable, this displacement movement by a drive, not shown, is generated.

Between the two guide rods 4 is in the lower Area a cutting material support surface 5 is provided, for example can be designed as a conveyor belt.

On the cutting surface 5 there is a cutting food product 6.

The guide rods 4 are above the cutting surface 5 at their upper ends with an axis A pivotable a frame 7 shown only in regions in FIG. 1 connected.

By pivoting the guide rods 4 about the axis A the guide rods 4 and thus the cutting knife 1 moved to a plane inclined to the drawing plane, whereby the compensation effect described above is achieved becomes.

In Figure 2, the overall arrangement is that shown in Figure 1 Device shown schematically in its side view.

The cutting surface 5 is in this embodiment formed by the upper run of a conveyor belt 8.

The guide rod 4 visible in Figure 2, which on its upper end pivotally connected to the frame 7 about the axis A. is on its lower, below the cutting surface 5 lying end a pivotally attached Operating lever 9 on.

The end of the actuating lever facing away from the guide rod 4 9 is in turn pivotally connected to an angle lever 10, which is pivotable about a parallel to the pivot axis A extending axis of rotation B is mounted.

The end of the angle lever facing away from the actuating lever 9 10 is rotatable with the piston 11 of a cylinder-piston unit 12 connected, the pistons 13 pivotable on a stationary, attached to the frame 7 non-movable part 14 is.

In the position of the guide rod shown in Figure 2 4, this extends perpendicular to the product support surface 5, such a setting then being useful, for example is when extending perpendicular to the cutting surface 5 Cuts are to be generated and is expected that the perpendicular to the cutting plane on the cutting knife 1 acting forces cancel each other out, for example then the case is when the two in front of and behind the Sub-areas lying plane are sufficiently large, in particular if their dimensions are perpendicular to the cutting plane be at least 120 mm. A mutual cancellation of the acting Forces are also present when the sub-areas fall below the specified size, but approximately the same are great.

By acting on the cylinder-piston unit 12 can the guide rod 4 by the angle α if necessary in the be pivoted position shown in Figure 3.

The piston 11 moves into the cylinder 13, whereby this due to the connection with the around the fixed axis B swivel-mounted angle lever 10 clockwise is pivoted.

At the same time, the angle lever 10 turns counterclockwise pivoted, whereby the guide rod 4 via the actuating lever 9 moved into the position shown in Figure 3 becomes. In this position, the guide rod 4 is off the vertical in the direction of the section of the Food product 6 inclined by the angle α.

The pivot position shown in Figure 3 is for example can be used if the one in the direction of conveyance C is at the front Cut off the food product 6 shall be. In this case, they are open in the direction of conveyance C. the cutting knife 1 forces greater than those Forces that work against the direction of conveyance. This is because of it requires that in the conveying direction before the cutting plane lying gate area of the food product 6 lower Dimensions than the rest, behind the Cutting plane lying area.

For cutting off the gate or the front end section of the food product 6 must therefore the guide rod 4 pivoted clockwise around axis A. become.

If, however, the rear end portion of the food product 6 should be cut off, the guide rod 4 from the vertical counterclockwise around the axis A to swivel.

As an alternative to the embodiment shown in the figures can the articulation mechanism acting on the guide rod 4 also above the cutting surface 5 and the pivot axis A below or in the cutting surface 5 can be arranged.

The pivot axis A in the product support surface is preferred arranged so that they with the cutting edge of the Cutting knife 1 in its downward position matches, because in this case the cutting edge of the Cutting knife 1 despite different pivoting positions Guide rod 4 always in the same place on the snow load bearing surface 5 hits.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention Cutting knife spaced parallel to that by the axes the guide rods defined management level and acted upon by a crank rod to generate the cutting movement, which can be driven by a crank that is on the side of the said guide plane facing away from the cutting knife is arranged.

In this way it is taken into account that the bottom dead center the cutting knife moved up and down by swiveling the guide rods adjusted, which leads to that the cutting knife in its bottom dead center, for example has an undesirable distance from the product support surface. Due to the arrangement and the distance mentioned above the cutting knife from the management level becomes this undesirable effect in both directions of rotation largely compensated, which is why in this case the cutting surface can just be executed and yet never one annoying gap between the cutting surface and the Cutting knife occurs at its bottom dead center.

With the device according to the invention it is ensured that despite a dodging or a running of the cutting knife 1 forces always clean, exactly in the desired Cutting plane running cuts can be achieved.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

cutting blade

2

bevel

3

guide sleeve

4

guide rod

5

cut material

6

Food product

7

frame

8th

conveyor belt

9

actuating lever

10

bell crank

11

piston

12

Cylinder-piston unit

13

piston

14

stationary part

A

swivel axis

B

axis of rotation

C

conveying direction

Claims (10)

1. A cutting apparatus for food products (6), in particular for cheese, having a cutting knife (1), which moves along a guide (4) held in a frame (7), and feed means (8) for the generation of a relative movement directed substantially perpendicular to the cutting plane between the frame (7) and a cut material support surface (5), wherein the cutting knife (1) is coupled to the guide (4) such that an evasion of the cutting knife (1) is possible as a result of different force components acting perpendicular to the cutting plane, characterised in that the guide (4) fixedly connected to the cutting knife (1) in the frame (7) is pivotally mounted about an axis (A) extending parallel to the cutting plane and parallel to the cut material support surface (5).
2. A cutting apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the cutting plane extends perpendicular to the cut material contact surface (5) at a pivot angle α of 0°.
3. A cutting apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pivot angle α can be set in the range from ±3° and/or in that the pivot angle α can be steplessly adjusted.
4. A cutting apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cutting knife 1 is guided between two parallel guide rods (4) extending along the cutting plane.
5. A cutting apparatus in accordance with claim 4, characterised in that the cutting knife is arranged spaced from and parallel to the guide plane defined by the axes of the guide rods and is acted on by a crank rod in order to produce the cutting movement, said crank rod being driven by a crank which is arranged on the side of said guide plane remote from the cutting knife.
6. A cutting apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 4 or 5, characterised in that the guide rods (4) are pivotally mounted at the frame (7) above or beneath the cut material support surface (5), in particular at its upper or lower ends respectively.
7. A cutting apparatus in accordance with any one of claims 4 to 6, characterised in that the guide rods (4) are acted upon by an actuating element (9) beneath or above the cut material support surface (5), in particular at its lower or upper ends respectively.
8. A cutting apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that means which control the pivot position of the guide (4) are provided for the detection of the feed position of the food product (6) to be cut or for the determination of the longitudinal extent extending in the feed direction (C) of the part regions of the food products (6) to be cut which are disposed in front of and behind the cutting plane and/or in that means which control the pivot position of the guide (4) are provided for the determination of the forces, in particular the forces directed perpendicular to the cutting plane, acting on the cutting knife (1).
9. A method for the operation of an apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pivot angle α is set before the carrying out of a cut in dependence on the forces which are expected and which act on the cutting knife during the subsequent cut, with in particular the setting being carried out before the execution of each cut.
10. A method for the operation of an apparatus in accordance with any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the pivot angle α is set during the carrying out of a cut in dependence on the forces acting on the cutting knife (1) during the cut.

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