EP2422940A1 - Adjustable blade head - Google Patents

Abstract

The cutting device (1) comprises a conveyor (3) and a cutting knife (4) which is arranged in a bearing (6) around a rotation axis (5) in a rotating manner. The cutting knife has a shape of a sickle cutter (7), where the bearing is moved in a channel. The rotation axis is moved parallel with its bearing, so that the bearing point is adjusted in a cutting plane of the sickle cutter. An independent claim is also included for a method for cutting a product, particularly a food product.

Description

The invention relates to a device, in particular Hochleistungsslicer, for slicing food products, which are fed with a conveyor, a cutting blade which is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis in a bearing and has the shape of a sickle blade, the cutting edge distributed over the circumference has different radii Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for cutting a product, preferably a food product, which is fed to the cutting plane of a rotary sickle blade.

State of the art

In food slicers, circular knives are known which rotate at relatively high speed about an axis of rotation. For the actual cutting operation, the knives are passed by means of a feed device on the front side of the food products, whereupon a slice or a product piece is cut off. The feed path must be so large that the circular blade for the advancement of the product piece is sufficiently far disengaged to allow the advance of the food product before the next cutting operation. Without such feeders an automatic slicing is not possible because the circular knife otherwise stands in the way of the product.

In cutting devices of the type mentioned there are still sickle blades, in which the blade is crescent-like guided from a bearing-near point over the circumference to a bearing-distant point. Usually there is a clearance angle between these two points. The clearance angle serves to allow the transition of the different radii in a very short range. Furthermore, this area can be used to determine product data with suitable sensors. The geometry of the blade of the sickle blade, along with the rotational speed, determines the cutting speed and cutting pressure as it passes through the food product. A delivery device for the bearing of the knife is not necessary because the geometry of the sickle blade determines the cutting process. The cutting edge is moved by the increasing radius as the sickle blade rotates through the product. After the cut, the radius returns to its minimum value as the rotation continues.

The EP 407 883 A1 discloses such a sickle blade, whose radius seen over the circumference, starting from a bearing near minimum value continuously increases up to a maximum value.

The DE 3713536 A1 relates to a drive and bearing assembly for a cutting head of a slicer with a respect to the machine frame rotatably mounted main shaft to which a support for a respect to the main shaft eccentrically arranged, a disc diameter bearing blade shaft is attached. The main and cutter shafts are connected to each other and to a drive.

The EP 1401619 B1 describes a method for detecting the inner structure and outer contour of the product during cutting.

task

It is the object of the present invention to provide a slicer in which the cutting pressure is controllable and enables an optimized cutting result of various food products.

Solution and advantages

The object is achieved by a slicer in which the bearing of the axis of rotation of the sickle blade is designed to be movable in a guide.

Due to the displaceability of the sickle blade head, or the adjustability of the axis of rotation of the sickle blade, the advantage is realized, the cutting pressure exerted by the cutting blade on the product to determine more accurately and individually. So far, the cutting pressure was determined solely by the cutting edge profile and the radii of the sickle blade. If you have noticed with sickle knives that a different pitch - for example, because of another product - would be required, a new sickle knife had to be produced with exactly the required slope. This complex and frequent calculation and production of different sickle blades is complicated and expensive. By means of the present invention, different cutting angles, cutting pressures and cutting speeds can be realized with a sickle knife in an astonishingly simple manner, without having to construct or produce new sickle blades for different applications. This significantly reduces the manufacturing and operating costs. Cutting angle is the angle at which the knife cuts into the product. This angle, which changes relative to the horizontal by the sickle blade geometry and the adjustment of the axis of rotation, influences the cutting behavior of the slicer.

According to a first embodiment of this invention, the axis of rotation with its bearing is displaced parallel, so that the bearing point in the cutting plane of the sickle blade is adjustable.

Due to the relative to the product arranged movable axis of rotation is in a particularly direct form, the pressure on the product to be cut changeable. Furthermore, the respective cutting angle can be very advantageously varied as well.

A further embodiment provides that the bearing of the axis of rotation of the sickle blade is adjustable by means of a linear guide.

A linear adjustment of the axis of rotation is particularly advantageous because it can be implemented with very little effort and it is reliable in operation.

Another favorable embodiment provides that the bearing of the axis of rotation of the sickle blade is arranged adjustable by means of a cam guide. Due to the curve guidance, which can be implemented by curved paths, individually coordinated movements are possible.

Further, it is advantageous that the bearing of the axis of rotation of the sickle blade is adjustable by means of an eccentric guide.

The particularly advantageous eccentric, realized in a simple way curved movements of the bearing of the sickle cutter head in the direction relative to the product.

A favorable embodiment of the invention, results from the fact that the bearing of the axis of rotation of the sickle blade is arranged on an arm which is at least partially rotatably mounted about a pivot point remote from the axis of rotation.

This advantageous arrangement of the sickle cutter head on a pivot arm, a circular sector movement of the axis of rotation is achieved. The length of the arm, or the distance from the sickle blade rotation axis to the bearing point of the arm, defines the radius of the curve movement about which can be adjusted. The arm can also be designed variable in length to vary the location change of the camp.

A preferred embodiment consists in a planetary gear, with the aid of which the axis of rotation of the sickle blade is adjustable and the sickle blade itself is to set in rotation.

By this advantageous arrangement two movements can be realized with an arrangement. It is also possible by the planetary gear only to adjust the mounting of the rotation axis and to realize the rotation of the sickle blade itself by separate drives.

According to a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the device, measuring means are provided for detecting the cutting pressure, the cutting speed, the rotational speed and / or the sectional image.

As a result, the particular advantage of the, depending on the speed, the cutting pressure or the sectional image, motion control of the axis of rotation of the sickle blade is only possible. These sensor data can be supplied to a corresponding control unit. As measuring means, all known methods, such as Counting revolutions or partial revolutions by means of magnet and Hall sensor arrangements or an optical detection of special measuring points, the internal structure or the outer contour.

Further, especially by these measuring means of structure detection, especially in non-homogeneous structures, the individual components, the current interface recognized. Since these different areas have different physical properties, these data can be used to control or regulate the movement of the blade rotation axis. For example, a layer of fat in the ham has a different consistency, such as the ham itself. The resulting own cutting behavior can now also be considered individually.

As detection means of the internal structure are basically a variety of options implemented. On the one hand, you can capture and evaluate the current interfaces using a camera. The results of this evaluation can be recorded by the control unit and taken into account when moving the axis of rotation.

A detection capability of the internal structure may be e.g. be realized by an X-ray scanner, which scans the product completely before the cutting process. There are then all the data of the inner structure and the outer contour at the beginning of cutting, so that the adjustment of the bearing of the rotation axis can be controlled according to this data.

Particularly advantageously, the values relative to the cutting pressure can be used to regulate the adjustment of the bearing point of the axis of rotation. Since the detection of the pressure in the product may be expensive, it is proposed according to the invention to detect the pressure in a remote from the product, the bearing of the sickle cutter head bearing point. The reaction pressure is measured, which corresponds to the pressure of the knife in the product.

It is also particularly advantageous that a control and / or regulating unit is provided for adjusting the bearing of the rotation axis, which allows a targeted change in the storage position

A further advantageous embodiment provides to adjust the bearing of the rotation axis as a function of the measured values of the cutting process by means of the control and regulation unit.

By means of this particularly advantageous embodiment, a control or regulation of the adjustment of the sickle cutter head is implemented on the basis of the previously determined data of the product or of the cutting process.

The adjustability of the bearing of the rotational axis of the cutting blade, as a function of the internal structure and / or the outer contour of the product to be sliced, by means of the control unit represents a further very advantageous embodiment of the present invention.

As a result, the cutting angle and the cutting pressure of the cutting blade are now adapted in a particularly advantageous manner to the actually existing instantaneous product consistency and shape in order to optimize the cutting result.

The object is further achieved by a method in which the bearing of the axis of rotation of the sickle blade undergoes a parallel displacement before and / or after and / or during the cutting process.

This favorable embodiment also has the goal of achieving an optimum cutting result. The cutting pressure can be adapted to very individual product conditions. The adjustment of the axis of rotation takes place during one revolution of the knife. It is also possible to adjust the bearing of the rotation axis before and / or after and / or during the cutting process.

According to a further particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the bearing of the rotation axis is adjusted by a control and / or regulating unit and thereby the physical characteristics (type, weight, consistency, structure, moisture, etc.) of the aufzuschneidenden product and / or operating data of the slicing process used to change the position of the axis of rotation. By means of this further advantageous solution of the object, methods for cutting products in a particularly favorable form are improved in that the cutting quality, regardless of product irregularities or changes in the cutting process, has a consistently good quality.

Name of the figures

FIG. 1

Front view of a first embodiment of a cutting device with a sickle blade disposed over a food product to be cut.

FIG. 2

Front view of a cutting device of FIG. 1 , where two salami stalks are present as food products.

FIG. 3

Front view of a cutting device of FIG. 1 showing a variation of various bearing points.

FIG. 4

Front view of a further embodiment with a linearly displaceable sickle blade assembly on a food product to be cut and also slidably held

FIG. 5

Front view of another embodiment with an adjustable by means of eccentric sickle blade assembly on a food product to be cut

FIG. 6

Front view of a further embodiment of an adjustable by means of a swivel arm sickle blade assembly.

FIG. 7

Front view of another embodiment with a planetary gear for adjusting the sickle blade assembly

FIG. 8

Side view of another embodiment of a cutting device according to the invention with a height-adjustable sickle blade

FIG. 9

Front view of another embodiment with a multi-directional adjustable sickle cutter head

FIG. 10

Front view of a further embodiment with one of two linear guides held, adjustable sickle cutter head.

Description of the figures

FIG. 1 shows a device 1 with a trained as a sickle blade 7 cutting blade 4, which rotates at a rotational speed v about its axis of rotation 5. The rotation axis 5 of the sickle blade 7 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 6. The radius 9 of the sickle blade 7 varies over the circumference thereof.

The sickle blade 7 is above a blocky food product 2, e.g. a cheese loaf which is conveyed by means of a conveyor 3, e.g. a sliding conveyor or a conveyor belt in the feed direction is movable. Sensors 17 are arranged so that they can be used to measure both the speed and position of the cutting blade (notch as marking) and the speed of rotation and the cutting pressure applied to the product by the cutting blade. Furthermore, the sectional images of the sliced product slices can be detected with sensors 18 in order to carry out an evaluation of a timely change of the cutting parameters.

In the following figures, further embodiments are shown. In principle, the same reference numerals apply to the same parts. For the sake of simplicity, only changes will be discussed.

The FIG. 2 shows the device 1 of FIG. 1 , The sickle blade 7 has a cutting edge 8, which is located by a radius away from the axis of rotation 5 of the sickle blade 7. The radius changes with increasing angle of rotation of the sickle blade 7, preferably the radius increases with the rotation. But there are also circle sections the cutting knife possible in which the radius remains constant with the rotation or decreases. In the embodiment shown here, two circular cross-section products, such as two sausages are cut simultaneously with the sickle blade assembly.

The FIG. 3 shows the device 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 , There are various bearing points 6 indicated that can take such a bearing by the adjustment of the bearing 6. Of course, any further possible bearing points are conceivable here. The food product 2 to be cut here has an irregular contour, as occurs, for example, in natural food products, such as ham.

The FIG. 4 shows a device 1 with a vertical linear guide 11 for the sickle blade 7. The bearing 6 of the rotation axis 5 of the sickle blade 7 can be moved by this linear guide 11 in the vertical direction relative to the food product 2 to be sliced. Due to the rotation of the sickle blade 7 and the movement of the bearing 6, the cutting edge 8 can be guided very specifically under certain cutting angles through the product and cut it.

The food product 2 is moved by a feed movement on a conveyor 3, not shown, to the cutting plane S. Further, the drive 23 allows movement of the product at right angles to the feed. As a result, the point of the cutting edge 8, which cuts the product, can also be determined. There are also other movements of the product, for example in the direction of the cutting blade 4 possible. Basically, it can be provided to adjust the product in all directions, so as to additionally achieve a cutting optimization.

The FIG. 5 shows a device 1, which has a sickle blade 7 with a cutting edge 8, which rotates about a, held in a bearing 6 axis of rotation 5. The rotation of the sickle blade 7 at a speed v also changes the radius 9 of the sickle blade 7 with respect to the product to be cut. The bearing 6 is moved on an eccentric disc 13. As a result, on the one hand, the horizontal distance a between the axis of rotation 5 and the center of the eccentric disc 13 changes and, on the other hand, the vertical distance of the axis of rotation 5 to the food product 2 changes. The food product 2 is also moved here on a conveyor 3 in the direction of the cutting plane S.

In FIG. 6 a device 1 is shown which has a mounted in a bearing 6 axis of rotation 5 of a sickle blade 7. The bearing 6 is arranged on an arm 14, which pivots about a pivot point 15. By a rod which is hinged on the one hand to the arm 14 and on the other hand by a drive, preferably an electric or electromagnetic drive, such as an electric cylinder or a servo drive, driven, the arm 14 is pivoted about the point 15. Through this pivoting movement, the bearing 6 is adjusted. The rectangular food 2 shown here could for example be a cheese cut by the cutting edge 8 of the sickle blade 7 rotating at a speed v.

The arm 14 may also be telescopic. By a drive this telescopic arm is changeable in its length. A spindle-nut system, with a driven spindle and a nut or cylinder-piston assembly fixed to the arm 14, are possible drive configurations that may be used to drive the arm 14. By this optional change in length of the arm 14 all conceivable bearing points, even independently of predetermined paths can be realized. Next is the FIG. 6 a control unit 24 shown with the z. B. by means of the actuator 21, the adjustment of the bearing point 6 in response to various parameters of the product and the cutting process and optionally the change in length of the pivot arm 14 is adjustable.

In the embodiment of the FIG. 7 the axis of rotation 5 of the sickle blade 7 is adjusted by means of a planetary gear 16. The bearing point of the axis of rotation lies in one of the planet gears. The food product 2 shown here is - as already described several times - pushed by a conveyor 3 in the direction of the cutting blade 4.

The FIG. 8 shows a device 1 in the form of a slicer, in which the product to be cut, for example a food product 2 by means of a conveyor 3 (holder) in the feed direction to the cutting plane S is moved. Be in the cutting plane S 7 slices cut off from the product by the cutting edge 8 of the rotating sickle blade. In the region in which the cuts are carried out, the product is located on a cutting edge 26, which is preferably arranged in the immediate vicinity of the cutting plane S.

The sensors 17 can detect the cutting speed, the rotational speed and the position of the knife. Furthermore, sectional images of the sliced product slices can be detected and evaluated by means of a computing unit. The sensors 18 may be e.g. be realized by X-ray scanner or by cameras. They detect the outer contour 20 and the inner structure 19 of the food product 2 to be sliced. Furthermore, the cutting pressure can be determined by means of force transducers in the cutting edge. This is done by recording the reaction forces. On the basis of the acquired measurement data, the bearing 6 of the rotation axis 5 of the sickle blade 7 can be adjusted. A control and regulation unit accordingly causes a vertical adjustment movement of the guided in the vertical guide 10 bearing 6. The actuators 21 are used to adjust the bearing point and the axis of rotation. 5

In the Figures 9 and 10 several, the bearing 6 adjusting guides are shown. In the FIG. 9 the bearing 6 is on the one hand adjusted by a vertical linear guide 11. Furthermore, here the entire linear adjustment device can be adjusted at an upper pivot point 22 so that it can be pivoted about a lower pivot point 22. This movement is based on a drive 21 which engages with a rod at the upper pivot point 22. A drive 21 is used for the vertical adjustment of the bearing 6 in the vertical guide 11. A control unit 24 controls and regulates the drives 21 for adjusting the bearing 6. The control and regulating unit 24, the measurement data of the sensors 17, 18, respectively ,

The FIG. 10 shows a rotation axis 5, which is held in a bearing 6 and can be adjusted by a vertical linear guide pair 11 in the vertical direction. Further, this adjustment can be adjusted by a horizontal linear guide pair 11 in the horizontal direction. As a result of these superimposed adjusting movements of the bearing 6, the bearing can occupy any desired location and achieves optimum cutting quality become. The bearing 6 does not have to remain on predetermined paths, it is freely movable in the cutting plane S. This in FIG. 10 represented food product 2 may for example be a beer ham.

The illustrated sickle blade arrangements are used in cutting machines for cutting various products. Food products such as sausage, cheese, ham, bread or other food products with predominantly solid consistency are frequently used as products to be sliced up.

These cutting machines are often very fast-working high-performance slicers, with which food products are cut. With these complex systems, the cuts can also be controlled or controlled individually depending on various parameters such as product mass, product geometry, temperature or consistency. During the cutting process, the slice thickness, the cutting pressure, the cutting angle and the cutting speed can be changed to achieve the optimum cut quality, the predetermined target weights of the product slices.

Claims (15)

Device (1), in particular high-performance slicer, for slicing food products (2) which can be fed with a conveyor (3) to a cutting blade (4), which is rotatably arranged around a rotation axis (5) in a bearing (6) and the shape a sickle blade (7) whose cutting edge (8) has distributed over the circumference different radii (9),
characterized in that
the bearing (6) of the rotation axis (5) of the sickle blade (7) in a guide (10) is spatially variable. Device according to claim 1,
characterized in that
the axis of rotation (5) with its bearing (6) is displaceable parallel, so that the bearing point in the cutting plane (S) of the sickle blade (7) is adjustable. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the bearing (6) of the rotation axis (5) of the sickle blade (7) by means of a linear guide (11) is adjustable. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the bearing (6) of the rotation axis (5) of the sickle blade (7) by means of a cam guide (12) is adjustable. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the bearing (6) of the rotation axis (5) of the sickle blade (7) by means of an eccentric guide (13) is adjustable. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the bearing (6) of the rotation axis (5) of the sickle blade (7) is arranged on an arm (14) which is at least partially rotatable about a pivot point (15) remote from the rotation axis (5). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
a planetary gear (16) is provided by means of which the axis of rotation (5) of the sickle blade (7) is adjustable and / or the sickle blade (7) is drivable. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the bearing (6) of the axis of rotation (5), by means of at least two guides (11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 22, 23), is adjustable in different directions. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the device (1) has measuring means (18) for detecting the inner structure (19) and / or the outer contour (20) of the food product (2) and / or the sectional image. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the device (1) comprises measuring means (17) for detecting the cutting pressure and / or the cutting speed and / or the rotational speed. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
a control and / or regulating unit (24) for adjusting the bearing (6) of the rotation axis (5) is provided. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the bearing (6) of the rotation axis (5) is adjustable in dependence on the measured values of the cutting process by means of the control and regulating unit (24). Device according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the bearing (6) of the axis of rotation (5) of the cutting blade (4), in dependence on the inner structure (19) and / or the outer contour (20) of the product to be sliced (2), by means of the control and / or regulating unit ( 24) is adjustable. Method for cutting a product, preferably a food product (2), which is fed to the cutting plane (S) of a rotary sickle blade (7)
characterized in that
the bearing (6) of the rotation axis (5) of the sickle blade (7), before and / or after and / or during the cutting process, undergoes a parallel displacement. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that
the bearing (6) of the rotation axis (5) is adjusted by a control and / or regulating unit (24) and the physical characteristics (type, weight, consistency, structure, humidity, etc.) of the product to be sliced and / or operating data of the Slicing process used to change the position of the rotation axis (5).

Images