EP3456494B1 - Method for operating a disc cutting machine and disc cutting machine for spaced deposition of discs - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a slicing machine for cutting slices of slices from strand-shaped slicing material, preferably food, with a cutting device which comprises a circular knife rotating in a cutting plane around an axis of rotation, driven by an electric circular knife motor, with a support plate for placing the slicing material carrying carriage, which can be moved at a carriage _{speed v S} parallel to the cutting plane, and with a chain of a chain frame operated by means of an electric chain frame motor for transporting cut slices of material to be cut at a transport speed v _T and for placing them on a support table or a conveyor belt, whereby before the start of the cutting operation a number n≥2 of strands of material to be cut are placed parallel to each other on the support plate with their strand axes aligned in the direction of the cutting plane, so that during a carriage stroke one Number of n slices of material to be cut is cut from the n strands of material to be cut.

A slicing machine for such a process is known from US Pat EP 2 522 474 B1 known.

The material to be cut in electrically operated slicing machines for string-shaped food, such as sausages, ham, salmon, cheese, etc., is moved against the cutting device, usually in an x-direction perpendicular to the cutting plane, in which a rotating circular knife revolves. The conveyed material to be cut is cut into slices by the circular knife.

It is possible and quite common to place two, three or more strands of cut material, for example sausage or cheese strings, next to one another on the support plate of the carriage. In this way, several slices of material to be sliced can be cut with a single stroke of the slide, which increases the effective cutting performance of the slicing machine many times over.

The slices of material to be cut are placed one after the other on the support table or on the conveyor belt by means of the chain frame, in particular an offshoot of the chain frame.

In particular, if the slices of slices are to be processed further, for example when wrapping asparagus stalks with ham slices or when filling rolled-up sausage slices with cream cheese, the slices of slices must always be slightly spaced from one another.

If different types of material to be cut are cut, it is also desirable that the slices of material to be cut are deposited in single-type, spaced-apart rows of slices.

For packaging slices of material to be cut in, for example, deep-drawn packaging, it is also desirable to stack several slices of material to be cut on spaced-apart stacks before they are transported away for packaging.

For this reason, spacer devices for the strands of material to be cut are already known from the prior art, so that the slices of slices can be placed next to one another in several rows of slices and spaced apart with an adjustable slice spacing.

From the quoted at the beginning EP 2 522 474 B1 a relatively complex line spreading device is known, which is arranged in the area of the storage table or the conveyor belt and spreads the distance between two slices of slices placed next to one another. Such a solution, however, requires a lot of space and often only leads to unsatisfactory results. For example, in the case of rectangular slices of slices, slices of slices of slices transported laterally from their desired target position cannot be avoided.

If a spacer device is to be provided on the slide, space problems have so far resulted, among other things, by which the number of strands of material to be cut at the same time is severely restricted and / or only narrow strands of material to be cut can be cut.

A further disadvantage of the known solutions is that the spacer devices often have to be set to the desired pane spacing in a very complex manner and / or only have a very narrow adjustment range for the pane spacing.

Processes for cutting strands of material to be cut with the aim of producing several rows of material to be cut at a distance from one another, in which disc cutting machines of the known type described above are used, have therefore likewise only led to correspondingly unsatisfactory results so far.

In contrast, the object of the present invention is to provide a generic method of the type defined at the outset and a corresponding slicing machine in a cost-effective manner and with readily available technical means. This is intended to make it possible, in particular in a reproducible, operationally reliable and particularly simple manner to deposit slices of material to be sliced that are spaced apart from one another with a defined slice spacing. The slide and the chain frame should be able to be controlled automatically by the disk cutting machine.

• dass die momentane Schlittengeschwindigkeit v_S(t) des Schlittens eine vorgebbar steuerbare Funktion der Zeit t ist, die jeweils nach dem vollständigen Abschneiden einer einzelnen Schneidgutscheibe aus dem entsprechenden Schneidgutstrang während eines nachfolgenden Zeitintervalls der Zeitdauer Δt auf die momentane Schlittengeschwindigkeit vs(t)=vs-Avs abgebremst wird;
  und/oder
• dass die momentane Transportgeschwindigkeit v_T(t) des Kettenrahmens eine vorgebbar steuerbare Funktion der Zeit t ist, die jeweils nach dem vollständigen Abschneiden einer einzelnen Schneidgutscheibe aus dem entsprechenden Schneidgutstrang während eines nachfolgenden Zeitintervalls der Zeitdauer Δt auf die momentane Transportgeschwindigkeit v_T(t)=v_T+Δv_T erhöht wird;
• und dass jeweils nach Ablauf des Zeitintervalls der Zeitdauer Δt die momentane Schlittengeschwindigkeit des Schlittens wieder auf vs(t)=vs beschleunigt und/oder die momentane Transportgeschwindigkeit des Kettenrahmens wieder auf v_T(t)=v_T abgebremst wird
• und dass unmittelbar vor oder nach dem Auflegen der n Schneidgutstränge auf die Auflageplatte die Anzahl n, die Breite der Schneidgutstränge sowie der gewünschte Abstand zwischen den nacheinander abgeschnittenen Schneidgutscheiben auf dem Kettenrahmen an eine Steuervorrichtung übermittelt wird, welche daraus den Beginn und das Ende eines jeden Zeitintervalls der Zeitdauer Δt, die erforderliche verminderte momentane Schlittengeschwindigkeit vs(t)=vs-Avs sowie gegebenenfalls die erforderliche erhöhte momentane Transportgeschwindigkeit v_T=v_T+Δv_T des Kettenrahmens berechnet und die betreffenden bewegten Teile der Scheibenschneidemaschine entsprechend ansteuert.

This problem is solved in a technically particularly simple and surprisingly effective way by a generic method, which is characterized by

• that the current slide _{speed v S} (t) of the slide is a predeterminable, controllable function of the time t, which, after the complete cutting of a single slice of sliced material from the corresponding sliced material strand, changes to the current slide speed vs (t) = vs -Avs is slowed down;
  and or
• that the current transport speed v _T (t) of the chain frame is a predeterminable controllable function of the time t, the in each case after the complete cutting off of an individual slice of material to be cut from the corresponding strand of material to be cut, the time period Δt is increased to the current transport speed v _T (t) = v _T + Δv _T during a subsequent time interval;
• and that after the time interval of the duration Δt has elapsed, the current slide speed of the slide is accelerated again to vs (t) = vs and / or the current transport speed of the chain frame is decelerated _{again to v T} (t) = v _T
• and that immediately before or after the n strands of material to be cut are placed on the support plate, the number n, the width of the strands of material to be cut and the desired distance between the successively cut slices of cut material on the chain frame is transmitted to a control device, which uses it to determine the start and end of each time interval the time duration Δt, the required reduced current slide speed vs (t) = vs-Avs and, if applicable, the required increased current transport _{speed v T} = v _T + Δv _{T of} the chain frame is calculated and the relevant moving parts of the disk cutting machine are controlled accordingly.

In this case, depending on the choice of the above alternatives, Δt · v _{T can} correspond to the desired lateral distance between two adjacent cut slices of slices on the chain of the chain frame.

The invention is based on the knowledge, which in retrospect appears quite plausible but has never been used consistently, that the chain frame is cut off _{by varying the current slide speed v S} (t) and / or by varying the current transport _{speed v T (t)} Slices can be placed at different positions on the chain or subsequently on the storage table or the conveyor belt. Thus, by varying these parameters, the distance between the panes can each be set to a desired level.

It should be noted that in practice the slide due to its mass and the chain of the chain frame due to the construction of the drive have a certain inertia. As a result, in the prior art, too, the carriage speed and the transport speed of the chain frame are functions of time, since the carriage and chain are each accelerated and braked. In the prior art, however, the carriage speed v _S (t) and the transport speed v _T (t) of the chain frame are synchronized. The present invention eliminates precisely this synchronization of the carriage speed v _s (t) and the transport speed v _T (t) of the chain frame, which is desired and considered necessary in the prior art.

Without the need for a separate spacer device, the desired result - slices spaced apart from one another with a predeterminable slice distance - can be achieved particularly easily and inexpensively by particularly skillful control of the slicing machine.

In particular, neither spacing devices nor complicated spreading devices or the like are required. The space available on the support plate of the carriage for placing the material to be cut is already completely available for the material to be cut. Various types of food, especially with different shapes their strands of material to be cut can be changed without any problems, as all the necessary settings can be electronically controlled.

With the method according to the invention it is possible that only the current carriage speed v _S (t) is varied, or that only the current transport speed v _T (t) is varied or that both the current carriage speed v _S (t) and the current transport speed v _T (t) can be varied.

The instantaneous transport _{speed v T} (t) can be varied, in particular adjusted, by accelerating or decelerating the chain frame motor.

The slicing machine can also have a separate carriage motor for driving the carriage. _{The instantaneous slide speed v S} (t) can then be varied, in particular adjusted, by accelerating or braking the slide motor.

To set the distance between the slices, at least one thickness of a strand of material to be cut can also be _{taken into account when selecting the speed levels Δv S} , Δv _T and / or the duration Δt.

The method according to the invention can be used regardless of the shape of the strands of material to be cut. In particular, the method can also be used successfully with non-cylindrical strands of material to be cut.

1. (a) Auflegen einer Anzahl n≥2 von Schneidgutsträngen mit ihren in Richtung auf die Schneidebene ausgerichteten Strangachsen parallel nebeneinander auf die Auflageplatte in einer Ausgangs-Betriebsstellung;
2. (b) Anfahren des Kettenrahmens auf eine momentane Transportgeschwindigkeit v_T(t)=v_T;
3. (c) Beschleunigen des Schlittens parallel zur Schneidebene auf eine momentane Schlittengeschwindigkeit vs(t)=vs sowie Abschneiden der ersten Scheibe des ersten Schneidgutstrangs;
4. (d) sobald die erste Scheibe des ersten Schneidgutstrangs vollständig abgeschnitten ist:
   • Abbremsen der momentanen Schlittengeschwindigkeit auf v_S(t)=v_S-Δv_S und/oder
   • Erhöhen der momentanen Transportgeschwindigkeit des Kettenrahmens auf v_T(t)=v_T+Δv_T
   • für die Dauer eines Zeitintervalls Δt;
5. (e) nach Ablauf des Zeitintervalls Δt:
   • Beschleunigen des Schlittens auf die momentane
   • Schlittengeschwindigkeit v_S(t)=v_S und/oder Abbremsen der momentanen Transportgeschwindigkeit des Kettenrahmens auf v_T(t)=v_T;
6. (f) Wiederholen der Schritte (d) und (e) für die übrigen n-1 Schneidgutstränge;
7. (g) Zurückfahren des Schlittens in seine Ausgangs-Betriebsstellung; und
8. (h) Wiederholen der Schritte (c) bis (g) solange, bis für alle n Schneidgutstränge eine gewünschte Anzahl an abgeschnittenen Schneidgutscheiben erreicht ist.

In particular, the method can include the following steps:

1. (a) placing a number n≥2 of strands of material to be cut with their strand axes aligned in the direction of the cutting plane parallel next to one another on the support plate in an initial operating position;
2. (b) moving the chain frame to an instantaneous transport speed v _T (t) = v _T ;
3. (c) Accelerating the carriage parallel to the cutting plane to an instantaneous carriage speed vs (t) = vs and cutting off the first slice of the first strand of material to be cut;
4. (d) as soon as the first slice of the first strand of material has been cut off completely:
   • Decelerate the current slide speed _{to v S} (t) = v _{S -Δv S} and / or
   • Increase the current transport speed of the chain frame to v _T (t) = v _T + Δv _T
   • for the duration of a time interval Δt;
5. (e) after the time interval Δt has elapsed:
   • Accelerate the sled to the momentary
   • Carriage speed v _S (t) = v _S and / or braking the current transport speed of the chain frame to v _T (t) = v _T ;
6. (f) repeating steps (d) and (e) for the remaining n-1 strands of material to be cut;
7. (g) returning the slide to its starting operating position; and
8. (h) Repeat steps (c) to (g) until a desired number of cut-off slices of material to be cut has been reached for all n strands of material to be cut.

Thus, in particular on the storage table, stacks of slices spaced apart from one another or, preferably on the conveyor belt, rows of disks spaced apart from one another, each with the desired Number of cut slices of slices per row of slices can be generated.

The current power consumption of the electric circular blade motor can be measured permanently by means of a current measuring device. When the power consumption falls below a typical level for a cutting process or when a predefined limit current value is reached, step (d) can then be automatically initiated for the respective strand of material to be cut.

This procedure is based on the fact, known from our own investigations, that the power consumption, especially when the supply voltage is constant or essentially constant, the power consumption of the (electrical) circular knife motor depends on the current length of the current cutting line on the circular knife. The cutting line can in turn be used as an indicator for the current cutting position within a strand of material to be cut. For example, it can be expected that in the case of a cylindrical strand of material to be cut, the power consumption initially increases up to the middle of the strand (cutting line becomes longer) and then falls again to a minimum (cutting line that becomes shorter). This minimum, a power consumption typical for a cutting process and / or reaching a predefined limit current value can thus be detected and used as an indicator to determine whether or when a strand of material to be cut is completely cut through and thus a slice is completely cut off.

As the speed level Δv _S , Δv _S = v _S can be selected, with the current slide speed for the duration of each time interval Δt v _S is braked to zero in each case, and the current slide speed v _S (t) is accelerated again to vs (t) = vs after the time interval Δt has elapsed. It can thus be provided that the carriage stands still for a moment or "waits" at the boundary between two strands of material to be cut before the cutting process is continued. During the waiting time, the chain frame can be moved further so that the desired distance between the panes is again achieved.

A slice spacing that is constant for all rows of slices can be achieved if the duration Δt is selected to be less than the time required to completely cut off a slice of slice from the strand of sliced material with the smallest cross section.

Intuitive and fast input of the data required for control is made possible by entering the number n and the width of the strands of material to be cut by manually approaching the respective strand position relative to the cutting edge of the circular knife at the respective starting positions of the n strands of material to be cut for the cutting process to be carried out and by transmitting the each position reached is effected to the control device.

If, for example, three strands of material to be cut are lying next to one another on the support plate of the carriage, the beginning of the first strand of material to be cut can be picked up by manually moving to the first starting position. By approaching the starting position of the second strand of cut material, the starting position of the second strand of cut material and the end position of the first strand of material to be cut. When the third strand of material to be cut is approached, the initial position of the third strand of cut material and the end position of the second strand of cut material can be recorded. It can be taken into account here that the third strand of material to be cut can rest against a wall of the carriage and thus the end position of the third strand of material to be cut can be known from the outset. It therefore does not need to be specifically approached.

The scope of the invention also includes a slicing machine for carrying out the method according to the invention with a cutting device which comprises a circular knife rotating in a cutting plane around an axis of rotation, with a carriage carrying a support plate for placing the material to be cut, which runs at a carriage speed v _S parallel to the cutting plane E can be moved, and with a chain frame operated by means of a chain frame motor for the removal of cut slices of material to be cut at a transport speed v _T and for storage on a storage table or a conveyor belt, a control device being present which sets the beginning and the end of each time interval of the time period Δt, the current slide speed v _S and the current transport speed v _{T of} the chain frame controls. The slicing machine is designed in such a way that immediately before or after the placing of n sliced material strands on the support plate, the number n, the width of the sliced material strands as well as the desired distance between the successively cut slices on the chain frame can be transmitted to the control device, which starts from this and the end of each time interval of the time period Δt, the required reduced current slide speed vs (t) = vs-Avs as well if necessary, can calculate the required increased current transport speed v _T (t) = v _T + Δv _{T of} the chain frame and control the relevant moving parts of the disk cutting machine accordingly. The method according to the invention can be carried out without problems on such a slicing machine. It thus enables cut slices of slices to be deposited at a predeterminable, desired lateral distance.

• (b) Anfahren des Kettenrahmens auf eine momentane Transportgeschwindigkeit v_T(t)=v_T nach Auflegen einer Anzahl n≥2 von Schneidgutsträngen;
• (c) Beschleunigen des Schlitte -12a- I zur Schneidebene auf eine momentane Schlittengeschwindigkeit v_S(t)=v_S sowie Abschneiden der ersten Scheibe des ersten Schneidgutstrangs;
• (d) sobald die erste Scheibe des ersten Schneidgutstrangs vollständig abgeschnitten ist:
  Abbremsen der momentanen Schlittengeschwindigkeit auf v_S(t)=v_S-Δv_S und/oder Erhöhen der momentanen Transportgeschwindigkeit des Kettenrahmens auf v_T(t)=v_T+Δv_T für die Dauer eines Zeitintervalls Δt;
• (e) nach Ablauf des Zeitintervalls Δt:
  Beschleunigen des Schlittens auf die momentane Schlittengeschwindigkeit vs(t)=vs und/oder Abbremsen der momentanen Transportgeschwindigkeit des Kettenrahmens auf v_T(t)=v_T;
• (f) Wiederholen der Schritte (d) und (e) für die übrigen n-1 Schneidgutstränge;
• (g) Zurückfahren des Schlittens in seine Ausgangs-Betriebsstellung; und
• (h) Wiederholen der Schritte (c) bis (g) solange, bis für alle n Schneidgutstränge eine gewünschte Anzahl an abgeschnittenen Schneidgutscheiben erreicht ist.

In particular, the control device can be designed in such a way that it enables at least the following method steps:

• (b) moving the chain frame to an instantaneous transport _{speed v T} (t) = v _T after placing a number n≥2 of strands of material to be cut;
• (c) Accelerating the carriage -12a- I to the cutting plane to an instantaneous carriage speed v _S (t) = v _S and cutting off the first slice of the first strand of material to be cut;
• (d) as soon as the first slice of the first strand of material has been cut off completely:
  Decelerating the current slide _{speed to v S} (t) = v _{S -Δv S} and / or increasing the current transport speed of _{the chain frame to v T} (t) = v _T + Δv _T for the duration of a time interval Δt;
• (e) after the time interval Δt has elapsed:
  Accelerating the carriage to the current carriage speed vs (t) = vs and / or braking the current transport speed of the chain frame to v _T (t) = v _T ;
• (f) repeating steps (d) and (e) for the remaining n-1 strands of material to be cut;
• (g) returning the slide to its starting operating position; and
• (h) Repeat steps (c) to (g) until a desired number of cut-off slices of material to be cut has been reached for all n strands of material to be cut.

For this purpose, the control device can be designed as a computing unit or have a computing unit on which a computer program product is stored in an executable manner.

It can be provided that the slicing machine has a sensor device for detecting the current slide position relative to the axis of rotation of the rotating circular knife and / or for detecting the current cutting state of the strand of material that was last in contact with the circular knife. In particular, the sensor device can be connected to the control device in terms of data. The current slide position can thus be determined. The point in time at which an end of a strand of material to be cut has been reached can be determined via the cutting state. Thus, the current slide speed v _S (t) and / or the current transport speed v _T (t) can be controlled on the basis of the measurement data of the sensor device.

As inexpensive, readily available and precisely working sensors, the sensor device can comprise an incremental rotary encoder and / or an absolute displacement sensor and / or a magnetic field sensor, preferably a Hall sensor.

A sensor system that works particularly reliably can be achieved if the sensor device comprises a mechanical, in particular an electromechanical switch, which is preferably designed as a roller switch or as a contact switch.

The thickness of the cut slices of material to be sliced can be adjusted if there is a stop plate arranged parallel to the cutting plane and displaceable in an x-direction, in particular along the axis of rotation, for adjusting the slice thickness.

The slicing machine can preferably be designed as a vertical cutter.

The data required for placing the slices can be entered particularly easily if the slicing machine according to the invention comprises an operator terminal in which the operator can enter the number n, the width of the sliced goods and their distance from one another, preferably through a guided operator menu. With regard to the hygiene requirements that usually exist for slicing machines, the operating terminal can in particular be a touch display unit that can preferably be washed and / or disinfected. If the slicing machine is set up to automatically determine the width of the goods to be cut, the control terminal can also be set up in such a way that the operator only enters the number n and the desired distance.

In any case, to accelerate and simplify the inputs, it is also conceivable that typical data records, for example a standard number, a standard width and / or a standard spacing and / or combinations of these data records, can be selected on the operator terminal. In particular, it is conceivable that a standard setting provides that all strands of material to be cut have the same thickness and / or that different thicknesses of the strands of material to be cut are only provided if these different thicknesses are explicitly entered by the operator.

Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the figures of the drawing, which show details essential to the invention, and from the claims.

The individual features can each be implemented individually or collectively in any combination in the case of variants of the invention.

Fig. 1

eine schematische räumliche Darstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Scheibenschneidemaschine in perspektivischer Ansicht von schräg oben;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Darstellung der Scheibenschneidemaschine der Fig. 1 in einer Grundstellung in Draufsicht von oben;

Fign. 3 bis 9

schematische Darstellungen der erfindungsgemäßen Scheibenschneidemaschine sowie einer Detailansicht des Kettenrahmens in verschiedenen Phasen des Scheibenschnitts jeweils als Draufsichten von oben; und

Fig. 10

eine schematische Fluss-Darstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

In the schematic drawing, exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown, which are explained in more detail in the following description. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic three-dimensional representation of a slicing machine according to the invention in a perspective view obliquely from above;

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of the slicing machine of Fig. 1 in a basic position in plan view from above;

Figs. 3 to 9

schematic representations of the disk cutting machine according to the invention and a detailed view of the chain frame in different phases of the disk cut, each as top views from above; and

Fig. 10

a schematic flow diagram of the method according to the invention.

To make the invention easier to understand, elements of the disk cutting machine according to the invention and the steps of the method according to the invention are each identified with the same reference numerals in the following, as far as possible, in all figures.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an electrically operated slicing machine 1 with a cutting device 2, which is designed as a vertical cutter. The disk cutting machine 1 comprises a circular knife 3 rotating in a cutting plane E about an axis of rotation X. The circular knife is driven by a circular knife motor 3 ' (see also FIG Fig. 2 ) driven. Next 1, the disk cutter a a platen 4 carrying the placing of the cut slide 5, which is provided with a carriage speed v _S parallel to the cutting plane E moved, and a 'operated by means of a chain framework motor 6 chain frame 6 for the removal of cut product to be cut slices with a transport speed v _T and for storage on a conveyor belt 7 ' or a storage table 7 " .

For reasons of illustration, only a section of the conveyor belt 7 'and the depositing table 7 "are shown. If it is not desired to transport cut slices of slices through the conveyor belt 7', only the depositing table 7", without a conveyor belt 7 ', can be formed on the slicing machine 1 . If no conveyor belt 7 'is used, the storage table 7 ″ can have a preferably flat storage surface for cut-off slices of material to be cut.

The chain frame 6 has a _{chain rotating at the transport speed v T} , on which the cut slices of material to be cut can be transported to their storage location. The chain is driven by the chain frame motor 6 ', so that the transport speed v _{T can also be} controlled or adjusted by controlling the chain frame motor 6'.

The carriage 5 is driven by a carriage motor 5 '. By controlling the carriage motor 5 ', the carriage speed v _S can thus be controlled.

The slicing machine 1 also has a control device 8 , which is designed as a computer unit and on which a computer program product is stored in an executable manner in a memory unit of the computer unit. The computer program product is set up to use the method according to the invention described in greater detail below (see in particular the description relating to Fig. 10 ) to control or implement. For this purpose, the control device 8 is in particular electrically connected to the carriage motor 5 'and the chain frame motor 6'.

The slicing machine 1 can also include a sensor device 9 with two sensor components 9 ' and 9 " . The sensor component 9' is designed as a current measuring device and measures the current power consumption of the circular knife motor 3 ' 3 is detected. For this purpose, the points in time at which the current consumption falls below a predetermined limit value and the points in time from which this current consumption exceeds the limit value (possibly again) are detected by the sensor component 9 ' -Sensor with which it records or detects the current slide position of the slide 5 relative to the axis of rotation X of the rotating circular knife 3. It also includes a contact switch positioned at one end of the slide path of the slide 5, which are set up to signal that the carriage 5 has reached an absolute start or end position.

Furthermore, the slicing machine 1 has a stop plate 10 with which the thickness of the slices to be cut can be adjusted. For this purpose, the stop plate 10 is arranged parallel to the cutting plane E and can be displaced or adjusted in the x direction, ie parallel to the axis of rotation X.

The slicing machine 1, in particular the control device 8, also has an operating terminal 11 with a keypad 11 ' and a display unit 11 " . The operating terminal 11 is used to input and transmit the information required for a cutting process to the control device 8 Enter the number n, the width (n) of items to be cut, in particular strands of items to be cut, and a desired lateral distance at which the slices of cut item are to be placed at a distance from one another. The user is supported by an operator menu shown on the display unit 11 ″.

Based on Figures 2 to 10 The mode of operation or the operation of the slicing machine 1 and the method according to the invention for operating the slicing machine 1 will now be explained in more detail below.

These are in the following Figures 2 , 3 , 5 , 7 and 9 highly schematic representations of the slicing machine 1 shown in a plan view in different phases of the method according to the invention.

In addition, they show Figures 4, 6 , 8th also highly schematic representations of detailed views in particular of the chain frame 6 in the respective Fig. 3, 5 and 7th appropriate phases. In particular shows Fig. 4 section IV of the Fig. 3, Fig. 6 the section VI of the Fig. 5 and Fig. 8 section VII of the Fig. 8 .

Fig. 10 shows a flow chart of the method according to the invention with the method steps a to h defined above.

In a first process step a ( Fig. 10 ) will be like in the Fig. 2 a number n of at least 2, three in the example shown, strands of material to be cut 12 ', 12 " and 12 ‴ with their strand axes 13', 13" and 13 ‴ aligned in the direction of the cutting plane E parallel to one another on the support plate 4 in a starting Operating position applied.

Slices of material to be sliced are now to be cut from these strands of material to be cut 12 ', 12 "and 12 by means of the cutting device 2, in particular the circular knife 3 driven by the circular knife motor 3', and placed with a desired lateral distance on the chain frame 6 and then on the support table 7 'or the Conveyor belt 7 "are deposited. It is

For this purpose, the carriage 5 is to be moved with a maximum carriage stroke s, which results from the total width of the strands of material to be cut 12 ', 12 "and 12''.

As part of process step a, an operator gives immediately before or after placing the n = 3 strands of material to be cut 12 ', 12 "and 12 ‴ on the support plate 4 the number n, the widths of the strands of cut material 12 ', 12 "and 12 ‴ as well as the desired lateral distance between the successively cut slices of cut material on the chain frame 6 on the control terminal 11, which transmits this data to the control device 8. As before will be explained in more detail later, this calculates from this the data required for the spacing of the cut slices of material to be cut and controls the relevant moving parts of the slicing machine 1 accordingly.

While in this variant the widths are entered manually and the maximum slide stroke s is calculated from their sum, a further variant of the method according to the invention provides that the operator controls the slide according to the lateral beginning or end of a strand of material to be cut 12 ', 12 "or 12 ‴ moves relative to a cutting edge of the circular knife 3 up to this and stops the movement briefly. The control device 8 then detects the stopping via the sensor device 9 and determines the width of the respective strand of material to be cut 12 ', 12 "based on the measured position of the carriage. or 12 ‴, so that there is no need to enter them manually. The maximum slide stroke s results from the first start position and the last end position reached.

In a subsequent process step b ( Fig. 10 ) the control device 8 drives the chain frame motor 6 'and thus the chain frame 6 at a standard preset transport speed v _T , so that it is moved at an instantaneous transport speed v _T (t) = v _T. The circular knife 3 is started.

Then in a process step c ( Fig. 10 ) the carriage 5 is accelerated by means of the carriage motor 5 'parallel to the cutting plane E to an instantaneous carriage speed vs (t) = vs, where v _S also corresponds to a speed preset by default.

A first disk 14 ‴ is - as in Fig. 3 as well as in the detailed view according to Fig. 4 can be seen - cut off from the strand of material to be cut 12 ‴, while the other two strands of material to be cut 12 ″ and 12 'are still uncut.

In particular from the Fig. 4 it can be seen that the cut disk 14 ‴ reaches the chain frame 6.

As soon as the first slice 14 ‴ of the first strand of material to be cut 12 ‴ is completely cut off, in a subsequent process step d ( Fig. 10 ) the carriage 5 stopped briefly. In other words, the current slide speed v _S (t) of the slide 5 is decelerated _{to v S} (t) = v _{S -Δv S} = 0 with v _S = Δv _S for a short time interval Δt.

In this variant of the method, the time interval Δt is selected to be smaller than the time required to completely cut off a slice of material from that strand of material 12 ', 12 "or 12' with the smallest cross-section is calculated as a function of, and in this variant of the method in particular as a quotient from, the desired lateral distance and the transport speed v _T.

During the stop of the carriage 5, the chain _{frame continues to run at the transport speed v T} , so that the disk 14 ‴ located on it is transported further by the desired lateral distance.

After the time interval Δt has elapsed, a method step e ( Fig. 10 ) the current slide _{speed v S} (t) of the slide 5 is accelerated back to its original slide speed vs (t) = vs.

As in Fig. 10 indicated by the dotted line, process steps d and e are carried out in accordance with process step f ( Fig. 10 ) repeated for the remaining n-1 strands of material to be cut 12 "and 12 ‴.

To show FIGS. 5 and 6 the state of the slicing machine 1 after cutting a slice 14 ″ from the strand 12 ″ at the moment when the carriage 5 starts up again to cut off the last strand 12 ′.

It can be seen in particular from Fig. 6 that the cut slices 14 ″ and 14 ″ are transported on the chain frame 6 spaced apart from one another by a distance eps. The distance eps corresponds to the preset lateral distance desired by the operator.

Figures 7 and 8 show the state of the slicing machine 1 after a last slice 14 'has been cut from the strand 12' of material to be cut. at the moment when the carriage 5 starts up again to cut off the last strand of material to be cut 12 '.

In particular, based on Fig. 8 it can be seen that the cut slices 14 ′, 14 ″ and 14 ‴ are now transported on the chain frame 6 at a distance eps from one another.

Fig. 9 shows a subsequent thereto phase in which by means of a Abschlägers 15, the product to be cut slices have been deposited 14 ', 14 "and 14''' from the track frame 6 onto the conveyor belt 7 '. It can be clearly seen that on the conveyor belt 7', the product to be cut slices 14 ', 14 "and 14 ‴, as desired by the operator, are each stored at a lateral distance eps apart from one another.

Subsequently, in a process step g ( Fig. 10 ) the carriage 5 again in its starting operating position according to the Fig. 1 pulled back.

Process steps c to g are carried out according to process step h ( Fig. 10 ) repeated until a desired number of cut slices 14 ', 14 "and 14 ‴ is reached for all n strands of material to be cut 12', 12" and 12 ‴. In an alternative variant, these steps are repeated until all strands of material to be cut 12 ', 12 "' and 12" are completely cut.

After completion of the cutting process, the control device 8 stops the chain frame 6, the circular knife 3 and the carriage 5 by means of the motors assigned to them.

Now all cut and now spaced-apart slices of slices 14 ', 14 ″ and 14 ‴ are transported away from the slicing machine 1 and / or packed.

A variant of the method according to the invention provides that - especially in the case of narrow strands of material to be cut 12 ', 12 "and 12' ', and / or depending on the position of the cutting edge of the circular knife, the carriage 5 is not moved over the entire, maximum carriage stroke s, but only so far , for example 80% of the maximum slide stroke s that all slices 14 ', 14 "and 14 ‴ are completely severed. For this purpose, it can also be provided that the operator also sets the desired slide stroke s.

Accordingly, a carriage zero position of the carriage 5, in which the material to be cut is placed, can differ from the starting position for the cutting process, in which the first strand of material to be cut 12 'contacts the circular knife 3.

List of reference symbols

1

Slicer

2

Cutting device

3

Circular knife

3 '

Circular knife motor

4th

Support plate

5

sleds

5 '

Carriage motor

6th

Chain frame

6 '

Chain frame motor

7 '

Conveyor belt

7 "

Filing table

8th

Control device

9

Sensor device

9 ', 9 "

Sensor component

10

Stop plate

11

Control terminal

11 '

Display unit

11 "

Keypad

12 ', 12 ", 12 ‴

Strand of material to be cut

13 ', 13 ", 13 ‴

Strand axis

14 ', 14 ", 14 ‴

Slicer

15th

Tee

a to h

Process step

eps

distance

IV, VI, VII

Cutout

E.

Cutting plane

S.

maximum slide stroke

VS

Carriage speed

VT

Transport speed

Claims (14)

1. Method of operating a slicing machine (1) for cutting slices (14', 14", 14‴) from a strand-shaped product to be sliced, preferably food, having a cutting device (2) comprising a circular blade (3) that rotates on a cutting plane (E) about an axis of rotation (x) and is driven by an electric circular blade motor (3'), having a carriage (5) that carries a support plate (4) for placing the product to be sliced and that can be moved at a carriage speed v_s parallel to the cutting plane (E), and having a chain of a chain frame (6) that is driven by an electric chain frame motor (6') for transporting away cut slices of product (14', 14", 14‴) at a transport speed v_T and for depositing them on a receiving table (7") or a conveyor belt (7'), a number n≥2 of strands of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴) being placed parallel to one another on the support plate (4) with their strand axes (13', 13", 13‴) aligned in the direction of the cutting plane (E) before commencement of the slicing operation, so that a number of n slices of product (14', 14", 14‴) are cut from the n strands of product to be sliced (12′, 12", 12‴) in one carriage stroke,
   characterized in that

   the instantaneous carriage speed v_s(t) of the carriage (5) is a specifiably controllable function of the time t that is decreased after each complete cutting of a single slice of product (14', 14", 14‴) from the corresponding strand of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴) during a subsequent time interval of duration Δt to the instantaneous carriage speed v_s(t)=v_s - Δv_s;

   and/or in that the instantaneous transport speed v_T(t) of the chain frame (6) is a specifiably controllable function of the time t that is increased after each complete cutting of a single slice of product (14', 14", 14‴) from the corresponding strand of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴) during a subsequent time interval of duration Δt to the instantaneous transport speed v_T(t)=v_T+Δv_T;

   and in that, once each time interval of duration Δt has elapsed, the instantaneous carriage speed v_s(t) of the carriage (5) is again increased to v_s(t)=v_s and/or the instantaneous transport speed v_T(t) of the chain frame (6) is again decreased to v_T(t)=v_T;

   and in that, immediately prior to or after placement of the n strands of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴) onto the support plate (4), the number n, the width of the strands of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴), and the desired distance (eps) between the successively cut slices (14', 14", 14‴) on the chain frame (6) are sent to a control device (8), which calculates from this the beginning and end of each time interval of the duration Δt, the required reduced instantaneous carriage speed v_s(t)=v_s-Δv_s and, if necessary, the required increased instantaneous transport speed v_T(t)=v_T+Δv_T of the chain frame (6) and controls the respective moving parts of the slicing machine (1) accordingly.
2. Method according to claim 1, comprising at least the following steps:

   (a) placing a number n≥2 of strands of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴) parallel to one another on the support plate (4) in an initial operating position with their strand axes (13', 13", 13‴) aligned in the direction of the cutting plane (E);

   (b) bringing the chain frame (6) to an instantaneous transport speed v_T(t)=v_T;

   (c) accelerating the carriage (5) parallel to the cutting plane (E) to an instantaneous carriage speed v_s(t)=v_s and cutting the first slice (14', 14", 14‴) of the first strand of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴);

   (d) as soon as the first slice (14′, 14", 14‴) of the first strand of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴) has been completely cut:

   decelerating the instantaneous carriage speed v_s(t) to v_s(t)=v_s-Δv_s and/or increasing the instantaneous transport speed v_T(t) of the chain frame (6) to v_T(t)=v_T+Δv_T

   for the duration of a time interval Δt;

   (e) once the time interval Δt has elapsed:

   accelerating the carriage (5) to the instantaneous carriage speed v_s(t)=v_s and/or

   decreasing the instantaneous transport speed v_T(t) of the chain frame (6) to v_t(t)=v_t;

   (f) repeating steps (d) and (e) for the remaining n-1 strands of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴);

   (g) returning the carriage (5) to its initial operating position; and

   (h) repeating steps (c) to (g) until a desired number of cut slices (14', 14", 14‴) have been made for all n strands of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴).
3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that, using a current-measuring device, the instantaneous power consumption of the electric circular blade motor (3') is measured continuously, and in that, if the power consumption falls below a typical level for a slicing operation or if a predefined limit instantaneous value is reached, step (d) is initiated automatically for the relevant strand of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴).
4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that Δv_s=v_s is selected, the instantaneous carriage speed v_s(t) being decreased to zero for the duration of each time interval Δt, and in that the instantaneous carriage speed v_s(t) being increased again to v_s(t)=v_s after the time interval Δt has elapsed.
5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the duration Δt is selected so as to be less than the time required to completely cut a slice of product to be sliced (14', 14", 14‴) from the smallest-diameter strand of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴).
6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number n and the width of the strands of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴) are input by moving manually to the relevant strand position relative to the cutting edge of the circular blade (3) at the respective initial positions of the n strands of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴) for the cutting operation to be performed and by transmitting the respective positions reached to the control device (8).
7. Slicing machine (1) for carrying out the method according to any of the preceding claims, having a cutting device (2) that comprises a circular blade (3) rotating in a cutting plane (E) about an axis of rotation (x), having a carriage (5) that carries a support plate (4) for placing the product to be sliced and that can be moved at a carriage speed v_S parallel to the cutting plane E, and having a chain frame (6) that is driven by means of a chain frame motor (6') for transporting away cut slices (14', 14", 14‴) at a transport speed v_T and for depositing them on a receiving table (7") or a conveyor belt (7'),
   characterized in that
   a control device (8) is provided that controls the start and the end of each time interval of duration Δt, the instantaneous carriage speed v_S(t, and the instantaneous transport speed v_T(t) of the chain frame (6), and in that immediately prior to or after placement of the n strands of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴) onto the support plate (4), the number n, the width of the strands of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴), and the desired distance (eps) between the successively cut slices (14', 14", 14‴) on the chain frame (6) can be transmitted to the control device (8), which calculates from this the beginning and the end of each time interval of duration Δt, the required reduced instantaneous carriage speed v_s(t)=v_s-Δv_s, and, if necessary, the required increased instantaneous transport speed v_t(t)=v_t+Av_t of the chain frame (6) and can control the respective moving parts of the slicing machine (1) accordingly.
8. Slicing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the control device (8) is designed such that it allows at least the following method steps:

   (b) bringing the chain frame to an instantaneous transport speed v_T(t)=v_T after placement of a number n≥2 of strands of product to be sliced;

   (c) accelerating the carriage (5) parallel to the cutting plane (E) to an instantaneous carriage speed v_s(t)=v_s and cutting the first slice (14', 14", 14‴) of the first strand of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴);

   (d) as soon as the first slice (14', 14", 14‴) of the first
   strand of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴) has been completely cut:

   decreasing the instantaneous carriage speed v_s(t) to

   v_s(t)=v_s-Δv_s and/or increasing the instantaneous

   transport speed of the chain frame (6) to

   v_T(t)=v_T+Δv_T for the duration of a time interval Δt;

   (e) once the time interval Δt has elapsed:
   accelerating the carriage (5) to the instantaneous carriage speed v_s(t)=v_s and/or decreasing the instantaneous transport speed of the chain frame (6) to v_T(t)=v_T;

   (f) repeating steps (d) and (e) for the remaining n-1 strands of product to be sliced;

   (g) returning the carriage (5) to its initial operating position; and

   (h) Repeat steps (c) to (g) until a desired number of cut slices has been reached for all n strands of product to be sliced.
9. Slicing machine according to either claim 7 or claim 8, characterized in that the slicing machine (1) has a sensor device (9) for detecting the instantaneous carriage position relative to the axis of rotation (x) of the rotating circular blade (3) and/or for detecting the instantaneous cutting status of the last strand of product to be sliced (12', 12", 12‴) that came into contact with the circular blade (3).
10. Slicing machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the sensor device (9) comprises an incremental rotary encoder and/or an absolute displacement sensor and/or a magnetic field sensor, preferably a Hall sensor.
11. Slicing machine according to either claim 9 or claim 10, characterized in that the sensor device (9) comprises a mechanical, in particular an electromechanical switch that is preferably designed as a roller switch or as a contact switch.
12. Slicing machine according to any of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that a stop plate (10), which is arranged parallel to the cutting plane (E) and can be displaced in the x direction, is provided for adjusting the thickness of the slices.
13. Slicing machine according to any of claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the slicing machine (1) is designed as a vertical slicer.
14. Slicing machine according to any of claims 7 to 13, characterized in that the slicing machine (1) comprises an operating terminal (11) at which the operator can enter the number n, the width(s) of the items to be sliced, and the mutual spacing thereof, preferably using a guided operator menu.

Images