DE102023106017A1 - Slicing machine with clamping flaps - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to reduce the effort required when changing the upper driven product guide (8) in terms of the height of the lower contact run (8.1) or the number of tracks, the individual hold-down units (50.1-50.4) of the upper product guide (8) each consist of a hold-down base (50.1B-50.4B) to which clamping flaps of different heights (50.1C-50.4C) can be quickly and easily attached. Changing the transverse position of the individual hold-down units (50.1-50.4) to change the number of tracks is just as easy as removing the hold-down units (50.1-50.4) from the cutting machine (1) for dismantling and cleaning.

Description

I. Area of application

The invention relates to multi-lane slicing machines, in particular so-called slicers, with which strands of a slightly compressible product such as sausage or cheese are cut into slices in the food industry.

11. Technical background

Since these strands can be produced with a cross-section that retains its shape and dimension over their length, i.e. is essentially constant, they are called product calibers.

In this process, several product calibers arranged parallel to one another on different tracks are cut simultaneously by the same knife, which moves transversely to the longitudinal direction of the product calibers, cutting off one slice at a time in one pass.

The product calibers are transported forward by a feed conveyor of a feed unit in the direction of the knife of the cutting unit, usually on a feed conveyor directed diagonally downwards, usually a driven endlessly rotating feed belt, and are each guided through the product openings of a plate-shaped, so-called cutting frame, at the front end of which the part of the product caliber that protrudes beyond this is separated as a disc by the knife immediately in front of the cutting frame.

The slices usually fall onto a conveyor of a conveyor unit, by means of which they are transported away for further processing.

During slicing, the product calibers are usually held at their rear end facing away from the cutting frame by a gripper, which is equipped with corresponding gripper claws for this purpose.

Due to possible compression or elongation of the calibers, which are often several meters long, there is also a driven upper and/or lower product guide near the cutting unit, each with a controlled, drivable guide belt per track, which rests on the top or bottom of the caliber and feeds it to the cutting unit at the correct speed and step size, while the feed conveyor only provides the rough feed.

To reload the slicer with new product calibers, the feed conveyor can usually be folded down from the inclined slicing position into a horizontal loading position for easier loading.

This can already be done while the rest of the old product calibers are still being cut open - transported and held by the grippers as well as the upper and/or product guide.

Once this has been done, the remaining piece that can no longer be cut is removed from the grippers, which move away from the cutting unit to their starting position at the maximum distance from it, so that when the newly loaded feed conveyor is subsequently swiveled up, the grippers are again behind the rear ends of the new product calibers and can grasp them.

• - bei einer Änderung der Spuranzahl die Spur-separaten, in der Regel oberen, Produkt-Führungen mit verstellt werden müssen,
• - abhängig von der Art, insbesondere der Höhe, der aufzuschneidenden Kaliber unterschiedlich weit mit ihrem Kontakt-Trum nach unten reichende obere Produkt-Führungen eingebaut werden müssen,
• - die Hygiene-Anforderungen sehr hoch sind und ein optimales Reinigen der angetriebenen Produkt-Führungen im eingebauten Zustand schwierig ist,
• - der zwischen Oberseite der Kaliber und dem darüber befindlichen Messer-Antrieb zur Verfügung stehende Bauraum sehr gering ist.

There is the problem that

• - if the number of tracks changes, the track-separate, usually upper, product guides must also be adjusted,
• - depending on the type, in particular the height, of the calibres to be cut, upper product guides must be installed with their contact strands reaching downwards to different distances,
• - the hygiene requirements are very high and optimal cleaning of the driven product guides when installed is difficult,
• - the space available between the top of the caliber and the knife drive above it is very small.

III. Description of the invention

a) Technical task

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a slicing machine, in particular an upper product guide, which is able to counteract the problems mentioned and, despite its simple construction, requires a small number of different components and enables rapid installation and removal, in particular for the purpose of cleaning, as well as a method for operating such a slicing machine.

b) Solution to the task

This object is achieved by the features of claims 1 and 12. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

• - eine Schneideinheit mit einem rotierenden Messer,
• - eine Zufuhreinheit zum Zuführen von mehreren, in einer ersten Querrichtung nebeneinander angeordneten Kalibern in einer zu Zufuhr-Richtung zu der Schneideinheit,
• - eine Steuerung zur Steuerung beweglicher Teile dieser -Aufschneide-Maschine.

A generic multi-lane slicing machine, in particular a slicer, has several components, namely

• - a cutting unit with a rotating knife,
• - a feed unit for feeding a plurality of calibers arranged next to one another in a first transverse direction in a feed direction to the cutting unit,
• - a control system for controlling moving parts of this slicing machine.

The feed unit comprises a lower support, in particular in the form of a lower endlessly rotating feed belt on which the calibers rest, as well as at least one upper, driven, so-called product guide, which serves near the cutting unit as a hold-down device for holding the caliber down and transporting it forward into the cutting unit and has at least one upper drivable, endless, rotating hold-down belt, the downward-facing contact strand of which engages with the upper side of the caliber.

According to the invention, such an upper product guide acting as a hold-down device has a plurality of hold-down units arranged next to one another in the first transverse direction for holding down usually one caliber each, which are independently adjustable to adapt to the product caliber currently to be cut.

Each hold-down unit comprises a hold-down base and a clamping flap which is movably and detachably attached thereto and which can in particular be pivoted about an axis running in the transverse direction, as well as a drivable hold-down belt which runs around the hold-down base and the clamping flap.

This has the advantage that in order to adapt to the caliber to be cut, the entire hold-down unit does not have to be changed, but only a clamping flap suitable for the next caliber product has to be attached to the hold-down base.

A typical problem is product calibers with such a low height - measured in the second transverse direction to the feed direction, which is perpendicular to the first transverse direction and the feed direction - that this is less than the height of the grippers that hold the calibers at the rear end.

If the caliber is then cut open except for a caliber residue, the gripper cannot move under the contact strand of the hold-down belt because it is too high for that.

This problem can be solved by not extending the entire length of the hold-down belt, but only in the last downstream part of the length of the hold-down belt as a contact run on the caliber and in the upstream part the lower run of the hold-down belt runs at such a distance from the top of the caliber that the gripper can move in underneath it.

Although this reduces the length of the contact strand, which should be as long as possible for reasons of traction and prevention of slippage as well as protection of the product of the caliber, it is the only way to cut such low calibers down to a residual piece that is shorter than the entire length of the hold-down band.

However, to date, this has required the entire hold-down units to be replaced and, since more than two versions of hold-down units usually have to be stocked, this has resulted in a large number of components having to be manufactured and kept in stock.

According to the invention, however, only the clamping flap, which is less than half the size of the entire hold-down unit, needs to be stored and replaced if necessary.

Preferably, the hold-down belts of the hold-down units are all driven by a common drive shaft, so they can only be operated together and synchronously, with the drive shaft freely projecting transversely from a base body of the hold-down in the transverse direction in the direction of the operator side.

Preferably, the hold-down units, in particular their respective hold-down base, can be pushed onto the free end of the drive shaft, preferably with the hold-down base.

The drive shaft drives the hold-down band by a drive sleeve being rotatably mounted in the hold-down unit, in particular the hold-down base, which, after being plugged onto the drive shaft, is connected to it in a rotationally fixed manner, in particular by the inner circumference of the drive sleeve being connected to the outer circumference of the drive shaft, preferably in a form-fitting manner.

This means that the hold-down units can not only be easily mounted and dismantled by sliding them on or off the drive shaft, but also the transverse positioning required for the respective work order, especially depending on the number of tracks. The position of the hold-down units can be easily adjusted.

Preferably, the hold-down base has at least one deflection roller for the hold-down band remote from the knife and the tensioning flap has at least one deflection roller close to the knife.

Preferably, the deflection roller remote from the knife, in particular the deflection roller furthest from the knife, is connected to the drive sleeve in a rotationally fixed manner or is completely or partially identical to it.

Since the hold-down band can only be removed from the hold-down unit for changing or cleaning when it is relaxed in the axial direction of the deflection rollers, regardless of whether the hold-down unit is in the machine or has already been completely removed, the tensioning flap can be moved back and forth, in particular pivoted back and forth, relative to the hold-down base between a position that tensions the hold-down band, in which the two deflection rollers furthest apart are usually the greatest distance from each other, and a loose position in which these two deflection rollers are very close to each other.

If necessary, the clamping flap can even be released from the hold-down base in this loose position without removing the hold-down band from the base.

This is because the tensioning flap, which has a pivot axis physically designed as a pivot pin, is preferably removably received with this physical pivot axis in a groove of a flap carrier which is part of the hold-down base, and can be pivoted about this pivot axis relative to the flap carrier between the tensioning and the loose position even when the physical pivot axis is received in the groove.

Preferably, the groove is open towards the front in the feed direction, i.e. pointing in the feed direction, so that the pivot pin can be inserted from there against the feed direction, which requires only little space when the clamping flap is pivoted into the loose position.

Preferably, the groove has an undercut cross-section and the physical pivot axis, such as the pivot pin, has a larger diameter than the free opening of the groove. Since the legs that delimit this groove are somewhat elastic - preferably because the entire flap carrier is made of a somewhat elastic material, preferably plastic - the tensioning flap can be pressed into the groove with the pivot pin against the feed direction and thus locks into the groove in a captive manner, so that further work steps such as bringing the tape into the position that tensions the tape can be carried out easily.

Preferably, in order to secure the tensioning flap in the tensioning pivot position, the latter has a recess away from its pivot axis, which in the tensioning pivot position points backwards with its open side against the feed direction, so that in this pivot position, which tensions the band, a securing bolt, which is displaceably received in the flap carrier or the rest of the hold-down base, can be displaced into this recess and is also pre-tensioned in this direction, thereby securing the tensioning flap in the tensioning pivot position.

This prevents the clamping flap from accidentally moving into the loose position while the machine is in operation.

In order to remove or attach hold-down units to the free end of the drive shaft, this must be freely accessible.

As an additional safeguard against unintentional removal, a locking lever is provided which can be pivoted in a radial plane perpendicular to the direction of the drive shaft in front of the free end of the drive shaft about a pivot axis running parallel to the axial direction of the drive shaft, i.e. usually in the first transverse direction.

In a closed position, the locking lever is in such a pivoting position that the free end of the drive shaft is not freely accessible but is covered by the locking lever.

In a first open position, the locking lever assumes a pivoting position such that the free end of the drive shaft is freely accessible so that a hold-down unit can be pulled off the drive shaft.

Preferably, the locking lever itself has a safety feature against unintentional pivoting, in particular in that it can be displaced along its pivot axis, i.e. generally in the first transverse direction, after a locking screw running in this direction has been loosened.

By spacing its lever base, the locking lever pivots in a radial plane in front of the free end of the drive shaft, and by providing an opening in the locking lever at the appropriate distance from its pivot axis, The locking lever can be placed in the corresponding swivel position with this opening on the free end of the drive shaft and secured again in this axial position by, for example, screwing the locking screw into the lever base, which results in a very simply constructed and easy to control safety mechanism.

In order to also secure the hold-down units in the correct axial positions along the drive shaft, a locking bar is provided which runs parallel to the drive shaft, i.e. preferably also in the first transverse direction, and has positioning recesses on the hold-down side facing the hold-down units, into which the positioning extensions of the individual hold-down units can engage with precision.

The locking bar is attached at one end to the locking lever, but preferably away from its pivot axis, and is pivoted with the locking lever when it is pivoted. In the closed position of the locking lever, in which it secures the free end of the drive shaft by covering it, in particular by plugging it in, the locking bar with its positioning recesses engages with the positioning extensions of the hold-down units and secures their axial position in the transverse direction.

There can be more positioning recesses than hold-down units in order to be able to adapt them to different operating situations, for example for 2-track, 3-track or 4-track operation of the machine.

The locking bar or its positioning recesses are dimensioned in such a way that they do not disengage from the positioning extensions when the locking lever has already moved from its closed position to a first open position in which the free end of the drive shaft is already released. This first open position can also be a pivoting range of the locking lever instead of a single specific pivoting position.

Since the hold-down belts not only have to be driven in the direction of rotation, but also have to be pressed with their contact strand against the top of the caliber with a sufficient contact pressure - which is done by pivoting the entire hold-down unit about its pivot axis, usually the drive sleeve - each hold-down unit is assigned a contact pressure unit and can be operatively connected to it.

Each pressing unit has a pressing drive for applying pressure to one hold-down unit in the pressing direction. The multiple pressing units are, like the hold-down units, spaced apart in the transverse direction and can be adjusted independently of one another in the transverse direction.

A working cylinder unit is preferably used as the pressing drive, the piston rod of which pivots the hold-down unit in the pressing direction by applying pressure to the hold-down unit away from its pivot axis.

Preferably, the direction of action of such a working cylinder unit runs at a shallow angle of less than 30°, preferably less than 20°, preferably less than 10°, in particular at an angle of 0°, to the feed direction in order to use as little space as possible between the top of the caliber and the knife drive, which is usually arranged above it and is also required for other components.

The operative connection between the hold-down unit and the pressing unit is preferably established by relative movement of these two units in the axial direction of the drive shaft, i.e. generally in the first transverse direction, whereby, for example, a coupling pin of one unit projecting freely in this direction axially penetrates into a coupling recess of the other unit and thus establishes a positive connection in the feed direction as well as the second transverse direction.

This results in a very simple and easily detachable coupling device.

The pressing units, in particular all pressing units, are displaceable on one or more support rods running parallel to the drive shaft, i.e. in particular in the first transverse direction.

Preferably, the support bar protrudes freely in the transverse direction from a hold-down base body and points with its free end in the same direction, namely towards the operator side of the machine, as the free end of the drive shaft, so that the pressure units can be plugged onto this support bar or removed from it.

Preferably, in each pressing unit, the pressing drive, in particular the working cylinder unit, is accommodated in a drive holder, which has, for example, two holder plates arranged on both sides of the pressing drive. In this drive holder, in particular the holder plates, there are aligned holes for threading onto the at least one support rod.

In order to secure the axial position along the support rod for the individual pressing units, the locking bar also has positioning recesses distributed along its extension on the press drive side, into which positioning extensions of the pressing units can engage, which is particularly the case when the locking lever and thus also the locking bar are in the closed position or the first open position.

• - gibt der Riegelhebel das freie Ende der Antriebswelle frei.
• - ist die Riegelleiste außer Eingriff mit den Niederhalter-Einheiten und
• - ist die Riegelleiste außer Eingriff mit den Anpress-Einheiten.

In order to disengage the locking bar and the clamping units, the locking lever must be moved, in particular pivoted, from the closed position beyond the first open position into a second open position. Only in this second open position

• - the locking lever releases the free end of the drive shaft.
• - the locking bar is disengaged from the hold-down units and
• - the locking bar is disengaged from the pressing units.

In order to facilitate the positioning of the pressing units in the axial direction along at least one support rod, for example for 2-track operation, 3-track operation or 4-track operation of the machine, two positioning stops are provided on the support unit for each pressing unit, between which the pressing unit can be moved back and forth in the axial direction of the support rod.

Preferably, one of the two stops, for example the left positioning stop, in a design with four pressure units corresponds to the positioning of the pressure units for 2-lane or 4-lane operation, the other, for example the right positioning stop, corresponds to the position for 3-lane operation. In the latter case, the fourth pressure unit is positioned off to the side in a parking position.

In the case of a 2-track operation, two of the adjacent hold-down units are moved relatively close together and act on the upper side of the same caliber, and accordingly also the two associated pressing units.

Such positioning stops can also be designed on the support unit for the hold-down units.

This greatly facilitates the axial positioning of the units.

The support unit comprises both the drive shaft for the hold-down units and the one or more support rods for the pressure units, which in particular all run parallel to one another in the axial direction, preferably the first transverse direction of the machine.

In most cases, the support unit can also be displaced in a second transverse direction, which is perpendicular to the feed direction and the first transverse direction, in particular in a controlled manner, in order to be able to adapt the hold-down device to different caliber heights.

With regard to the procedure for operating such a slicing machine, in particular a slicer, with a track-individual upper driven product guide with several hold-down units with at least one upper, drivable hold-down belt each, in particular for operating a slicing machine as previously explained, the hold-down units are known to be at least partially exchanged in order to adapt to different caliber heights.

According to the invention, however, only the downstream part of the respective hold-down unit is exchanged and the rest is retained as the hold-down base. This downstream part can in particular be a clamping flap that can be pivoted about a transverse axis running in the first transverse direction.

This significantly reduces the amount and volume of parts that the operator needs to stock and replace when needed, as well as the manufacturing effort and costs for such replacement parts.

Preferably, this downstream part of the hold-down unit is separated from the rest of it in a simple manner by moving them apart, for example in the feed direction. This requires little additional installation space.

In their transverse position, i.e. in the axial direction of the drive shaft, the hold-down units are positioned by sliding them or completely released by pulling them off in this direction, which makes replacing and cleaning much easier and faster.

Preferably, the hold-down device comprises a pressing unit associated with each hold-down unit, which can be operatively connected thereto.

Preferably, the pressing units are also adjustable in their transverse position by moving them in this direction relative to the rest of the hold-down device or by pulling them away from it, in particular in this first transverse direction.

c) Examples of implementation

• 1a, b: eine Aufschneide-Maschine in Form eines Slicers gemäß dem Stand der Technik in unterschiedlichen perspektivischen Ansichten, mit einer oberen Produktführung als Niederhalter und in die Aufschneidestellung hochgeklapptem Zufuhrband,
• 2a: eine vereinfachte und von Verkleidungsteilen befreite Seitenansicht der Aufschneide-Maschine der 1a, b, sodass die einzelnen Förderbänder, insbesondere der oberen Produktführung als Niederhalter für das Kaliber, besser zu erkennen sind, beladen mit einem Produkt-Kaliber,
• 2b: eine Seitenansicht gemäß 2a, aber mit in die Beladestellung herabgeklapptem Zufuhrband und bis auf einen Kaliber-Rest aufgeschnittenem Produkt-Kaliber,
• 2c: eine Ausschnitt Vergrößerung aus 2a mit fast vollständig aufgeschnittenem Kaliber,
• 3: eine Aufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemäße obere Produktführung als Niederhalter mit nur einer montierten Niederhalter-Einheit,
• 4a: eine Seitenansicht, betrachtet in der 1. Querrichtung, auf den Niederhalter entsprechend der Linie A - A,
• 4b: einen Längsschnitt entlang der Linie B - B durch die Niederhalter-Einheit des Niederhalters der 4a mit gleicher Blickrichtung wie 4a,
• 5a, b: eine Seitenansicht nur auf eine Niederhalter-Einheit mit montierter flacher Spannklappe in unterschiedlichen Funktionsstellungen der Spannklappe,
• 6: eine Seitenansicht eines Niederhalters mit montierter hoher Spannklappe,
• 7a, b: eine Seitenansicht nur auf die Niederhalter-Einheit der 6 mit montierter hoher Spannklappe in unterschiedlichen Funktionsstellungen der Spannklappe,
• 8a - c: Seitenansichten nur auf eine Niederhalter-Einheit mit dem Riegelhebel in unterschiedlichen Funktionsstellungen,
• 9a - c: Aufsichten nur auf das Tragteil des Niederhalters mit dem Riegelhebel und der Riegelleiste in unterschiedlichen Funktionsstellungen analog zu den 8a - c,
• 10 a, b: Heckansichten in Zufuhr-Richtung auf das stromaufwärtige Ende des Niederhalters mit den Anpress-Einheiten in unterschiedlichen Anschlag-Stellungen in Querrichtung,
• 11a - c: Längsschnitte nur durch eine Niederhalter-Einheit mit der Riegelleiste in unterschiedlichen Funktionsstellungen analog zu den Funktionsstellungen des Riegelhebels in den 8a - c.

Embodiments according to the invention are described in more detail below by way of example. They show:

• 1a , b: a slicing machine in the form of a slicer according to the state of the art in different perspective views, with an upper product guide as a hold-down device and a feed belt folded up into the slicing position,
• 2a : a simplified side view of the slicing machine of the 1a , b, so that the individual conveyor belts, especially the upper product guide as a hold-down for the caliber, can be better recognized, loaded with a product caliber,
• 2b : a side view according to 2a , but with the feed belt folded down into the loading position and the product caliber cut open except for a caliber remainder,
• 2c : a detail enlargement from 2a with almost completely cut caliber,
• 3 : a plan view of an upper product guide according to the invention as a hold-down device with only one mounted hold-down unit,
• 4a : a side view, viewed in the 1st transverse direction, of the hold-down device according to the line A - A,
• 4b : a longitudinal section along the line B - B through the hold-down unit of the hold-down device of the 4a with the same viewing direction as 4a ,
• 5a , b: a side view of only one hold-down unit with mounted flat clamping flap in different functional positions of the clamping flap,
• 6 : a side view of a hold-down device with mounted high clamping flap,
• 7a , b: a side view of the hold-down unit of the 6 with mounted high tension flap in different functional positions of the tension flap,
• 8a - c: Side views of only one hold-down unit with the locking lever in different functional positions,
• 9a - c: Views only of the supporting part of the hold-down device with the locking lever and the locking bar in different functional positions analogous to the 8a - c,
• 10 a , b: Rear views in the feed direction of the upstream end of the hold-down device with the pressure units in different stop positions in the transverse direction,
• 11a - c: Longitudinal sections only through a hold-down unit with the locking bar in different functional positions analogous to the functional positions of the locking lever in the 8a - c.

The 1a , 1b show different perspective views of a multi-lane slicer 1 for the simultaneous slicing of several product calibers K on one lane SP1 to SP4 next to each other and depositing them in shingled portions P each consisting of several slices S with a general flow direction 10* through the slicer 1 from right to left.

2a shows - with the caliber K inserted - a side view of this slicer 1, omitting covers and other parts that are not relevant to the invention, which, like all other units, are attached to the base frame 2, so that the functional parts, especially the conveyor belts, can be seen better. The longitudinal direction 10 is the feed direction of the calibers K to the cutting unit 7 and thus also the longitudinal direction of the calibers K located in the slicer 1.

It can be seen that the basic structure of a slicer 1 according to the prior art consists in that a cutting unit 7 with a knife 3 rotating about a knife axis 3', for example a sickle knife 3, is fed several, in this case four, product calibers K lying next to each other on a feed conveyor 4 transversely to the feed direction 10 with spacers 15 of the feed conveyor 4 in between by this feed unit 20, from the front ends of which the rotating knife 3 with its cutting edge 3a cuts off one slice S in each case in one operation, i.e. almost simultaneously.

For cutting the product caliber K, the feed conveyor 4 is located in the 1a - 2a shown in the side view, oblique slicing position with a low-lying cutting-side front end and a high-lying rear end, from which it can be folded down about a pivot axis 20' running in its width direction, the first transverse direction 11, which is located near the cutting unit 7, into an approximately horizontal loading position, as shown in 2b is shown.

The rear end of each caliber K in the feed unit 20 is in accordance with 2a each held by a gripper 14a - d in a form-fitting manner with the aid of gripper claws 16. These The grippers 14a - 14d, which can be activated and deactivated depending on the position of the gripper claws 16, are fastened to a common gripper carriage 13, which can be guided along a gripper guide 18 in the feed direction 10.

In this case, both the feed of the gripper carriage 13 and of the feed conveyor 4 can be driven in a controlled manner, whereby the actual feed speed of the calibers K is brought about by a so-called upper and lower product guide 8, 9, which is also driven in a controlled manner and which engages the upper and lower sides of the calibers K to be sliced in their front end areas, i.e. immediately in front of the cutting frame 5 and thus close to the cutting unit 7.

The upper product guide 8 serves as a hold-down device, which presses the caliber K downwards to rest on the lower product guide 9 opposite the caliber K, which serves as a counter-holder.

Each of the product guides 8, 9 has an endless, circulating hold-down belt 8A or 9A, which is driven in a controlled manner in the direction of rotation and which rests with its contact strand 8.1 or 9.1 on the top or bottom of the caliber K and transports it forward in a controlled manner in the feed direction 10.

The front ends of the calibers K are each guided through a product opening 6a - d of a plate-shaped cutting frame 5, with the cutting plane 3" running directly in front of the front, diagonally downward-facing face of the cutting frame 5, in which the knife 3 rotates with its cutting edge 3a and thus separates the excess of the calibers K from the cutting frame 5 as a disk S. The cutting plane 3" runs perpendicular to the upper run of the feed conveyor 4 and/or is spanned by the two transverse directions 11, 12 to the feed direction 10.

The inner circumference of the product openings 6a - d of the cutting edge 3a of the knife 3 serves as a counter cutting edge.

Since both product guides 8, 9 can be driven in a controlled manner, in particular independently of each other and/or possibly separately for each track SP1 to SP4, they determine the - continuous or clocked - feed speed of the calibers K through the cutting frame 5.

The upper product guide 8 can be displaced in the second transverse direction 12 - which runs perpendicular to the feed direction 10 and the first transverse direction 11 - to adapt to the height H of the caliber K in this direction. Furthermore, at least one of the product guides 8, 9 can be designed to pivot about one of its deflection rollers in order to be able to change the direction of the contact strand of its circulating traction belt 8A, 9A resting on the caliber K to a limited extent.

The slices S, which are positioned at an angle in space during separation, fall onto a discharge device 17 which begins below the cutting frame 5 and runs in the direction of flow 10* and which in this case consists of several discharge units 17a, b, c arranged one behind the other in the direction of flow 10* with the upper strands of their conveyor belts approximately flush, of which the first discharge unit 17a in the direction of flow 10 can be designed as a portioning belt unit 17a and/or can also be designed as a weighing unit.

The slices S can impinge on the portioning belt unit 17a individually and at a distance from one another in the direction of travel 10* or, by appropriate control of the portioning belt 17a of the discharge device 17 - the movement of which, like almost all moving parts, is controlled by the control 1* - they can form shingled or stacked portions P by stepwise forward or backward movement of the portioning belt 17a.

Below the feed unit 20 there is usually an approximately horizontally running residue conveyor 21, which begins with its front end below the cutting frame 5 and immediately below or behind the discharge unit 17 and with its upper run thereon - by means of the drive of one of the discharge conveyors 17 against the direction of flow 10 - transports falling residues to the rear.

• Wenn in der 2. Querrichtung 12, der Höhen-Richtung des aufgelegten Produkt-Kalibers K, dessen Höhe H geringer ist als die Höhe des Greifers 14 oder der Greifer-Einheit 13, steht dieser in Richtung 12 nach oben über die Oberseite des Kalibers K vor.

2c reveals one of the typical problems associated with the upper product guide 8:

• If in the 2nd transverse direction 12, the height direction of the placed product caliber K, the height H of which is less than the height of the gripper 14 or the gripper unit 13, the latter protrudes in direction 12 upwards over the top of the caliber K.

If, as in 2c the caliber K is cut open except for a caliber remainder KR, the gripper 14 or at the latest the gripper unit 13 cannot move under the upper product guide 8, since the lower contact run 8.1 of the upper product guide 8 resting on the upper side of the remainder KR already rests on the remainder KR from the deflection roller 8b remote from the knife and the gripper 14 or the gripper unit 13 would collide with it.

As a result, either a relatively long caliber remainder KR must be disposed of instead of being completely cut open, or the gripper 14 must be released from the caliber remainder KR, which may not result in optimal feed control of the caliber remainder KR only by upper and lower product guide 8, 9 through the cutting frame 5.

Such a so-called flat, upper product guide 8, however only in a design according to the invention, with a hold-down unit 50.1 - in which the hold-down band 50.1A only runs around the deflection roller 8a near the knife and the deflection roller 8b far from the knife and thus has a flat shape in side view - and a pressing unit 51.1, which presses this hold-down unit 50.1 downwards against the caliber K, is shown in the 3 in the vertical view from above in the form of a complete upper product guide 8 and the 4b in side view and 4a in a sectional view with the same viewing direction as 4b .

In this context, 3 recognize that the upper product guide 8 has a base body 22, which is located on the anti-operator side AB facing away from the operator, and from which a support unit 36 projects on one side towards the operator side B over all tracks SP 1 to SP4 of the multi-track slice from 1, and on this support unit 36 in the 1st transverse direction 11, several hold-down units - of which only a single hold-down unit 50.1 is shown here - as well as pressure units 51.1 - 51.4 assigned to them and aligned with them in the feed direction 10 are mounted next to one another.

The entire support unit 36 is adjustable in the second transverse direction 12 with the aid of rod guides 37 in its distance from the base body 22, in particular adjustable in a controlled manner.

The hold-down units 50.1 etc. are attached to the common drive shaft 23 and the pressure units 51.1 - 51.4 to at least one support rod 32 running parallel thereto.

As the sectional view of the 4a better than the side view of the 4b There is also little space upstream of the hold-down belt 50.1A between the top of the caliber remainder KR and the pressing unit 51.1 located above it and the problem of the gripper 14 rising higher than the caliber remainder KR in the 2nd transverse direction 12 is again apparent.

6 shows in a side view analogous to 4b and 4a how the problem is solved according to the invention, namely by one or usually several so-called cranked hold-down units 50.1 mounted in the upper product guide 8.

Viewed from the side, this visible cranked hold-down unit 50.1 is approximately L-shaped, since it not only has a deflection roller 8a closest to the knife and a deflection roller 8b furthest from the knife for the hold-down belt 50.1A, but also further deflection rollers 8c, 8d in between.

The deflection rollers are arranged in relation to one another in such a way that the lower run of the hold-down belt 50.1A only runs as a contact run to the caliber K approximately in the feed direction 10 in its downstream, knife-side end region, namely from the deflection roller 8c to the deflection roller 8a, while the upstream part of the lower run rises from this plane upwards to the rear in the 2nd transverse direction 12, usually towards the deflection roller 8b furthest from the knife, and has no contact with the caliber K, i.e. is no longer a contact run.

Although this reduces the length of the contact trance compared to a flat hold-down unit, it must be accepted as the lesser evil in order to solve the problem.

As a result, the gripper 14 holding the rear end of a caliber remainder KR, which protrudes in the 2nd transverse direction 12 over the upper side of the remainder KR, can be moved forward in the feed direction 10 far beyond the deflection roller 8b of the hold-down unit 50.1 furthest from the knife, namely until it has almost reached the upstream, strongly inclined parts of the lower run of the hold-down belt 50.1A.

It can therefore approach the cutting frame 5 much closer than with a flat hold-down unit 50.1 according to 4a , b and the no longer usable caliber remainder KR is therefore considerably shorter and thus the loss is lower.

For this purpose, according to the invention, not even the entire hold-down units 50.1 on the upper product guide 8 have to be replaced, but only their downstream part, the so-called clamping flap 50.1C, which is detachably attached to a hold-down base 50.1B of the hold-down unit 50.1, and certainly not the pressing units 51.1, which greatly reduces the amount of replacement parts that the operator has to stock.

Of the deflection rollers, the one 8b furthest from the knife is located in the hold-down base 50.1B and at least one other, usually all the others, deflection rollers are located in the clamping flap 50.1C.

For example 4a as well as the 5 and 7 As can be seen, the deflection roller driving the hold-down belt 50.1A, usually the deflection roller 8b arranged in the hold-down base 50.1B and furthest from the knife, is designed as a drive sleeve 24 which is displaceable in the transverse direction 11 with its inner circumference positively seated in a rotationally fixed manner on the outer circumference of the drive shaft 23. It is mounted rotatably about its transverse axis 24', in particular on its front sides, in the hold-down base 50.1B, so that the hold-down belt 50.1A rests on its outer circumference and is driven by the drive sleeve 24 in the direction of rotation.

In addition, the invention provides for a very quick and easy change as well as cleaning and adjustability, especially of the clamping flaps 50.1C, as explained below:

Changing a hold-down band 50.1A:

Whether cranked or flat clamping flap 50.1C can be manufactured according to 5a , b and 7a, b, these can each be pivoted relative to the hold-down base 50.1B about a pivot axis 26' running in the transverse direction 11 between a pivot position tensioning the band 50.1A according to 5a , 7a and a non-tensioning, loose swivel position according to 5b , 7b in which the band 50.1A can be pulled axially, i.e. in the transverse direction 11, from the deflection roller and thus the hold-down unit 50.1.

For this purpose, a pivot pin 26 of the tensioning flap 50.1C, in particular with a round cross-section, is rotatably received in a groove 25a which is open towards the tensioning flap 50.1C, is preferably undercut and also runs in the transverse direction 11 in a flap carrier 25 which is part of the hold-down base 50.1B.

In the loose pivoting position of the flap 50.1C, the deflection roller 8a is closer to the most upstream deflection roller 8b, so that the band 50.1A hangs loosely downwards and can be pulled off axially.

In the exciting position of 5a , 7a this downstream deflection roller 8a takes up a significantly greater, in particular the maximum possible, distance from the upstream deflection roller 8b.

To keep the flap 50.1C in this exciting position of the 5b , 7b In order to secure the flap carrier 25, in particular the two side plates thereof running in the feed direction, between which the at least one deflection roller 8a is mounted, each have a recess 28b at the end facing the hold-down base 50.1B, into which the front ends of a securing bolt 28a fit, which can be moved back and forth in an elongated hole in the flap carrier 25 running approximately in the feed direction 10 and is located in the recesses 28b in one end position, and is pre-tensioned into this securing position by means of a spring - here a leaf spring 29 which is fastened to the flap carrier 25.

To pivot the flap 50.1C, the operator must therefore move the locking bolt 28a against the force of the leaf spring 29 until it no longer engages with the recesses 28b and then pivot the tensioning flap 50.1C from the band-tightening position to the loose position, usually by folding it down.

As in the 5b , 7b As can be seen, the band 50.1A is then guided around all the existing deflection rollers 8a, 8b and the pivot pin 26 with enough play to allow axial removal from the drive sleeve 24 as well as from the entire tensioning flap 50.1C, in particular via the side wall on the operator side B of the flap 50.1C, which usually consists of two side walls spaced apart in the transverse direction and the connecting pins and deflection rollers.

Changing a 50.1C clamping flap:

In the in the 5b , 7b In the loose pivoting position of the flap 50.1C shown, it is only connected to the hold-down base 50.1B by the pivot pin 26 of the flap 50.1C being positively seated in the undercut groove 25a of the flap carrier 25, which is open to the front, i.e. in the feed direction 10.

By moving the flap 50.1C in the feed direction 10 with the pivot pin 26 out of the groove 25a - which is done by bending the elastic flanks of the flap carrier 25 on both sides of the groove - it is separated from the base 50.1B and can be removed for cleaning and/or exchanged for another flap 50.1C.

This movement out of the groove 25a can also take place if the band 50.1A is still present running over the flap 50.1C and the drive sleeve 24.

Changing a hold-down unit 50.1:

How best 4a shows, a functionally mounted hold-down unit 50.1 is connected on the one hand to the support part 36 by its drive sleeve 24 on the side facing the operator B and is operatively connected to a pressing unit 51.1 in that it has a coupling bolt 38a which projects freely towards the operator side B and which engages in a coupling opening 38b of the hold-down unit 50.1.

To change the hold-down unit 50.1, both connections must be released by relative movement in the transverse direction 11.

For the release from the pressure unit 51.1, only a small transverse movement is required, since the coupling bolt 38a running in the transverse direction 11, in particular projecting freely towards the operator side B, is short and its length is in particular only a fraction, for example less than 10%, in particular less than 5%, of the length of the drive shaft 23.

For this relative movement in the transverse direction 11, at least one of the two units must no longer be secured with respect to its transverse position, as explained later.

How 4b as well as 3 as well as the 8a and 9a for the operational state, the free end 23E of the drive shaft 23 is, however, covered during operation of the machine by one arm of the two-armed locking lever 30, which is pivotable about an axis 30' relative to the support part 36, which is located between the drive shaft 23 and the support rod 32, in particular between the coupling bolt 38 a and the support rod 32, and must be pulled out of this into the 4b and 8 shown closed position SS so far that the hold-down unit 50.1 can be pulled off the drive shaft 23.

For this purpose, the hold-down unit 50.1 can also initially be pivoted slightly around the drive shaft 23 after being decoupled from the coupling bolt 38a of the pressing unit 51.

Step-by-step unlocking:

The locking lever 30 is secured against unintentional pivoting from the closed position SS into a 1st or a 2nd open position OS1, OS2, as shown in the 8b , c, is also secured, for which it can be moved in the transverse direction 11 along its pivot axis 30' between a secured position (see 9a) closer to the anti-operator side AB and an unsecured position that allows swiveling (see 9b , 9c ) closer to the operator side B. In the secured position it can be secured by means of a safety handle 39.

A handle 40 is attached to the locking lever 30 for manual movement in the transverse direction 11.

If the locking lever 30 is in its closed position SS during this pressing, the free end 23E of the drive shaft 23 enters a correspondingly positioned and dimensioned opening 30.23 in one arm of the locking lever 30 and the free end 32E of the support rod 32 enters a correspondingly positioned and dimensioned opening 30.32 in the other arm of the locking lever 30, so that their free ends 23E, 32E are reliably covered.

In both open positions, OS1 according to 8b and OS2 according to 8c , of the locking lever 30, hold-down units 50.1, 50.2 can be pulled off the drive shaft 23 - if necessary after previously rotating the hold-down unit.

How best to 3 as well as the 9 As can be seen, a locking bar 31 is also attached to the locking lever 30, which extends in the transverse direction 11 from the locking lever 30 to the base body 22, i.e. towards the anti-operator side AB, and is pivoted with the locking lever 30 when it is pivoted.

The purpose of the locking bar 31 is to fix the hold-down units 50.1 - 50.4 and the pressing units 51.1 - 51.4 in the transverse direction 11 by means of positive locking, for which the locking bar 31 has a plurality of positioning recesses 31A spaced apart along its edge facing the hold-down units 50.1 - 50.4 and a plurality of positioning recesses 31B spaced apart along its edge facing the pressing units 51.1 - 51.4.

• - in der Schließstellung gemäß 9a, 11a sowohl die Niederhalter-Einheiten 50.1 - 50.4 in Eingriff mit den ihnen zugewandten Positionier-Ausnehmungen 31A als auch die Anpress-Einheiten 51.1 - 51.4 in Eingriff mit den ihnen zugewandten Positionier-Ausnehmungen 31B stehen,
• - in der 1. Offenstellung OS 1 gemäß 9b, 11b nur die Anpress-Einheiten 51.1 - 51.4, aber nicht mehr die Niederhalter-Einheiten 50.1 - 50.4 mit den Positionier-Ausnehmungen 31B in Eingriff stehen
• - in der 2. Offenstellung OS2 gemäß 9c, 11c weder die Anpress-Einheiten 51.1 - 51.4 noch die Niederhalter-Einheiten 50.1 - 50.4 mit den Positionier-Ausnehmungen 31A, 31B in Eingriff stehen.

The locking bar 31 is positioned on the locking lever 30 and mounted in such a rotational position about its own longitudinal axis, which runs in the transverse direction 11, that

• - in the closed position according to 9a , 11a both the hold-down units 50.1 - 50.4 are in engagement with the positioning recesses 31A facing them and the pressing units 51.1 - 51.4 are in engagement with the positioning recesses 31B facing them,
• - in the 1st open position OS 1 according to 9b , 11b only the pressure units 51.1 - 51.4, but no longer the hold-down units 50.1 - 50.4 are in engagement with the positioning recesses 31B
• - in the 2nd open position OS2 according to 9c , 11c neither the pressure units 51.1 - 51.4 nor the hold-down units 50.1 - 50.4 engage with the positioning recesses 31A, 31B.

Thus, in the 1st open position OS1, the hold-down units 50.1 - 50.4 can already be repositioned along the drive shaft 23 in the transverse direction 11 or completely removed from the drive shaft 23, and in the 2nd open position OS2, the pressure units 51.1 - 51.4 can also be repositioned or completely removed from the support rods 32.

Switching to a different number of tracks:

By this repositioning and/or removal or addition of hold-down units 50.1 - 50.4 in the transverse direction 11, the machine can be converted to operate with a different number of tracks than before.

The four clamping units 51.1 - 51.4 present on a machine with a maximum of 4 tracks, however, generally remain mounted in the machine even in 2-track or 3-track operation, but can be adjusted back and forth between a positioning for 3-track operation on the one hand and 2-track or 4-track operation on the other - in 2-track operation, two adjacent hold-down units 50.1 - 50.4 act on the same caliber - between two end positions in the transverse direction 11.

As the 10a , b show, the pressing units 51.1 - 51.4 - when the locking bar 31 is in the second open position OS2 - can be adjusted back and forth between a left and a right positioning stop 35L, 35R, here the left and right flank of a recess e.g. 35.2 of the supporting part 36, into which the pressing unit e.g. 51.2 projects.

In this case, the drive mount 34 of the respective pressing unit 51.1 - 51.4 projects into this recess 35 with the mount plate 34b of its two lateral mount plates 34a, b of the drive mount 34.

The 11 recesses 35.1 - 35.4 of different lengths in the transverse direction are dimensioned and positioned in such a way that the right stop 35R corresponds to a setting of the pressing units 51.1 - 51.4 for 3-track operation, with the fourth pressing unit 51.4 being placed in a parking position. The left stop 35L, on the other hand, causes the pressing units 51.1 - 51.4 to be set for 4-track or 2-track operation, with the two left units acting on the same caliber K in the latter case and the two right units acting on the other of the only two calibers inserted next to each other.

Of course, the hold-down units 50.1 - 50.4 must also be adjusted to the corresponding transverse position.

In this functional position, the pressing units 51.1 - 51.4 on the one hand and the hold-down units 50.1 - 50.4 on the other hand are secured in the transverse direction 11 by the positive fixation by means of the locking bar 31 in the closed position SS, which has a corresponding positioning recess for each functional position.

By adjusting only between two end positions, the positioning of the pressure units 51.1 - 51.4 is made easier.

Coupling/detaching a hold-down unit 50.1 from a pressure unit 51.1:

This is done as described above by coupling/detaching the coupling bolt 38a with or from the coupling opening 38b, as described above.

Changing the transverse position of the hold-down units 50.1:

As described above, this is possible by moving the hold-down units 50.1 - 50.4 in the transverse direction 11 along the drive shaft 23 when the locking bar 31 is in one of the two open positions OS1 or OS2.

Changing the transverse position of the pressure units 51.1:

As described above, this is possible by moving the pressing units 51.1 - 51.4 in the transverse direction 11 along the support rods 32 when the locking bar 31 is in the 2nd open position OS2.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1

Slicing machine, slicer

1*

steering

2

Base frame

3

Knife

3

Rotation axis

3"

Knife plane, cutting plane

3a

Cutting edge

4

Feed conveyor, feed belt

5

Cutting frame

6a - d

Product opening

7

Cutting unit

8

upper product guide,

8.1

Contact-Trum, Lower-Trum

8a

Knife-side pulley

8b

Deflection roller facing away from the knife

9

lower product guide

8.1

Contact-Trum, Upper-Trum

9a

Knife-side pulley

9b

Deflection roller facing away from the knife

10

Transport direction, feed direction,

10*

Direction of flow through machine, longitudinal direction of machine

11

1. Cross direction (width slicer)

12

2. Transverse direction (height direction caliber)

13

Gripper unit, gripper carriage

14.14 a-d

Gripper

15

Spacers

15'

Support surface

16

Gripper claw

17

Discharge unit

17a, b, c

Portioning belt, conveyor

18

Gripper guide

19

Altitude sensor

20

Feed unit

21

Remnant conveyor

22

Hold-down body

23

Drive shaft

23'

Swivel axis

23E

free end

24

Drive sleeve

25

Flap carrier

25a

Groove

26

Swivel axis

27A, B

Positioning extension

28a

Locking bolt

28b

Recess

29

Leaf spring

30

Locking lever

31

Latch bar

31A, B

Positioning recess

32

Support rod

32E

free end

33

Contact pressure drive, pneumatic cylinder unit

34

Drive mount

34a, b

Recording plate

35L, 35R

Positioning stop

36

Carrying unit

37

Rod guide

38a

Coupling bolt

38b

Coupling opening

39

Safety handle

40

Handle

50.1-50.4

Hold-down unit

50.1A-50.4A

Hold-down band

50.1B-50.4B

Hold-down base

50.1C-50.4C

Tension flap

51.1-51.4

Contact pressure unit

H

Caliber height

K

Product, product caliber

KR

Caliber remainder, remnant

S

Disc

P

portion

SS

Closed position

OS1

first disclosure

OS2

second opening

V

Packaging element

Claims (14)

Multi-lane slicing machine (1), in particular slicer (1), for slicing calibers (K) into slices (S) and creating shingled or stacked portions (P) from slices (S), with - a cutting unit (7) with a rotating knife (3), - a feed unit (20) for feeding several calibers (K) arranged next to one another in the transverse direction (11) to the feed direction (10) in a Feed direction (10) to the cutting unit (30), - wherein the feed unit (20) has at least one, in particular with respect to the caliber (K), lower feed belt (4) and at least one upper product guide (8) as a hold-down device (8) with at least one upper, drivable hold-down belt (8A) for the caliber (K), - a control (1*) for controlling movable parts of the slicing machine (1), characterized in that - the upper product guide (8) comprises several hold-down units (50.1 - 50.4) that are adjustable in the transverse direction (11) and arranged next to one another, - each hold-down unit (50.1 - 50.4) has a hold-down base (50.1B - 50.4B) and a clamping flap (50.1C - 50.4C) that is movably, in particular pivotably, releasably attached thereto, as well as a hold-down belt that runs around both (50.1A - 50.4A). (removable in transverse direction:) Slicing machine (1) by Claim 1 , characterized in that - the, in particular all, hold-down units (50.1 - 50.4), in particular their respective hold-down base (50.1B - 50.4B), are slidably attached to a common drive shaft (23) which freely projects from a hold-down base body (22) in the transverse direction (11), in particular plugged on from its free end, - in particular one drive sleeve (24) rotatably mounted in the hold-down unit (50.1 - 50.4), in particular their respective hold-down base (50.1B - 50.4B), is connected to the drive shaft (23) in a rotationally fixed manner, in particular by means of a positive fit. (Details of hold-down unit:) Slicing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the hold-down base has at least one deflection roller (8b) remote from the knife and the tensioning flap has at least one deflection roller (8a) close to the knife, - in particular the deflection roller (8b) remote from the knife is connected to the drive sleeve (24) in a rotationally fixed manner, - in particular is completely or partially identical to the latter. Slicing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the tensioning flap (50.1C - 50.4C) is pivotally mounted with its physical pivot axis (26) in a groove (25a) of a flap carrier (25) which is part of the hold-down base, in particular - the groove (25a) is a groove (25a) which is open to the front in the feed direction (10) and/or - the groove (25a) is an undercut groove (25a) and the flap carrier (25) is made of elastic material, in particular plastic, inserted so that the physical pivot axis (26) locks into place by being inserted into the groove (25a) and/or - the tensioning flap (50.1C - 50.4C) is secured in the pivot position tensioning the hold-down band by means of a displaceable securing bolt (28a) which, in particular by means of leaf springs (29), is pre-tensioned from the flap carrier into a recess (28b) of the flap (50.1C - 50.4C) as a locking position when the tensioning flap (50.1C - 50.4C) is in the pivoting position tensioning the hold-down band. Slicing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - a locking lever (30) is present which can be pivoted relative to the drive shaft about a pivot axis (30') running in the transverse direction (11) and in its closed position (SS) covers the free end of the drive shaft (23) and in a first open position (OS1) releases the free end (23E) so far that a hold-down unit can be pulled off the drive shaft, - in particular the locking lever (30) can be displaced in the transverse direction (11) between a pivot position allowing pivoting and a fixed position and in its closed position in the fixed position is plugged onto the free end of the drive shaft with an opening. Slicing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - a locking bar (31) running in the transverse direction (11) is attached to the locking lever (30) away from its pivot axis (30'), - the locking bar (31) has positioning recesses (31A) on the hold-down side, into which positioning extensions (27A) of the hold-down unit engage when the locking lever (30) and thus the locking bar (31) are in the closed position. (From here on: pressing units:) Slicing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the upper product guide (8) comprises several pressing units (51.1 - 51.4) which are arranged next to one another and are adjustable in the transverse direction (11), - each of which has a pressing drive (33) for pressing the hold-down belt against the caliber (K), - one of which can be brought into operative connection with one of the hold-down units (50.1-50.4), - in particular the pressing drive (33) is a pneumatic cylinder unit (33), - the direction of action of which can be adjusted at an angle of less than 30°, in particular less than 20°, particularly less than 10°, preferably at an angle of 0° to the feed direction (10). (Coupling with hold-down units:) Slicing machine (1) by Claim 7 , characterized in that - the active connection, in particular a positive connection, can be established or released by relative movement of the respective hold-down unit (50.1-50.4) and the respective pressing unit (51.1 - 51.4) in the transverse direction (11), - in particular the pneumatic cylinder unit (33) can be connected to the hold-down unit (50.1-50.4) away from the pivot axis (23') of the hold-down unit (50.1-50.4), in particular can be connected in a positive manner. (Also removable in the transverse direction:) Slicing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the, in particular all, pressing units (51.1 - 51.4) are slidably attached to at least one common support rod (32) which projects freely from a hold-down base body (22) in the transverse direction (11), in particular are plugged on from its free end, in particular - the locking bar (31) has positioning recesses (31B) on the press drive side, into which the positioning extensions of the pressing units (51.1 - 51.4) engage when the locking lever (30) and thus the locking bar (31) are in the closed position (SS) or the 1st open position (OS1), - on the other hand, there is no engagement when the locking lever (30) and the locking bar (31) are in a 2nd open position (OS2). (Details of pressing units:) Slicing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the pressing units (51.1 - 51.4), in particular independently of one another, are each adjustable between two positioning stops (35L, 35R) of the support unit (36), - in particular one positioning stop positions four pressing units (51.1 - 51.4) for two-lane or four-lane operation, the other positioning stop positions three pressing units (51.1 - 51.3) for three-lane operation and one pressing unit (51.4) is positioned off to the side in a parking position. (Cross member unit height adjustable on hold-down base body:) Slicing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one support rod (32) and the at least one drive shaft (23), which run in particular parallel to one another, are movably attached together as a support unit (36) relative to the hold-down base body (22) in a second transverse direction (12), in particular displaceable in a controlled manner. Method for operating a slicing machine (1), in particular a slicer (1), with a track-individual, upper, driven product guide (8) with several hold-down units (50.1 - 50.4) with at least one upper, drivable hold-down belt (8A) for the caliber (K), in particular a slicing machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims - in that the hold-down units (50.1 - 50.4) are at least partially exchanged to adapt to different caliber heights, characterized in that - only the downstream part, in particular a tensioning flap (50.1C - 50.4C) pivotable about a transverse axis (26) of the respective hold-down unit (50.1 - 50.4) is exchanged. Procedure according to Claim 12 , characterized in that - the downstream part of the respective hold-down unit (50.1 - 50.4), in particular the tensioning flap (50.1C - 50.4C), is detached from the rest of the respective hold-down unit (50.1 - 50.4) by moving apart in the feed direction (10) and/or - the hold-down units (50.1 - 50.4) are adjusted in their transverse position or are detached from the rest of the hold-down device (50) by moving them towards or pulling them away from it in the transverse direction (11). Method according to one of the preceding method claims, - wherein the hold-down device (8) comprises pressing units (51.1 - 51.4), each of which can be operatively connected to a respective hold-down device unit (50.1 - 50.4), characterized in that - the pressing units (50.1 - 50.4) are adjusted in their transverse position or are released from the rest of the hold-down device (8) by sliding them towards or pulling them away from the rest in the transverse direction (11).

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