DE10333661A1 - Food slicing assembly for e.g. cheese or sausage has blade that moves between slices under control of regulated drive system - Google Patents

Abstract

A food e.g. cheese or sausage slicing machine has a rotating cutting blade (2) that slides between slices along a plane parallel to its axis of rotation (3). The movement between slices is effected by a regulated drive system (6, 8, 9). The assembly includes a mass balance (4) that moves in the opposite direction to the blade under the guidance of the regulated drive system. The lateral movement of the blade and mass balance is independent of the blade speed of rotation.

Description

The The present invention relates to a slicing apparatus for slicing of foodstuffs, in particular sausage, meat or cheese bars with a rotating cutting blade parallel to its axis of rotation is slidably mounted. Furthermore, the present invention relates Invention a method for axial displacement of cutting blade and the use of axially displaceable counterweights for Stabilization of the run of a cutting blade of a cutting machine, the use of the axial displacement of the cutting blade a Slicing machine for setting the zero point and the use the axial displacement of the cutting blade for adjusting the Cutting gap between the cutting blade and a cutting bar.

at Slicing machines are nowadays with relatively high cycle slices of a food bar, for example a sausage, ham or cheese bar, separated. The food is here on a product edition and are progressively or gradually against it Carved cutting knife. At very high cutting performance exists the need to use spaces, d. H. Movements of the cutting blade, where no food disc separated from the food bar will provide. To create blank slices, it is on the one hand possible, the food by a directed away from the cutting plane retraction stroke to realize. Furthermore, it is possible to do a blank through to produce a preferably axial displacement of the knife.

A such axial displacement of the cutting blade becomes, for example in Patent Publication No. 15 49 52, wherein the axial return stroke the knife of the slicing machine described there by a is realized with the drive coupled cam, so that an axial displacement of the blade regardless of the speed of the blade not possible is. Another slicing machine with an axially movable Messer is taught in DE-US 4214264 A1, wherein in the present Case the axial movement is carried out by an actuating cylinder, so that just a movement between two endpoints and not on the respective one Product matched, possible is.

Of the The present invention is therefore based on the object, a Slicing machine available to provide that does not have the disadvantages of the prior art.

Is solved the task according to the invention a slicing machine according to claim 1 and 3. Preferred embodiments the slitting machines according to the invention are in the subclaims 2 and 4 to 9 described.

According to the invention the slicing machine has a rotating cutting knife that runs parallel is mounted displaceably to its axis of rotation.

The Displacement of the cutting blade according to the invention by a regulated drive. It was amazing for the professional and not to be expected that with such a drive a very accurate and very fast axial displacement of the cutting blade is possible. The position of the cutting blade relative to its zero point is known at any time. Due to the regulated drive, the axial displacement, in particular with regard to travel and acceleration, be optimally adapted to the respective application. The Optimum is u.a. a function of the cutting performance, of the product, in particular the product geometry and the temperature of the product, the knife geometry, the position of the knife to the product and / or the disk thickness. Furthermore, it is possible with the slicing machine according to the invention, very different Displacement curves, for example, sinusoidal gradients to realize the axial displacement. The optimal shift the cutting blade can be assigned in one of the cutting machine Computer be saved. The slicing machine according to the invention is easy and inexpensive manufacture and operate.

In a preferred embodiment the slicing machine counterbalances that in opposite directions the cutting blade is displaceable. This embodiment of the present Invention has the advantage that the acceleration forces and moments be suppressed during axial displacement of the blade, so that vibrations the slicing machine are largely avoided.

By a separate adjustment of the counterweight regardless of the axial displacement of Messers, can personnel and / or torques canceled, for example, by wear or tear Abrasion-related knife imbalances arise. This adjustment of the knife takes place after attaching the knife or during operation. The crowd the counterweight does not have to correspond to the mass of the cutting blade. Furthermore, the counterweight does not have to be symmetrical in particular not be rotationally symmetric.

Another object of the present invention is a slicing machine for slicing food, in particular sausage, meat or cheese bars with a rotating the cutting blade, which is slidably mounted parallel to its axis of rotation, wherein it has a counterweight which is displaceable in opposite directions to the cutting blade.

These slicing machine according to the invention has the advantage that acceleration forces or moments that at the axial displacement of the knife arise, be compensated. That's how it works the slicing machine virtually vibration-free, so that in particular the machine frame can be made much easier. Furthermore is that going? Cutting knife much quieter, so that more precise cuts are possible. By a separate adjustment of the counterweight independent of the axial displacement of the knife, forces and / or moments can be canceled which are imbalanced, for example due to wear or grinding-related knife arise. This adjustment of the knife takes place after attachment of the knife or in operation.

In a preferred embodiment the displacement of the cutting blade and the counterweight takes place by a regulated drive. This regulated drive has the advantage of being a very precise and very fast axial Displacement of the cutting blade and the counterweight is possible. The positions of the cutting blade relative to its zero and of the counterweight are known at all times. Through this Regulated drive, the respective axial displacement, in particular in terms of Path and acceleration, optimal for the respective application be adjusted. The optimum of the displacement of the cutting blade is u.a. a function of the cutting performance of the product, in particular the product geometry as well as the temperature of the product, the knife geometry, the position of the knife to the product and / or the thickness of the disc. Of Further, it is possible with the slicing machine, a variety of displacement gradients, for example sinuous gradients to realize the axial displacement. The optimal shift the cutting knife and the counterweight can in one of the cutting machine associated computer are stored. The slicing machine according to the invention is easy and inexpensive manufacture and operate.

Preferably However, the slicing machine has only one preferably controlled Drive for the displacement of the cutting knife and the counterweight on. This embodiment has the advantage that for both movements only one drive is needed. Regarding the Advantages of a controlled drive of the shift is on the referred above.

The following versions apply to both slicing machines according to the invention.

When Cutting knife comes into question every knife known to those skilled in the art. As an example, only the circular knife, the spiral knife and called the sickle knife. The circular knife advantageously runs like a planet around. The knife is rotated by a drive. Preferably this drive is regulated.

When Counterweight is any weight with which the cancellation the acceleration forces or Acceleration moments and / or the cancellation of forces or Moments caused by Messerunwuchten and the like, is possible. The person skilled in the art recognizes that the mass of the counterweight is not the mass must correspond to the cutting blade. The same applies to the temporal Acceleration profile and the displacement path of the counterweight, not the acceleration profile or the axial displacement must correspond to the knife. Furthermore, the person skilled in the art recognizes that the counterweight is not symmetrical, in particular does not have to be rotationally symmetric.

Preferably the displacement of the knife and / or the counterweight takes place at least largely free of play.

Preferably the displacement of the cutting blade and / or the counterweight takes place independently from the speed of the cutting blade.

In another preferred embodiment the slicing machine according to the invention has the cutting blade on a drive shaft and the cutting blade and / or the counterweight are slidably mounted along the drive shaft. The Drive shaft preferably has a controllable drive.

Further preferably, the displacement of the cutting blade and / or the counterweight takes place with a spindle, which is particularly preferably arranged within the drive shaft. This spindle is preferably controllably drivable and preferably cooperates with the thread of at least one sleeve (nut), which is connected to the cutting blade or with the counterweight. Preferably, however, the slicing machine has two sleeves, one cooperating with the cutting knife and one with the counterweight. These sleeves preferably have different threads, wherein the threads preferably differ in their direction of travel and in their pitch angle. By this embodiment of the present invention, both the cutting blade and the counterweight are displaced by a drive. Preferably, the connection between the sleeves and the spindle is at least as far as possible play. This can be achieved for example by a bias of the sleeves, so that they always rest on the same edge of the spindle.

Preferably is the displacement mechanism for the knife and / or for Forcibly tempered the counterweight, preferably cooled. All especially preferred is additional the drive of the cutting blade and / or its storage forcibly cooled. The respective temperature control by liquids, preferably aqueous liquids, and / or gas.

One Another object of the present invention is a method for axial displacement of cutting blades during operation, in which a Counterweight in opposite directions is moved to the cutting blade.

The inventive method has the advantage that no or only slight vibrations when moving of the cutting blade occur. The inventive method is simple and inexpensive to perform.

Preferably the displacement of the cutting blade or the counterweight takes place synchronous.

Farther Preferably, the displacement of the cutting blade or the counterweight takes place with a drive.

One Another object of the present invention is the use of axially displaceable counterweights for the stabilization of the Running a cutting knife of a slicing machine.

It was for the expert very much amazing and not to be expected by the shift of Counterweights, such as wear or grinding forces and / or Moments, can be compensated.

One Another object of the present invention is the use the axial displacement of a cutting blade for adjusting the Zero point of the cutting blade. The zero point of the cutting blade is the point where the knife is not the cutting bar right now more touched.

These use according to the invention has the advantage that the adjustment of the zero point relative to the so-called cutting bar can be done virtually automatically. The cutting bar only has to be in extremely rare cases changed their position so that the setting of the zero point after each Grinding the knife performed must be done automatically.

Preferably When setting the zero point, the torque of the drive measured by the knife. As soon as this rises, one of the slicing machines recognizes associated control unit that makes contact between the cutting blade and the cutter bar persists and moves the knife again for so long away from the cutter bar until the torque returns accordingly has dropped. This point is the new zero point. The zero point can be saved and, for example, for automatic adjustment the cutting gap can be used.

The Setting of the zero point can be done at the machine start or during the Operation done. For example, the zero point may periodically during the Operation of the machine checked and if necessary be reset.

One Another object of the present invention is the regulated axial displacement of the cutting blade for adjusting the cutting gap between the cutting edge of the cutting blade and a cutting bar.

These use according to the invention has the advantage that the cutting gap is changed during operation or to changed Operating conditions can be adjusted. This makes it possible to get one preferably small cutting gap and thus very consistent disc thicknesses produce.

Preferably is with the use according to the invention the expansion of the blade by thermal expansion or by centrifugal forces as well as the operational wear compensated to one as possible to produce a constant constant slice thickness.

Farther Preferably, the cutting gap is over a display automatically adjusted and no longer has to be manually be measured or adjusted.

Preferably the mechanical behavior of the knife is modeled and / or based of maps in the machine control, such as a Computer deposited. This data becomes an adjustment or adjustment the cutting gap used in the operation of the cutting blade, so that at each time of operation; i.e. for example, at any speed and at any temperature with an at least nearly constant cutting gap can be worked.

In the following, the inventions are based on the 1 - 3 explained. These explanations are merely exemplary and do not limit the general inventive concept.

1 shows a schematic diagram of the slicing machine according to the invention with a spindle.

2 shows a further schematic diagram of the slicing machine according to the invention with a spindle.

3 shows a schematic diagram of the slicing machine according to the invention with three spindles.

1 shows a schematic diagram of the slicing machine according to the invention. The food to be sliced 1 lies on a support (not shown), which at its front end a cutting bar 15 having. The knife 2 , with the food slices of the food 1 be separated, has a cutting edge 18 on that with the cutter bar 15 cooperates during the separation of food slices. The knife 2 is by means of a hub 7 on the drive shaft 5 axially displaceable but non-rotatable on two bushes 19 stored. The drive shaft 5 is in turn with camps 10 on a machine frame 17 rotatably mounted. The drive shaft 5 is by means of the belt pulley 11 which is driven by a controlled drive (not shown), for example a servomotor. Also on the drive shaft 5 is the counterweight 4 non-rotatable but axially displaceable on two bushings 19 stored. Inside the wave 5 there is a spindle 6 that go over the timing belt pulley 12 is connected to a regulated drive (not shown), in the present case a servomotor. On the spindle 6 are the pods 8th and 9 arranged, each with an internal thread 13 . 14 have that with the spindle 6 interacts. The thread 13 is a right-hand thread while the thread 14 is a left-hand thread.

Furthermore, the threads differ in their pitch. The skilled person recognizes that the latter need not be the case. The sleeve 8th is with the hub 7 on which the knife 2 is arranged, connected. The skilled artisan recognizes that the hub 7 and the sleeve 8th can also be made in one piece. The sleeve 9 is with the counterweight 4 connected. Again, a one-piece design is conceivable. As a rule, the shaft is turning 5 and the spindle 6 during the slicing of food just as fast, so that the pods 8th . 9 in a stationary position relative to the spindle 6 are located. Will an axial displacement of the knife 2 and the counterweight 4 desired, then the speed of the spindle 6 or the drive shaft 5 changed so that these no longer run at the same speed, so that the sleeves 8th . 9 relative to the spindle 6 move. Due to the different directions of rotation of the threads 13 . 14 the sleeves 8th . 9 The cutting blade and the counterweight move in different directions, so that cancel forces that are induced by the respective movements. In the present case, the pitch of the thread 14 the sleeve 9 greater than the pitch of the thread 13 the sleeve 8th , so the counterweight 4 smaller than the mass of the cutting blade can be selected. The person skilled in the art recognizes that the counterweight 4 does not have to be rotationally symmetric, so that with the counterweight imbalances of the knife can be compensated. The skilled person further recognizes that it may also be possible that the counterweight 4 can be moved independently of the cutting blade along the spindle. Since this case is not a rotationally symmetric knife, the hub points 7 in their upper part a balancing mass 16 ' on, in addition to a balancing mass 16 is arranged to provide balance of the knife. The person skilled in the art recognizes that the balancing masses 16 . 16 ' are arranged to the right and left of the knife to avoid tumbling of the knife. The expert also recognizes that the balancing masses 16 . 16 ' do not need to be located directly on the knife. For example, it is advantageous if the knife 2 without the balancing masses 16 . 16 ' is moved axially.

Since the exemplary slicing machine has controlled drives, this can be used to set the zero point of the cutting blade. That's what the knife is for 2 initially spaced from the cutter bar 15 arranged in a rotational movement and slowly in the direction of the cutting bar 15 emotional. In this case, for example, the torque is measured, which is needed to the cutting blade 2 constantly driving. As soon as this torque increases, ie the cutting blade in engagement with the cutting bar 15 stands, the axial movement of the knife is stopped and, if necessary, incrementally reversed. The setting thus found is the new zero point. This embodiment has the advantage that the cutting bar does not have to be moved relative to the knife as in the prior art and that the zero point finding can be done automatically in the slicing machine according to the invention and can be repeated during the slicing process. The zero point is stored by the slicing machine according to the invention in a control unit associated with the machine and can be used to adjust the cutting gap.

Furthermore, the controlled drive can be used to adjust or readjust the gap width. The person skilled in the art recognizes that the cutting blade 2 is shaped like a bowl. During operation of the cutting blade 2 This widens, for example, by thermal effects and / or centrifugal forces. The degree of expansion is thus, inter alia, a function of the rotational speed of the cutting blade and the expert either known or can be measured. In particular, in a slicing machine in which the rotational speed of the cutting blade is not constant but also after the cold start, the expansion can be compensated by a relative movement between the spindle and the drive shaft, so that are cut with the slicing machine according to the invention during the entire cutting process with a constant cutting gap can and thus food slices with a very constant thickness can be achieved. By automatic adjustment or adjustment of the cutting gap can be cut with much smaller cutting gaps than in the prior art, which has a positive effect on the cutting quality. The drive 5 . 7 of the knife 2 and / or the adjustment mechanism 6 . 8th . 9 of the knife 2 and / or the counterweight 4 are temperature-controlled in the present slicing machine, preferably cooled.

2 shows a further schematic diagram of the slicing machine according to the invention with a spindle 6 , The slicing machine essentially corresponds to the slicing machine according to 1 , so that the statements made there apply analogously. However, in the present case, the slicing machine has a spring 20 on that with the sleeves 8th . 9 interacts and biases them so that their threads 13 . 14 only cooperates with one edge of the thread of the spindle. This will make the game between the pods 13 . 14 and the spindle 6 at least largely reduced. Furthermore, in the present case, the hub 7 not on jacks but on slats 21 stored. The lamellae deform during the axial displacement of the hub 7 , The lamellae can simultaneously function as an axial spring for backlash-free pretensioning of the sleeve 8th take. In addition to the lamellae with circumferential beads, slotted louvers can also be used. The storage with slats has the advantage that no friction and thus no heat and no wear occurs. In addition, details of the temperature, preferably cooling can be found in the present illustration. The tempering medium, in the present case water, passes through the channels 22 fed to the slicing machine and then passed to the area where the storage of the knife as well as the displacement of the knife 2 and the counterweight 4 he follows. After these areas have been tempered, the temperature control medium via the channels 23 led out of the slicing head.

3 shows a schematic diagram of the slicing machine according to the invention with three spindles. In the present case, the knife is on a knife holder 24 arranged, which is axially displaceable. The knife holder 24 has a balancing mass. In principle, the axial displacement of the knife holder takes place as in 1 shown, except that in the present case, the axial displacement is not carried out by one but by at least 3 spindles, which cooperates with two sleeves, the spindles are arranged rotationally fixed and the sleeves 8th . 9 (only one shown) of the gear 25 is driven. A sleeve has a right-hand and a left-hand thread. During operation, the turn of the drive shaft 5 driven rotor 26 and the gear 25 equally fast and in the same direction. For axial adjustment of the knife holder 24 or the counterweight 4 becomes the speed of the gear 25 or the rotor changed so that the spindle and thus the knife holder 24 or the counterweight 4 moved in the desired direction. The skilled artisan recognizes that even the spindle 6 drive and the sleeves 8th . 9 can be rotatable. Furthermore, the person skilled in the art recognizes that each spindle 6 or sleeve 8th . 9 can be individually driven. Also in the present case, the displacement mechanism is tempered. For this purpose, a tempering medium, preferably water, through the channel 22 and an axial bore in each spindle and then through the channel 23 derived again.

1

Food

2

cutting blade

3

axis of rotation

4

counterweight

5

drive shaft

6

spindle

7

hub

8th, 9

Sleeve with inner thread

10

storage the drive shaft

11

gear

12

gear

13

thread

14

thread

15

cutting bar

16

counterbalancing

16 '

counterbalancing

17

machine frame

18

cutting edge

19

sockets

20

feather

21

slats

22

Cooling (inlet)

23

Cooling (drain)

24

knife holder

25

gear

Claims (23)

Slicing machine, for slicing Food ( 1 ), in particular sausage, meat or cheese bars, with a rotating cutting blade ( 2 ) parallel to its axis of rotation ( 3 ) is displaceably mounted, characterized in that the displacement of the cutting blade by a controlled drive success. Slicing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a counterweight ( 4 ), which in opposite directions to the cutting blade ( 2 ) is displaceable. Slicing machine for slicing food ( 1 ), in particular sausage, meat or cheese bars, with a rotating cutting blade ( 2 ) parallel to its axis of rotation ( 3 ) is slidably mounted, characterized in that it is a counterweight ( 4 ), which in opposite directions to the cutting blade ( 2 ) is displaceable. Slicing machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the displacement of the cutting blade ( 2 ) and / or the counterweight ( 4 ) by preferably a regulated drive ( 6 . 8th . 9 ) he follows. Slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement of the cutting blade ( 2 ) and / or the counterweight ( 4 ) regardless of the speed of the cutting blade. Slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting knife has a drive shaft ( 5 ) and that the cutting blade ( 2 ) and / or the counterweight ( 4 ) along the drive shaft ( 5 ) is slidably mounted (are). Slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement of the cutting knife ( 2 ) and / or the counterweight ( 4 ) with at least one spindle ( 6 ) he follows. Slicing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the spindle ( 6 ) with the thread ( 13 . 14 ) at least one sleeve ( 8th . 9 ), which is connected to the cutting knife or the counterweight cooperates. Slicing machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the threads ( 13 . 14 ) of the sleeves ( 8th . 9 ) are different. Slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacement mechanism ( 6 . 8th . 9 ) of the knife ( 2 ) and / or the counterweight ( 4 ), preferably cooled. Method for the axial displacement of cutting blades during operation, characterized in that a counterweight ( 4 ) in opposite directions to the cutting blade ( 2 ) is moved. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that that the shift takes place synchronously. Method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the displacement of the cutting knife ( 2 ) and the counterweight ( 4 ) by a drive ( 6 ) he follows. Use of axially displaceable counterweights ( 4 ) for stabilizing the run of a cutting blade ( 2 ) of a slicing machine. Use according to claim 14, characterized that occurring during the displacement of the blade forces and / or Moments are compensated. Use of the axial displacement of the cutting blade ( 2 ) a slicing machine for setting the zero point. Use according to claim 16, characterized that while the displacement the torque of the drive of the cutting blade is measured. Use of the axial displacement of the cutting blade for adjusting the cutting gap between the cutting blade and a cutting bar. Use according to claim 18, characterized that the adjustment of the cutting gap during the operation of the knife he follows. Use according to claim 19, characterized that widening of the knife by thermal expansion and / or centrifugal forces be compensated. Use according to claims 18-20, characterized that the desired Cutting gap over a display on the machine is set or changed. Use according to one of claims 14-20, characterized that the mechanical behavior of the knife model and / or based on Maps in the machine control, such as a computer is deposited. Use according to claim 22, characterized in that these data for adjusting or adjusting the cutting gap in the operation of the cutting messers are used.