EP2403693B1 - Slicer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cutting device for slicing food products, in particular a high-performance slicer, comprising a drivable circular blade which rotates about a knife axis which circulates on a path about a central axis and a side of the circular blade facing away from a product to be sliced , relative to the circular blade rotatable cover.

The cover member is used in such cutting devices to prevent interference of separated product slices on the circular blade. The product slices come into contact with the cover and are stripped off. In this way, even relatively soft food products can be cut with high cutting rate. A cutting device with a stationary cover is for example in the EP 0 169 399 B1 described.

The cover, which may be provided, for example, as a flat, coaxial to the circular blade disc tends during operation of the cutting device to a self-rotation about the blade axis. A self-rotation of the cover can have unfavorable effects, since there is a risk that separated product slices are taken by the rotating cover and ejected uncontrollably.

It is therefore an object of the invention to improve cutting devices of the type mentioned in terms of product disc tray.

The object is achieved by a cutting device with the features of claim 1. According to the invention, a holding device is provided, which is designed to counteract self-rotation of the cover element about the blade axis, in particular to prevent self-rotation of the cover element about the blade axis. By the holding device can be achieved that the cover is not taken away by the rotational movement of the circular blade, but stands still or performs only relatively minor self-rotation movements. This ensures that the cut off by the rotating circular blade product slices are reliably stripped off the cover. By this orderly stripping an exact and reproducible storage position of the product slices can be achieved. In particular, soft and hard-to-cut food products can be reliably processed. According to the invention, the holding device comprises an articulated arm arrangement. Since the cover member is always in communication with the circular blade, it circulates around the central axis during operation of the cutting device. An articulated arm arrangement makes it possible to fix the cover element in spite of this circulating movement on a frame-fixed component.

Further developments are specified in the dependent claims, the description and the drawings.

The holding device may in particular be designed to hold the cover. So it is not a separate drive for the cover necessary, but it is sufficient to fix this by simple measures relative to the environment.

Preferably, the holding device cooperates with the side facing away from the circular blade side of the cover. From this side, the cover is easily accessible and can be kept at a suitable point.

The holding device may comprise the cover element with a stationary element, in particular a frame or a housing of the cutting device, couple. The cover is thus fixed to a frame-fixed component, so that a safe standstill is ensured.

The articulated arm arrangement comprises a first articulated arm and a second articulated arm which are movable relative to one another, in particular pivotable relative to one another about a pivot axis extending parallel to the knife axis. The second articulated arm can be articulated to the fixed element and the first articulated arm can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the covering element. The first articulated arm thus holds the cover element against the environment, while the second articulated arm serves to connect the first articulated arm to the stationary element. Due to the pivotability of the articulated arms, the variable distance of the encircling cover member can be compensated for the fixed element.

Preferably, the first articulated arm is connected at two spaced locations with the cover. In this way, it is ensured that the cover is securely held by the articulated arm and no rotation of the articulated arm relative to the cover member about the knife axis is possible even under greater load.

The first articulated arm can have two legs extending apart from the second articulated arm, in particular at an acute angle to one another, one end of which is in each case connected to the cover element. For example, the first articulated arm may be a V-shaped member having a crown portion and two freestanding ends. The apex portion may be hinged to the second articulating arm while the freestanding ends may be connected to the covering member. Such a component can be easily and yet stably executed.

Preferably, the articulated arm assembly defines articulation points that lie substantially in a plane parallel to a cutting plane of the circular blade. During the cutting movement, the articulated arms thus move in a common plane and require no additional space along the knife axis. Due to the orbiting motion of the circular blade and the cover member associated with it, in such a configuration, slight oscillatory movements of the cover member with respect to the environment may occur, which, however, are not critical with respect to the storage of product slices.

According to an alternative or additional embodiment, the holding device comprises a torsionally stiff coupling rod. Such a coupling rod can be brought in particular from the side directly to the cover and attached to this. This variant is characterized by a great simplicity.

The coupling rod is preferably variable in length, in order to ensure a permanent coupling of cover and a fixed element, even if the coupling rod off the central axis the fixed element is fixed and thus varies the distance between the two attachment points of the coupling rod during the orbital movement of the cover. Due to the Längenveränderlichkeit the coupling rod, the distance variation is compensated.

The coupling rod can be non-rotatably by means of two connecting joints with the cover and with the stationary element in engagement. Any self-rotation of the cover element about the blade axis can be prevented in this variant, so in particular also the above-mentioned slight oscillatory movements.

According to a development, the coupling rod can be driven to rotate about its longitudinal axis, in order to bring about a rotation of the cover element at any desired speed. An adjustable rotation of the cover relative to the circular blade around the blade axis may be useful depending on the application, for example, to influence the Schnittgutpositionierung targeted.

Preferably, the cover member comprises a coaxial with the circular blade disc which extends radially to the region of the cutting edge of the circular blade. Thus, the separated product slices contact substantially the entire surface with the cover in contact, whereby a secure stripping without adhesion problems on the circular blade is made possible.

The cover is preferably mounted on the circular blade. It is thus not a separate drive for the circular blade the following rotational movement of the cover required.

The cover is preferably provided on the side facing away from the circular blade side with elevations. Such surveys may be the Further improve storage of product slices, since unwanted adhesion to the stationary cover is prevented.

Fig. 1

ist eine teilweise Darstellung einer Schneidvorrichtung mit einem umlaufenden Kreismesser gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

Fig. 2A

ist eine Vorderansicht der Schneidvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1, bei welcher sich das Kreismesser in einer ersten Position befindet.

Fig. 2B

ist eine Vorderansicht der Schneidvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1, bei welcher sich das Kreismesser in einer zweiten Position befindet.

Fig. 3

ist eine teilweise Darstellung einer Schneidvorrichtung mit einem umlaufenden Kreismesser gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform.

Fig. 4A

ist eine Seitenansicht der Schneidvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 3, bei welcher sich das Kreismesser in einer ersten Position befindet.

Fig. 4B

ist eine Seitenansicht der Schneidvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 3, bei welcher sich das Kreismesser in einer zweiten Position befindet.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1

is a partial view of a cutting device with a rotating circular blade according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2A

is a front view of the cutting device according to Fig. 1 in which the circular blade is in a first position.

Fig. 2B

is a front view of the cutting device according to Fig. 1 in which the circular blade is in a second position.

Fig. 3

is a partial view of a cutting device with a rotating circular blade according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 4A

is a side view of the cutting device according to Fig. 3 in which the circular blade is in a first position.

Fig. 4B

is a side view of the cutting device according to Fig. 3 in which the circular blade is in a second position.

According to Fig. 1 a disc-shaped circular blade 10 is rotatably mounted and connected to a drive, not shown, which is able to drive the circular blade 10 about a knife axis M rotating. An eccentric rocker 14 also causes the circular blade 10 to orbit around a central axis Z in a circular path. It is possible to provide a common drive motor for the rotational movement about the knife axis M and for the circulating movement about the central axis Z. Alternatively, it is also possible to provide a separate drive motor for each axis M, Z.

Coaxially to the circular blade 10, a cover 24 is mounted, which is designed here as a hood or plate-like curved cover. The cover plate 24 is rotatable relative to the circular blade 10 about the knife axis M and extends radially into the region of the cutting edge 26 of the circular blade 10. Thus, one side of the circular blade 10 is almost completely covered by the cover 24.

In order to prevent a self-rotation of the cover 24 about the knife axis M, a holding device is provided, which in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 is designed as Gelenkarmanordnung 30. The articulated arm arrangement 30 comprises a first articulated arm 32 and a second articulated arm 34, which are pivotable relative to one another about a pivot axis extending parallel to the knife axis M. A first end 36 of the second articulated arm 34 is articulated to a frame 38 of the cutting device, shown only schematically, and a second end 40 of the second articulated arm 34 is articulated to the first articulated arm 32. The first articulated arm 32 has two legs 42 and 43, which are connected to one another at a vertex portion 44 and run away therefrom at an acute angle W. At the apex portion 44, the second end 40 of the second articulated arm 34 is articulated. Both legs 42, 43 are fixedly connected to the crown portion 44 opposite end portion 45 of the first link arm 32 with the cover plate 24, for example screwed or riveted. The corresponding attachment points 46, 47 are located away from the blade axis M. To stabilize the first articulated arm 32, a semicircular curved connecting bar 48 is further provided, which extends around the blade axis M around and connects the two legs 42, 43 to each other at the end portion 45. The pivot points defined by the Gelenkarmanordnung 30 49, 50 and the attachment points 46, 47 on the cover 24 are in a common plane which is parallel to the cutting plane of the circular blade 10 and only slightly offset from this. During the orbital movement of the circular blade 10, the articulation points 49, 50 and the attachment points 46, 47 always remain in the common plane.

During operation of the cutting device approaches, as in Fig. 2A is shown, the circular blade 10 in its orbit to be sliced product bars 55, which is located on a product feeder 57 and automatically advanced by means of a controlled drive, not shown. In the further course of the planetary orbital motion, the cutting edge 26 of the circular blade 10 separates according to Fig. 2B a product plate 58 from the product bars 55 from. The cover 24 ensures that the separated product disc 58 does not adhere to the circular blade 10, but is stripped on the surface of the cover 24. The convex curvature of the cover 24 supports the controlled stripping of the product wafer 58. To further improve the stripping process 24 circumferential projections 59 are provided on the surface of the cover.

By the Gelenkarmanordnung 30, the cover 24 is fixed to the frame 38. The varying distance between the circulating with the circular blade 10 cover 24 and the frame 38 is compensated by the pivotal movement of the two articulated arms 32, 34, as well as in FIGS. 2A and 2B can be seen. It results during the orbital movement due to the variable angular position of the two articulated arms 32, 34 a slight, oscillating rotation of the cover 24 about the knife axis M. However, this oscillatory movement has only a very small stroke and is therefore not detrimental to a precise product disc tray. The separated product slice 58 falls exactly in position from the cover plate 24 and can be further processed in the desired manner, in particular an automatic filing, transport and / or packaging line supplied, are.

In Fig. 3 a cutting device according to a second embodiment is shown, wherein equivalent components are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment. The holding device for holding the cover 24 is formed here as a torsionally stiff and variable-length coupling rod 60. The coupling rod 60 is non-rotatably by means of two connecting joints 62, 64 with the cover plate 24 and with the frame 38 of the cutting device in engagement. Since the connecting joints 62, 64 are designed torsionally rigid, the cover plate 24 can not rotate with the circular blade 10, but remains during the orbital motion at a standstill. The coupling rod 60 engages in the region of the knife axis M on the cover 24 and describes during the rotation of the cover 24 a conical surface, as well as from the FIGS. 4A and 4B evident.

An advantage of the cutting device according to the second embodiment is that, if desired, a drive for the coupling rod 60 may be provided to allow a targeted rotation of the cover 24 in a predetermined direction and at a defined speed. With such a drive, a defined relative rotation between the circular blade 10 and the cover 24 can be brought about. Such a relative rotation can be used to selectively influence the storage behavior of the cutting device. By selecting the speed of the relative rotation, the braking effect exerted on the separated product wafer 58 at each cut by the cover disk 24 can be specified in a targeted manner, so that a particularly exact depositing of the respective product wafer 58 is possible.

Overall, by the principle of holding the cover 24 a significant improvement in the storage behavior of the associated cutting device can be achieved. Thus, especially soft, otherwise difficult to cut food products can be cut easily.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

circular blade

14

Exzenterschwinge

24

cover plate

26

cutting edge

30

Articulating arm assembly

32

first articulated arm

34

second articulated arm

36

first end

38

frame

40

second end

42

leg

43

leg

44

apex portion

45

end

46

fastening point

47

fastening point

48

connection Holm

49

articulation

50

articulation

55

product Riegel

57

product feed

58

product slice

59

survey

60

coupling rod

62

connection joint

64

connection joint

M

blade axis

Z

central axis

W

angle

Claims (11)

1. A cutting apparatus for slicing food products, in particular a high-performance slicer, comprising
   a drivable circular blade (10) which rotates about a blade axis (M) which revolves on an orbit about a center axis (Z); and
   a cover element (24) provided at the side of the circular blade (10) remote from a product (55) to be sliced and rotatable relative to the circular blade (10),
   characterized by
   a holding apparatus (30, 60) which is made to counter a self rotation of the cover element (24) about the blade axis (M), in particular to prevent a self rotation of the cover element (24) about the blade axis (M), wherein the holding apparatus includes an articulated arm arrangement (30) which includes a first articulated arm (32) and a second articulated arm (34) which are movable relative to one another, in particular pivotable relative to one another about a pivot axis extending parallel to the blade axis (M).
2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the holding apparatus (50, 60) is designed to hold the cover element (24) firmly.
3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that
   the holding apparatus (30, 60) cooperates with the side of the cover element (24) remote from the circular blade (10).
4. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   the holding apparatus (30, 60) couples the cover element (24) with a fixed element (38), in particular with a frame or with a housing of the cutting apparatus.
5. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   the second articulated arm (34) is pivotally connected to a fixed element (38) and the first articulated arm (32) is rotationally fixedly connected to the cover element (24).
6. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   the first articulated arm (32) is connected to the cover element (24) at two mutually spaced apart points (46, 47).
7. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   the first articulated arm (32) has two limbs (42, 43) which, starting from the second articulated arm (34), run apart and are in particular at an acute angle (W) relative to one another, with the one end of said limbs being connected to the cover element (24) in each case.
8. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   the articulated arm arrangement (30) defines pivotal connection points (49, 50) which are essentially in a plane extending parallel to a cutting plane of the circular blade (10).
9. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   the cover element (24) includes a disk which is coaxial to the circular blade (10) and which extends radially up to the region of the cutting edge (26) of the circular blade (10).
10. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
    the cover element (24) is supported on the circular blade (10).
11. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
    the cover element (24) is provided with elevated portions (59) at the side remote from the circular blade (10).

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