Bread slicer

Abstract

A bread slicer comprising: - a loading compartment (6) adjacent to the front side (2) which is connected to a receiving compartment (7) near the rear side (3) of the slicer; - an access opening (8) for placing a loaf of bread (16) to be sliced ​​into the loading compartment (6) by a user positioned in front of the front side (2); - a cutting element for slicing the bread (16) as it moves between said compartments (6, 7); - a support surface (9) for the bread (16) extending into the compartments (6, 7). The support surface (9) is inclined at an angle (α) greater than 10° and less than 25° with respect to a horizontal line.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a bread slicer with a frame having a front side opposite a rear side and two lateral sides extending between the front and rear sides. This slicer is designed to be used by a user located at the front of the machine. The slicer comprises: a loading compartment which is connected to a receiving compartment; the loading compartment is adjacent to the front side and the receiving compartment is near the rear side of the slicer chassis, an access opening for the loading compartment for placing a loaf of bread to be sliced ​​in this compartment; the access opening is accessible from said front side by a user who is positioned in front of this front side to place a loaf of bread to be sliced ​​in the loading compartment and to retrieve the bread after it has been sliced, a cutting element that can move along a cutting plane to cut slices of the bread when it is moved between said compartments, a support surface for the bread extending into said compartments and having a slot between the compartments to allow the passage of the cutting element along said cutting plane;The support surface defines a direction of bread movement between the front and rear sides of the chassis, extending parallel to the support surface. A movable pusher can move along said direction of bread movement, enabling the bread to be grasped and moved between said compartments through the cutting plane. This movable pusher is guided by a guide rail extending substantially parallel to the support surface and said direction of movement.

[0002] Slicers that have the aforementioned characteristics are, for example, described in document EP 3 907 051. This document describes a slicer whose support surface for the bread to be cut is inclined at a fairly large angle to the horizontal direction.

[0003] This means that the loaf must be moved a considerable vertical distance against gravity after being gripped by the pusher as it travels from the loading compartment to the receiving compartment. Consequently, the pusher's claws may tear the loaf, causing it to slide downwards.

[0004] If the bread then needs to be lowered again to be sliced, its downward movement must be slowed by a drive motor that moves the pusher along the guide rail. Furthermore, the load exerted by the bread on this motor due to gravity decreases each time a slice is cut in the bread machine. This necessitates a relatively complex control system and a fairly large motor.

[0005] Therefore, a steeply inclined support surface not only risks pulling the bread off the pusher, but also requires excessively bulky components including a stepper motor, brake, belt, pulleys, etc.

[0006] Furthermore, it was also noted that it is important for the support surface to have a slight incline so that the already cut slices of bread do not press against the uncut portion, which would compromise the quality of the slices. In addition, a slight slope makes it easier to move the bread downwards during cutting without encountering excessive resistance from the surface.

[0007] It is also observed that existing slicers are often too tall, and that the sliced ​​bread must be removed from the slicer at too low a level. This is, for example, detrimental to the machine's ergonomics.

[0008] Therefore, the objective of the invention is to offer a slicer that is less complex and as compact as possible, which also offers improved ergonomics.

[0009] For this purpose, according to the invention, the support surface is inclined at an angle (α) greater than 10° and less than 25°, in particular between 15° and 24°, with respect to a horizontal line which extends perpendicularly to the front side of the slicer.

[0010] Advantageously, said guide rail for the pusher extends laterally along at least part of the receiving compartment.

[0011] According to a commonly applied embodiment of the invention, the slicer includes a movable support to support and / or push the bread to be cut or the slices of cut bread.

[0012] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the slicer according to the invention comprises a bagging pallet which is provided in the loading compartment. This pallet is movable between a receiving position in which the pallet extends along the plane of the support surface and a bagging position in which at least one end of the pallet is raised relative to the plane of the support surface.

[0013] According to an interesting embodiment of the invention, the bagging pallet is pivotally mounted around a horizontally extending pivot axis.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment of the slicer according to the invention, the slicer has a lateral guide surface adjacent to the support surface. This guide surface extends substantially transversely to the support surface and parallel to the direction of travel in order to guide the bread during its movement between the compartments.

[0015] According to a very interesting embodiment of the slicer according to the invention, the support surface is inclined between said lateral sides with respect to the horizontal so that a loaf, which is placed on the support surface, rests against said guide surface.

[0016] A very advantageous feature of the bagging pallet is a lateral rim that connects to the guide surface in the pallet receiving position.

[0017] The invention also relates to a method for automatically slicing bread, which allows the bread to be packaged after slicing using a slicer having a frame with a front side, opposite a rear side, and two lateral sides extending between the front and rear sides. This slicer includes a loading compartment connected to a receiving compartment, and the loading compartment is adjacent to said front side while the receiving compartment is near said rear side.

[0018] The process according to the invention comprises the following steps: to place a loaf of bread to be sliced ​​in the loading compartment of the slicer by a user who is positioned in front of the front side of the slicer, to grasp the loaf by a movable pusher which is guided by a guide rail, to move the loaf by means of the pusher towards a receiving compartment and to return the loaf towards the loading compartment from the receiving compartment in a direction of movement of the loaf inclined with respect to the horizontal and substantially parallel to said guide rail, to cut successive slices of the loaf as it moves downward in the direction of movement between the compartments, the slices being cut from the loaf in a cutting plane extending substantially perpendicular to said direction of movement of the loaf.

[0019] This process is characterized in that the bread and the moving pusher are moved along said direction of movement inclined at an angle (α) greater than 10° and less than 25°, in particular between 15° and 24°, with respect to a horizontal line which extends perpendicularly to the front side of the slicer.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the bread is received by a bagging pallet following its movement from the receiving compartment to the loading compartment along said direction of movement. This pallet extends substantially along said direction of movement upon receiving the bread.

[0021] In one interesting embodiment of the method according to the invention, the direction of movement of the bread is upward when the bread is moved from the loading compartment to the receiving compartment. In an alternative embodiment, the direction of movement of the bread is downward when the bread is moved from the loading compartment to the receiving compartment.

[0022] Other details and features of the invention will become apparent from the description given below, by way of non-limiting example, of some particular embodiments of the slicer and the process according to the invention with reference to the attached drawings. There figure 1 is a very schematic perspective view of a bread slicer, according to the invention. figure 2 is seen in a very schematic vertical section along a plane extending substantially transversely with respect to the front and rear sides of the slicer according to the invention. figure 3 is a very schematic vertical cross-section, parallel to the front side, of a part of the slicer including the pusher. figures 4 à 9 show a schematic side view of a bread slicer, following an interesting embodiment of the invention, illustrating different stages from the introduction of a loaf to be cut until the removal of the cut loaf.

[0023] In the different figures, the same reference figures refer to similar or identical elements.

[0024] The invention relates, in general, to an automatic bread slicer that allows for the simple packaging of sliced ​​bread. Such a slicer is represented very schematically in the figure. figure 1 .

[0025] The slicer 1 has a rectangular base and comprises a frame with a front side 2 opposite a rear side 3 and two lateral sides 4 and 5 extending between the front side 2 and the rear side 3. The sides of the frame preferably extend approximately along a straight and vertical plane. The front side 2 and the rear side 3 are, for example, perpendicular to the lateral sides 4 and 5.

[0026] Adjacent to the front side 2, the interior of the slicer 1 includes a loading compartment 6 designed to hold a loaf of bread to be sliced ​​and to retrieve the sliced ​​bread. This loading compartment 6 is connected to a receiving compartment 7 located in the slicer 1 near the rear side 3.

[0027] To allow a loaf of bread to be inserted into the slicer and retrieved after slicing, an access opening 8 is provided, giving access to the loading compartment 6. For clarity, this access opening is not shown in the figures, but is indicated only by the reference numeral 8. The access opening is reached from the front side 2 by a user positioned in front of this front side 2 to place a loaf of bread to be sliced ​​into the loading compartment 2 and to retrieve the bread after slicing. This access opening 8 is therefore provided in the front side 2 and / or in the upper side of the slicer 1 opposite the loading compartment 6. Preferably, this access opening 8 can be closed by a cover 8a, as shown in the figure 2 , during the operation of slicer 1.

[0028] A bread support surface 9 extends into the two compartments 6 and 7 mentioned above. This support surface 9 is relatively smooth and free of any roughness, allowing a loaf of bread to slide easily across it. Optionally, this surface 9 may have a textured surface, provided that it is not rough and that this texture does not impede the movement of the bread. This support surface 9 may, for example, be made of stainless steel.

[0029] Between compartments 6 and 7, a slot 10 is provided in the support surface 9 to allow the passage of a cutting element along a cutting plane. The cutting element is designed to cut slices of bread and comprises, for example, a circular blade that rotates around its axis. This cutting element, along with the circular blade, is movable along a cutting plane through said slot 10. The cutting plane preferably extends perpendicularly to the support surface 9 between said compartments 6 and 7.

[0030] After a loaf of bread is introduced into the loading compartment 6, it is moved along a direction of travel, as indicated by the double arrow 11, towards the receiving compartment 7. This direction of travel 11 extends between the front side 2 and the rear side 3 of the chassis and parallel to the support surface 9.

[0031] Preferably, this direction of movement 11 of the bread is substantially parallel to a vertical plane which extends transversely with respect to said front side 2 and / or said rear side 3, or approximately parallel to the lateral sides 4 and 5 of the frame of the slicer 1.

[0032] The slicer also includes a movable pusher 12 which can be moved along the direction of travel 11 of the bread to move the bread between the compartments 6 and 7 across the cutting plane. This pusher 12 is known to those skilled in the art and includes, for example, retractable claws 12a. A pusher with retractable claws is, for example, described in document DE 202011005113.

[0033] This pusher 12 cooperates with a movable support 13, which is also movable along the direction of travel 11 of the bread. Such a movable support 13 is known to those skilled in the art and serves to support the bread being cut or to support the slices being cut from the bread. For this purpose, the movable support 13 is driven in the direction of travel of the bread.

[0034] The pusher 12 and the movable support 13 can, for example, be driven by means of a toothed belt extending along and beside the support surface 9, as shown, for example, in document EP 2045053.

[0035] In the slicer according to the invention, the support surface is inclined at an angle α with respect to a horizontal line extending perpendicularly to the front side 2 of the slicer 1, as shown in the figure 1 This angle α is between 10° and 25°, in particular between 15° and 24°. An angle α which is between 20° and 24° seems to offer the best result with regard to the quality of the bread cut and ergonomics for the user.

[0036] Optionally, the support surface 9 can also be inclined at an angle β with respect to a straight line extending transversely from the lateral sides 4 and 5 of the slicer 1, as shown in the figure 1 This angle β is, for example, between 15° and 45°.

[0037] In such a case, the slicer 1 has a lateral guide surface 14 which is adjacent to the support surface 9. This guide surface 14 extends substantially transversely with respect to the support surface 9 and parallel to said direction of travel 11 in order to allow the bread to be guided during its movement between compartments 6 and 7.

[0038] When a loaf of bread is placed in the loading compartment 6 of a slicer having a support surface inclined at an angle α and an angle β, as shown in the figure 1 The loaf slides along the support surface 9 until it reaches the guide surface 14 and, optionally, the movable support 13. Then, the pusher 12 is brought towards the loaf and the claws 12a of the pusher 12 are activated to grip the loaf on the side opposite to that of the movable support 13. The loaf is then moved towards the receiving compartment 7 by the movement of the pusher 12 while it slides along the support surface 9 and against the guide surface 14.

[0039] There figure 2 shows very schematically a slicer 1, according to the invention, having a loading compartment 6 and a receiving compartment 7 with a support surface 9 which is inclined at an angle α with respect to the horizontal in the direction of movement of the bread 11.

[0040] In the loading compartment 6, part of the support surface 9 forms a bagging pallet 15 which can be moved to a bagging position from the plane of the support surface. For this purpose, the bagging pallet 15 can pivot around an axis 19. The figure 2 shows pallet 15 with a dotted line in the bagging position

[0041] The slicer 1 of the figure 2 presents a movable pusher 12 which can move along the direction of travel 11 and which can grasp a loaf 16 to be cut by means of retractable claws 12a. After a loaf has been placed in the loading compartment 6, it is grasped by the retractable claws 12a of the pusher 12. Then, the loaf 16 is moved by the movement of the pusher 12 towards the receiving compartment 7 through the cutting plane 17. During this movement, the pusher 12 is guided by a guide rail 17 which extends substantially parallel to the support surface 9 and therefore parallel to the direction of travel 11.

[0042] The pusher 12 is connected by a support arm 18 to the guide rail 17, which can be moved along the rail 17 by means of a drive system not shown in the figures. This drive system may include, for example, an electric motor and possibly a drive belt.

[0043] There figure 3 Figure 16 shows a very schematic cross-section along a plane transverse to the direction of movement 11 of the loaf of bread 16. This figure shows a lateral guide surface 14 adjacent to the support surface 9, extending substantially transversely to the latter and parallel to the direction of movement 11. This lateral guide surface 14 delimits compartments 6 and 7 and guides the loaf of bread 16 during its movement between these compartments. At the height of the guide rail 17, this guide surface has a slot 20 for the passage of the support arm 18 of the pusher 12.

[0044] The guide rail 17 for the pusher 12 preferably extends outside compartments 6 and 7. This rail 17 extends, in particular, preferably laterally along at least part of the receiving compartment 7.

[0045] THE figures 4 à 9 show yet another interesting embodiment of the slicer, according to the invention. As shown in the figures 8 et 9 This slicer includes a bagging pallet 15 which can be moved to a bagging position to package the sliced ​​bread. In this embodiment of the invention, the movable support 13 is moved together with the bagging pallet 15 after the bread has been sliced.

[0046] The bagging pallet 15 is mounted rotatably around a fixed axis 19. This axis 19 extends into the loading compartment 6 and into the plane of the support surface 9.

[0047] When the bagging pallet 15 reaches the packaging position, the movable support 13 is folded down towards the user, who is standing in front of the front side of the slicer and in line with the pallet 15. The user can then slide a bag 21 over the entire movable support 13, the pallet 15, and the loaf 16 to retrieve it, as shown in the diagram. figure 9 .

[0048] In the embodiments of the slicer according to the invention, described above, the bagging pallet 15 is moved from its receiving position to the bagging position by a rotation around an axis 19 provided near the cutting plane 17. Thus, the end of the loaf 16 which is directed towards the front side 2, or towards the user, is moved upwards when the pallet is moved to its bagging position.

[0049] The bagging pallet 15 may include, for example, oblong recesses extending side by side. Thus, when a packaging bag 21 is slid over the sliced ​​loaf and the pallet 15, this bag 21 can be slid along the recesses next to the loaf 16. Therefore, the size of the bag can be chosen according to the dimensions of the loaf.

Claims

1. A bread slicer having a frame with a front side (2) opposite a rear side (3) and two lateral sides (4,5) extending between the front side (2) and the rear side (3), which slicer (1) comprises - a loading compartment (6) which is connected to a receiving compartment (7), the loading compartment (6) being adjacent to said front side (2) while the receiving compartment (7) is close to said rear side (3) - an access opening (8) for the loading compartment (6) to put a loaf of bread (16) to be sliced in this compartment (6), the access opening (8) being accessible from said front side (2) by a user who is positioned in front of this front side (2) to put a loaf of bread (16) to be sliced in the loading compartment (6) and to retrieve the loaf of bread (16) after it has been cut into slices, - a cutting member which can move along a cutting plane (17) to cut slices of the bread (16) as it moves between said compartments (6, 7), - a support surface (9) for the bread (16) extending into the above-mentioned compartments (6, 7) and having a slot (10) between the compartments (6, 7) to allow the passage of the cutting member along said cutting plane (17), this support surface (9) defining a direction of movement (11) of the bread (16) extending between the front side (2) and the rear side (3) of the frame and parallel to the support surface (9), - a movable push rod (12) which can move in said direction of movement (11) of the bread (16) which enables the bread (16) to be seized and moved between said compartments (6, 7) through the cutting plane (17), this movable push rod (12) being guided by a guide rail extending substantially parallel to the support surface and to said direction of movement, this slicer being characterized in that the support surface (9) is inclined at an angle (α) greater than 10° and less than 25°, in particular between 15° and 24°, with respect to a horizontal line extending perpendicularly to the front side (2) of the slicer (1).

2. Slicer according to claim 1, wherein the guide rail (17) extends laterally along at least part of the receiving compartment.

3. Slicer according to claim 1 or 2 comprising a movable support (13) which can be moved to support and / or push the bread (16) to be sliced or the slices of the sliced bread.

4. Slicer according to any of claims 1 to 3, comprising a bagging pallet (15) provided in the loading compartment (6), this pallet (15) being movable between a receiving position in which the pallet (15) extends in the plane of the support surface (9) and a wrapping position in which at least one end (18) of the pallet (15) is raised relative to the plane of the support surface (9).

5. Slicer according to claim 4, wherein the bagging pallet (15) is formed by a movable portion of the support surface (9).

6. Slicer according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the bagging pallet (15) is pivot-mounted about a horizontally extending pivot axis (19).

7. Slicer according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the bagging pallet (15) is pivot-mounted about a pivot axis (19) extending in the plane of the support surface (9).

8. Slicer according to any of claims 4 to 7, having a lateral guide surface (14) adjacent to the support surface (9) and extending substantially transversely thereto and parallel to said direction of travel (11) to help guide the bread (16) as it moves between the compartments (6,7).

9. Slicer according to claim 8, wherein the support surface (9) is inclined between the lateral sides (4,5) at an angle (β) relative to the horizontal so that a loaf of bread (16) which is put on the support surface (9) rests against said guide surface (14).

10. Slicer according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the bagging pallet (15) has a side flange (36) connecting to the guide surface (14) in the receiving position of the pallet (15).

11. Slicer according to claim 10, wherein the guide surface (14) has a recess in which said lateral flange (36) is housed extending in the extension of the guide surface (14) when the bagging pallet (15) is in said receiving position.

12. Slicer according to claim 10 or 11, wherein a certain distance is present between said flange (36) and the guide surface (14) when the pallet (15) is in its wrapping position, this distance making it possible to slide a bag (29) onto the pallet (15) in order to wrap the bread (16).

13. Method for slicing a loaf of bread (16) with a slicer (1) having a frame with a front side (2), opposite a rear side (3), and two lateral sides (4, 5) extending between the front side (2) and the rear side (3), this slicer (1) comprising a loading compartment (6) which is connected to a receiving compartment (7), the loading compartment (6) being adjacent to said front side (2) while the receiving compartment (7) is close to said rear side (3), this method comprising the following steps : • putting a loaf of bread (16) to be sliced in the loading compartment (6) of the slicer (1) by a user who is positioned in front of the front side (2) of the slicer (1), • seizing the loaf by a movable push rod which is guided by a guide rail, • moving the loaf of bread (16) towards the receiving compartment (7) by means of the push rod and returning the loaf of bread (16) to the loading compartment (6) from the receiving compartment (7) according to a direction of movement (11) inclined to the horizontal and substantially parallel to said guide rail, • cutting successive slices of the loaf of bread (16) as it moves downwards in the direction of movement (11) between the compartments (6, 7), the slices being cut from the bread (16) in a cutting plane (17) extending substantially perpendicularly to said direction of movement (11) of the bread, characterized in that the loaf of bread (16) and the movable push rod are moved in said direction of movement (11) inclined at an angle (α) greater than 10° and less than 25°, in particular between 15° and 24°, relative to a horizontal line which extends perpendicularly to the front side (2) of the slicer.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the loaf of bread (16) is received by a bagging pallet (15) following the movement of the loaf of bread (16) from the receiving compartment (7) to the loading compartment (6) along said direction of movement (11), said pallet (15) extending substantially in said direction of movement (11) when receiving the loaf of bread (16).

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein, after the bagging pallet (15) has received the loaf of bread (16), the pallet is moved together with the loaf of bread (16) relative to said direction of movement (11) towards a wrapping position in which at least one end (18) of the pallet (15) is elevated relative to said direction of movement (11) of the loaf of bread (16).

16. Method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein a wrapping bag (29) is slid over the pallet (15) and the loaf of bread (16) as a whole from said end (18) of the pallet (15), after which the bag (29) containing the loaf of bread (16) is removed from the pallet (15).

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