Conveyor device and method for conveying portions of food products, as well as cutting line for slicing food products

Abstract

Conveying device for conveying product portions (46) from food products (22), in particular for conveying between a device (12) for cutting the food products (22) and a device (60) for packaging the product portions (46), with a) an infeed conveyor (84) to which one or more product portions (46) arranged in a format level (56) can be fed and which conveys a respective format in an infeed conveying direction (85); b) an output conveyor (88) by means of which a format can be discharged in an output conveying direction (89); wherein c) a format fed to the input conveyor (84) defines an input format (50); d) the conveying device (58) comprises a format alignment device (66) and is configured such that the output feeder (88) discharges a delivery format (70) which has a different orientation with respect to the output conveying direction (89) than the input format (50) with respect to the input conveying direction (85); characterized in that e) a movable infeed transfer conveyor (86) is provided, which is movable between an infeed transfer position and a release position and in the infeed transfer position works in terms of conveying technology with both the infeed conveyor (84) and the format alignment device (66) and releases the format alignment device (66) in the release position; f) a movable output transfer conveyor (90) is provided, which is movable between an output transfer position and a release position and in the output transfer position works in terms of conveying technology with both the output conveyor (88) and the format alignment device (66) and in the release position releases the format alignment device (66).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a conveying device for conveying portions of food products, in particular for conveying between a device for cutting the food products and a device for packaging the portions of the products, with a) an infeed conveyor to which one or more product portions arranged in a format level to form a format can be fed and which conveys a respective format in an infeed conveying direction; b) an output conveyor by means of which a format can be discharged in an output conveying direction; where c) a format fed to the input conveyor defines an input format; d) the conveying device includes a format alignment device and is configured such that the output feeder delivers a discharge format which has a different orientation with respect to the output conveying direction than the input format with respect to the input conveying direction.

[0002] Such a conveying device for a food product is known, for example, from DE 40 30 410 A1. The conveying device described therein is arranged between a cutting device for slicing the food product and a packaging device. US 5,628,237 A teaches a cutting device.

[0003] Furthermore, the invention relates to a cutting line for slicing food products, which includes a device for slicing the food products and a device for packaging the sliced ​​food products.

[0004] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for conveying portions of food products, in particular for conveying between a device for cutting the food products and a device for packaging the portions of the products, in which a) one or more product portions arranged in a format level to form a format, fed to an infeed conveyor and conveyed by it in an infeed conveying direction; b) a format is submitted with an output feeder in an output feeder direction.

[0005] In cutting lines of the type described above, product loaves of sausage, cheese, or similar items are processed, often having a rectangular cross-section with longer longitudinal sides and shorter transverse sides. For cutting reasons, these product loaves are sliced ​​crosswise; the loaves lie on an outer surface that defines the longitudinal side of the cross-section. The resulting rectangular product slices are stacked into product portions, which are then formed into a cuboid shape with one long side leading.

[0006] During the conveying process, several product portions form a product portion group, which in turn forms a so-called format consisting of several product portions. Within this format, the product portions are initially arranged with one long side facing forward in the conveying direction.

[0007] However, there are packaging devices into which such product portions must be fed with a shorter transverse side leading.

[0008] The object of the invention is to provide a conveying device, a cutting line and a method of the type mentioned above, with which an effective transfer of product portions or formats, in particular adapted to the requirements of a packaging device, is possible.

[0009] This task is solved in a conveying device of the type mentioned above by the fact that e) a movable infeed transfer conveyor is available, which is movable between an infeed transfer position and a release position and which, in the infeed transfer position, works in terms of conveying technology with both the infeed conveyor and the format alignment device, and releases the format alignment device in the release position; f) a movable output transfer conveyor is available, which is movable between an output transfer position and a release position and in the output transfer position works in terms of conveying technology with both the output conveyor and the format alignment device and releases the format alignment device in the release position.

[0010] With a conveying device according to the invention, the orientation of a format as a whole can be changed with respect to an assigned conveying direction. In this way, the orientations of the individual product portions forming the format are changed in one operation, thereby ensuring a considerable time saving and improved throughput with respect to changing the orientation of individual product portions.

[0011] In particular, the change in the orientation of the format is achieved by a rotation.

[0012] It is particularly advantageous if the format alignment device a) comprises a rotary unit by which an input format can be rotated about an axis of rotation which is at an angle to the format plane, with respect to the input conveying direction, by an angle of rotation, thereby producing the output format; and / or b) can cause a change in the direction of the input format.

[0013] According to the invention, an input format can be converted into a output format by either rotating the input format as a whole or by changing the conveying direction of the input format. A change of direction is accompanied by a change of orientation; for example, a turn without a change of orientation is not included. Rotation and a change of direction can also be combined.

[0014] Preferably is a) the angle between the axis of rotation and the format plane 90°; and / or b) the angle of rotation 90°.

[0015] Thus, the input format is preferably processed in its format layer and also preferably rotated by 90°.

[0016] It is advantageous if the format alignment device includes a table that can be moved between a lowered and a raised position and / or rotated around a pivot axis. If the format alignment is changed only by changing direction, the table does not need to be rotatable, for example; this will be clarified further below.

[0017] Preferably, the format alignment device has a plurality of vertically projecting support pins on one upper side.

[0018] The infeed and / or outfeed conveyors are particularly advantageous when designed as belt conveyors with belt strips. Such belt conveyors are well-established and, moreover, can work especially well with the aforementioned support pins, as will be explained further below.

[0019] With regard to the cutting line of the type mentioned above, the problem stated above is solved by arranging a conveying device with some or all of the above-mentioned features between the device for cutting the food products and the device for packaging the cut food products.

[0020] In the method of the type mentioned above, the problem stated above is solved by conveying the product portions with a conveying device having some or all of the characteristics explained above and c) a format fed to the input conveyor defines an input format; d) a delivery format is generated using a format alignment device, which is delivered by the output feeder and which has a different orientation with respect to the output feeder direction than the input format with respect to the input feeder direction.

[0021] The advantages are the same as those explained above for the conveying device.

[0022] Similarly, it is advantageous if a) an input format is rotated about an axis of rotation which is at an angle to the format plane, relative to the input conveying direction, by an angle of rotation, thereby producing the output format; and / or b) causes a change in the direction of the input format.

[0023] It is also correspondingly advantageous if a) the angle between the axis of rotation and the format plane is 90°; and / or b) the angle of rotation is 90°.

[0024] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a side view of a cutting line for cutting food products with a cutting device and a packaging device, between which a conveying device with a rotary device is arranged; Fig. 2 to 7 corresponding top views of the conveying device and the packaging equipment in different conveying phases.

[0025] In Fig. 1, with a total of 10, designates a cutting line for slicing and packaging food products into product portions.

[0026] The cutting line 10 comprises a cutting device 12, known per se, with a spiral cutting blade 14, which is supported by a blade holder 16. The cutting blade 14 is driven by a motor (not shown), rotates in a cutting plane 18, and works in conjunction with a stationary counter blade 20.

[0027] Product loaves 22 to be sliced ​​are fed to the cutting head 16 supported on a product support 24, which can be pivoted about a pivot axis 26. Two product loaves 22 are always sliced ​​simultaneously; one of these two product loaves 22 is located in Fig. 1 behind the drawing plane.

[0028] The product display 24 includes a conveyor belt 28 as a product conveying device, which is driven by a drive motor 30. The product display 24 with the conveyor belt 28 is loaded with food products in a substantially horizontal loading position and then pivoted into a working position inclined relative to a horizontal plane. Fig. Figure 1 shows the product support 24 in its loading position (solid lines) and in its working position (dashed lines). In the illustrated embodiment, the longitudinal axis of the product support 24 forms an angle of 90° with the cutting plane 20 in its working position.

[0029] Above the product support 24, a delivery device 32 with two clamping jaws is provided, which engage in the two product loaves 22 and direct them against the cutting blade 14.

[0030] In its loading position, the product display 24 can be supplied with product loaves 22 by means of a loading conveyor 34 from an area upstream of the cutting machine 10, in which the product loaves 22 are weighed, subjected to a volume or density measurement and / or pre-formed, as is known per se. The loading conveyor 34 comprises two parallel and independently driven loading belts 36, one of which is again located behind the plane of the drawing.

[0031] The product bodies 22, cut into discs, fall downwards under the influence of gravity onto a portioning conveyor 38 of a portioning device 40 with two portioning strands 42, which can be designed as conveyor belts, belt conveyors, or the like. Each portioning strand 42 operates in conjunction with a scale 44. When a product portion 46 consisting of a predetermined number or weight of product discs has formed on the portioning strands 40, this product portion 46 is conveyed away. Individual product portions 46 are in the Fig. 2 to 7 can be identified, although not all product portions bear a reference mark.

[0032] The portioning device 40 produces product portion groups 48, in which several product portions 46 form a so-called format 50.

[0033] The smallest unit of a product portion group 48 can consist of a single product portion 46. In this case, the corresponding format 50 also comprises only a single product portion 46. In practice, a product portion group 48, and therefore a format 50, comprises at least two product portions 46.

[0034] In the present embodiment, a product portion group 48 or the associated format 50 comprises two parallel lines 52 with four rows 54, so that a total of eight product portions 46 are arranged in the conveying direction in a 2x4 matrix, as shown in the Fig. 2 to 7 are clearly recognizable. However, many other formats 50 are also possible. A product portion group 48 or a format 50 defines a format level 56 in which the product portions 46 belonging to product portion group 48 are arranged and which are only in Fig. 1 is marked. In the embodiment described here, the format plane 56 runs horizontally. However, if conveying units are inclined upwards or downwards in the conveying direction, the format plane 56, which serves as a reference dimension, can also be inclined accordingly relative to the horizontal.

[0035] The product portion groups 48 are then transferred from the portioning device 40 to a conveying device 58, which conveys the formats 50 to a packaging device 60, which need not be discussed in more detail below.

[0036] Both the portioning device 40 and the packaging device 60 can perform a buffer function before and after the conveying device 58. If necessary, separate buffer zones or buffer zones belonging to the conveying device 58 can also be provided before and after the conveying device 58.

[0037] In the Fig. 2 to 7 are only in Fig. 2. Label all components with reference numbers, in the Fig. Only the essential components were marked in sections 3 to 7.

[0038] As mentioned at the outset, the product loaves 22 have a rectangular cross-section with longer longitudinal sides and shorter transverse sides and are cut transversely. Thus, the product portions 46 are formed in a cuboid shape with one longitudinal side 62 leading, although the product portions 46 must be fed to the packaging device 60 with one shorter transverse side 64 leading.

[0039] To achieve this, the conveying device 58 includes a format alignment device 66 with which a product portion group 48, i.e., a format 50, can be rotated about a rotary axis 68 that runs at an angle to the format plane 56. In the present embodiment, this angle is 90°, but in principle, this angle can be arbitrary.

[0040] The format alignment device 66 is able to convert a format 50 into a delivery format 70, in which the product portion group 48 is rotated in the format level 56 compared to the supplied format 50.

[0041] A format 50 thus defines an input format in relation to a generated output format 70; this term will be used in the following.

[0042] The conveying device 58 comprises a feed conveyor 72, which conveys the input formats 50 produced by the portioning device 40 to the format alignment device 66. The conveying device 58 also comprises a discharge conveyor 74, which conveys the produced output formats 70 from the format alignment device 66 to the packaging device 60.

[0043] The format alignment device 66 comprises a rotary unit 76 with a table 78, which can be moved vertically between a lowered and a raised position by means of a drive unit 80 and can, of course, be rotated about the axis of rotation 68. The format alignment device 66, i.e., the rotary unit 76 and here the table 78, has a plurality of vertically projecting support pins 82 on its upper surface, which are arranged regularly at equal intervals. In the present embodiment, the support pins 82 cover a square area; however, other arrangements are also possible as long as a fed input format 50 can be received by the rotary unit 76.

[0044] The feed conveyor 72 comprises a stationary infeed conveyor 84, to which the infeed formats 50 can be fed and which conveys each infeed format 50 with an infeed conveying direction 85 that is in Fig. Figure 2 is illustrated with an arrow. In the present embodiment, the input formats 50 pass from the portioning device 40 onto the input conveyor 84.

[0045] An input format 50 defines an orientation with respect to the input conveying direction 85; the present input format 50 defines, for example, the explained orientation with two lines 52 à four rows 54 in the form of the 2x4 matrix with respect to the input conveying direction 85.

[0046] Furthermore, the feed conveyor 72 includes a movable infeed-transfer conveyor 86, which is movable between an infeed-transfer position and a release position. In the infeed-transfer position, the infeed-transfer conveyor 86 works in conjunction with both the stationary infeed conveyor 84 and the format alignment unit 66, specifically with the rotary unit 76; this is shown in the Fig. 1 to 3, 6 and 7. In the release position, the format alignment device 66, specifically here again the rotary unit 76, is released and can perform a rotation; this is shown Fig. 4 and Fig. 5.

[0047] Similarly, the discharge conveyor 74 comprises a stationary output conveyor 88, from which the discharge formats 70 are conveyed in an output conveying direction 89 to the packaging device 60. The output conveying direction 89 is in Fig. 6 is illustrated with an arrow.

[0048] In the embodiment shown here, the inlet conveying direction 85 and the outlet conveying direction 89 are identical. However, this need not be the case; this will be discussed further below.

[0049] The discharge conveyor 74 also has a movable output transfer conveyor 90, which is movable between an output transfer position and a release position. In the output transfer position, the output transfer conveyor 88 communicates with both the stationary output conveyor 88 and the format alignment device 66, specifically the rotary unit 76. In the release position, the format alignment device 66, again specifically the rotary unit 76, is released and can perform a rotation.

[0050] The stationary infeed and outfeed conveyors 84 and 88, as well as the movable infeed and outfeed transfer conveyors 86 and 90, are designed as belt conveyors such that they interlock like a comb and can be guided between the support pins 82 of the rotary unit 82. For this purpose, these conveyors 84, 86, 88, and 90 are designed as belt conveyors and have belt strips running parallel to each other in their respective conveying directions, collectively designated 92. The spacing and arrangement of the belt strips 92 are such that the belt strips 92 of the movable infeed and outfeed conveyors 86 and 90 run between the belt strips 92 of the associated stationary infeed and outfeed conveyors 84 and 88 and can be moved between them.

[0051] The feed conveyor 72 includes a drive unit 94, which drives, or drives and moves, the input conveyor 84 and the input-transfer conveyor 86. Similarly, the output conveyor 74 includes a drive unit 96, which drives, or drives and moves, the output conveyor 88 and the output-transfer conveyor 90.

[0052] In their respective transfer positions, the movable infeed and outfeed transfer conveyors 86 and 90 overlap the rotary unit 76 by half, which in the Fig. 1 to 3, 6 and 7 can be seen. The dimensions and arrangement of the support pins 82 of the rotary unit are correspondingly adapted to the design and arrangement of the belt strips 92 of the infeed transfer conveyor 86 and the outfeed transfer conveyor 90.

[0053] The operation of the conveying device 58 will now be explained using the following examples: Fig. 2 to 7 explained:

[0054] Fig. Figure 2 shows an initial situation in which the portioning device 40 has produced the input format 50 described above, in which the product portion group 48 consists of eight product portions 42 arranged in two lines 52 and four rows 54. The input format 50 has already been conveyed onto the stationary input conveyor 84 of the feed conveyor 72 of the conveying device 58. The input transfer conveyor 86 assumes its input transfer position, and the rotary unit 76 is in its lowered position. In this position, the tips of the support pins 82 are located below the belt strips 92 of the input and output transfer conveyors 86 and 90, respectively, or at least below the conveying plane, so that the input format 50 can be conveyed over the rotary unit 76 without contact with the support pins 82, as described above. Fig. 3 illustrated.

[0055] Now the rotary unit 76 is moved into its raised position, so that the support pins 82 protrude from below through the belt strips 92 and lift the product portions 46 upwards from the infeed transfer conveyor 86 and the outfeed transfer conveyor 90, so that the infeed format 50 rests on the rotary unit 76.

[0056] Following this, the incoming transfer conveyor 86 and the outgoing transfer conveyor 90 are moved into their release position, which Fig. Figure 4 shows that, as illustrated by a curved arrow, the rotary unit 76 is now rotated 90° around the axis of rotation 68, thereby generating the output format 70; this shows Fig. 5.

[0057] In the present embodiment, an input format 50 fed to the format alignment device 66 is thus transformed into a discharge format 70 in which the product portion group 48 is rotated by 90° in the format plane 56 compared to the fed input format 50. The discharge format 70 therefore now comprises four parallel lines with two rows in the output conveying direction 89, so that a total of eight product portions 46 are arranged in a 4x2 matrix in the output conveying direction 89.

[0058] Just as an input format 50 fed to the input conveyor 84 defines an orientation, so too does a discharge format 70, which then refers to the output conveying direction 89; the present discharge format 70, for example, defines the explained orientation with four lines of two rows each in the form of the 4x2 matrix with reference to the output conveying direction 89.

[0059] Thus, the output format 70, with respect to the output conveying direction 89, has a different orientation than the input format 50 conveyed by the input conveyor 84, with respect to the input conveying direction 85. Here, the change in orientation corresponds to a rotation of 90°.

[0060] Now the incoming transfer conveyor 86 and the outgoing transfer conveyor 90 are moved into their incoming and outgoing transfer positions, respectively, which Fig. Figure 6 illustrates this. The rotary unit 76 is moved into its lowered position, whereby the delivery format 70 is deposited onto the incoming transfer conveyor 86 and the outgoing transfer conveyor 90.

[0061] How Fig. Figure 7 shows that the delivery format 70 is now transferred to the packaging device 60 with the help of the delivery conveyor 74, whereby delivery formats 70 that have already arrived there are conveyed a little further in the exercise of the buffer function.

[0062] How Fig.As also illustrated in Figure 7, the feed conveyor 72 of the conveying device 58 has meanwhile received another input format 50, which was produced by the portioning device 40.

[0063] The funding cycle described above will now be carried out again with this input format of 50.

[0064] In general terms, the conveying device 58 is set up by the format alignment device 66 such that the output conveyor 88 delivers a discharge format 70 which has a different orientation with respect to the output conveying direction 89 than the input format 50 conveyed by the input conveyor 84 with respect to the input conveying direction 85.

[0065] In the present embodiment, the inlet conveying direction 85 and the outlet conveying direction 89 are identical. However, this need not be the case.

[0066] If the infeed conveying direction 85 and the outfeed conveying direction 89 form an angle of 90°, a rotary unit 76 can be omitted in order to rotate the orientations of the infeed formats 50 by 90°. In this case, it is sufficient if the table 78 is raising and lowering.

[0067] In such a case, the packaging device 60 would be positioned in the cutting line 10 at a 90° angle to the cutting device.

[0068] The infeed transfer conveyor 86 can then run above the outfeed transfer conveyor 90 when these two conveyors 86, 90 assume their infeed and outfeed transfer positions respectively, with their belt strips 92 running in a grid-like cross pattern so that the support pins 82 of the table 78 can pass through the remaining gaps.

[0069] When the infeed transfer conveyor 86 assumes its infeed transfer position and the outfeed transfer conveyor 90 assumes its outfeed transfer position, an infeed format 50 is first conveyed from the infeed transfer conveyor 86 over the lowered table 78. The table 78 is raised, its support pins 82 move through the aforementioned gaps between the belt strips 92 and lift the infeed format 50 from the infeed transfer conveyor 84.

[0070] This is now moved into its release position, with the output transfer conveyor 90 remaining in the output transfer position. Table 78 is lowered, depositing the input format 50 onto the output transfer conveyor 90. The release then refers not to a rotational movement of table 78, but to the release of access to the output transfer conveyor 90.

[0071] This conveys the input format 50 as output format 70 in the output conveying direction, which runs at a 90° angle to the input conveying direction. Although the input format 50 has not actually been rotated and its orientation in space remains unchanged, the output format 70 nevertheless has an orientation relative to the output conveying direction 89 that is rotated by 90° compared to the orientation of the input format 50 relative to the input conveying direction 85.

[0072] In this case, the movable output transfer conveyor 90 can be dispensed with and a purely stationary output conveyor 74 can be used, which extends permanently over the table 78 and is located below the movement plane of the input transfer conveyor 86.

[0073] A change of direction and a rotation of the input format 50 can also be combined to generate an output format 70 from an input format 50.

Claims

Conveying device for conveying product portions (46) from food products (22), in particular for conveying between a device (12) for cutting the food products (22) and a device (60) for packaging the product portions (46), comprising: a) an infeed conveyor (84) to which one or more product portions (46) arranged in a format level (56) can be fed and which conveys a respective format in an infeed conveying direction (85); b) an outfeed conveyor (88) by means of which a format can be discharged in an outfeed conveying direction (89); wherein c) a format fed to the infeed conveyor (84) defines an infeed format (50);d) the conveying device (58) comprises a format alignment device (66) and is configured such that the output conveyor (88) discharges a discharge format (70) which has a different orientation with respect to the output conveying direction (89) than the input format (50) with respect to the input conveying direction (85); characterized in that a movable input transfer conveyor (86) is provided which is movable between an input transfer position and a release position and which, in the input transfer position, cooperates in conveying technology with both the input conveyor (84) and the format alignment device (66) and, in the release position, releases the format alignment device (66);f) a movable output transfer conveyor (90) is provided, which is movable between an output transfer position and a release position and, in the output transfer position, cooperates in terms of conveying technology with both the output conveyor (88) and the format alignment device (66) and, in the release position, releases the format alignment device (66). Conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that the format alignment device (66)a) comprises a rotary unit (76) by which an input format (50) can be rotated about an axis of rotation (68) which is at an angle to the format plane (56) with respect to the input conveying direction (85), thereby generating the output format (70); and / orb) can effect a change in direction of the input format (50). Conveyor device according to claim 2, characterized in that a) the angle between the axis of rotation (68) and the format plane (56) is 90°; and / or b) the angle of rotation is 90°. Conveyor device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the format alignment device (66) comprises a table (78) which is movable between a lowered position and a raised position and / or rotatable about a pivot axis (68). Conveying device according to claim 4, characterized in that the format alignment device (66) has a plurality of vertically upwardly projecting support pins (82) on a top side. Conveyor device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the inlet transfer conveyor (86) and / or the outlet transfer conveyor (90) and / or the inlet conveyor (84) and / or the outlet conveyor (88) are designed as belt conveyors with belt strips (92). Cutting line for cutting food products (22), comprising a device (12) for cutting the food products (22) and a device (60) for packaging the cut food products (22), characterized in that a conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 6 is arranged between the device (12) for cutting the food products (22) and the device (60) for packaging the cut food products (22). Method for conveying product portions (46) from food products (22) with a conveying device according to one of claims 1 to 6, in particular for conveying between a device (12) for cutting the food products (22) and a device (60) for packaging the product portions (46), in which: a) one or more product portions (46), which are arranged in a format level (56) to form a format, are fed to an inlet conveyor (84) and conveyed by it in an inlet conveying direction (85); b) a format is discharged by an outlet conveyor (88) in an outlet conveying direction (89), characterized in that c) a format fed to the inlet conveyor (84) defines an inlet format (50);d) a delivery format (70) is generated with the aid of a format alignment device (66), which is delivered by the output feeder (88) and which has a different orientation with respect to the output feeder direction (89) than the input format (50) with respect to the input feeder direction (85).; Method according to claim 8, characterized in that a) an input format (50) is rotated about an axis of rotation (68) which is at an angle to the format plane (56) with respect to the input conveying direction (85), thereby generating the output format (70); and / or b) a change in direction of the input format (50) is effected. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that a) the angle between the axis of rotation (68) and the format plane (56) is 90°; and / or b) the angle of rotation is 90°.

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