Slicing machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a slicing machine (100) for slicing a product piece (P) into slices (S), comprising: a pressing device (102) which defines a pressing chamber (R) therein, wherein the pressing device (102) comprises a longitudinal pressing unit (104; 204; 304; 404) which is configured to control a dimension of the pressing chamber (R) in a longitudinal direction (L) of the product piece (P), and a transverse pressing unit (110) which is configured to control a dimension of the pressing chamber (R) in a transverse direction (Q) of the product piece (P) that is substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (L), and a cutting unit (126) which is configured to slice the product piece (P) into slices (S), wherein the longitudinal pressing unit (104; 204; 304; 404) includes a compensating section (136; 236; 336; 436) comprises which is movable relative to a base body (138; 238; 338; 438) of the longitudinal press unit (104; 204; 304; 404) and is pretensioned by means of a pretensioning device (150;250) is pre-tensioned, wherein the longitudinal pressing unit (104; 204; 304; 404) further comprises a locking unit (140; 240; 340; 440) which is movable between a locking position and a release position, wherein the locking unit (140; 240; 340; 440) is configured to limit movement of the compensating section (136; 236; 336; 436) relative to the base body (138; 238; 338; 438) in the locking position, and the locking unit (140; 240; 340; 440) can be moved from the locking position to the release position without tools, in which the locking unit (140; 240; 340; 440) restricts the movement of the The area of ​​the equalization section (136; 236; 336; 436) is not limited relative to the base body (138; 238; 338; 438).

Description

The invention relates to a slicing machine for slicing a product piece, comprising a pressing device defining therein a pressing space configured and intended to receive the product piece, wherein the pressing device comprises a longitudinal pressing unit configured to control a dimension of the pressing space in a longitudinal direction of the product piece to press the product piece in the longitudinal direction, and a transverse pressing unit configured to control a dimension of the pressing space in a transverse direction of the product piece substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction to press the product piece in the transverse direction. The slicing machine further comprises a cutting unit which is arranged adjacent to the pressing device and is configured to slice the product piece into slices, wherein the longitudinal pressing unit comprises a compensating section which is movable in and counter to the transverse direction relative to a base body of the longitudinal pressing unit and is prestressed in or counter to the transverse direction by means of a prestressing device, wherein the compensating section is preferably provided for adapting the longitudinal pressing unit to the dimension of the pressing space in the transverse direction.It should already be pointed out at this point that the slicing machine can be provided according to the invention to slice a product piece, in particular made of meat, fish or another foodstuff, into slices which preferably have a predetermined thickness and / or a predetermined weight.The product piece may be, for example, an elongated product piece having a longitudinally varying cross-section, such as a piece or a string of grown meat or the like.In order to be able to cut open slices of substantially the same volume or substantially the same weight from the above-explained product pieces having a cross section varying in the longitudinal direction, generic slicing machines are known in which an irregularly shaped product piece is first pressed by a pressing device into a product piece having a substantially constant cross section in the longitudinal direction and is subsequently cut open in the pressed state by means of the cutting unit of the slicing machine. Thus, by setting a suitable slice thickness, slices of substantially the same volume or substantially the same weight can be cut open. One application concerns, for example, the cutting of thicker slices, such as steaks, from a fillet piece or the like.The pressing device can comprise, for example, a forming tube which defines therein a pressing space in the form of a cavity in which the product piece can be accommodated. The pressing device may be configured to press the product piece at least in its longitudinal direction, which may be substantially parallel to a feeding direction of the product piece to the cutting unit. For this purpose, the pressing device can comprise a longitudinal pressing unit, for example in the form of a longitudinal pressing punch, which can be moved by means of a longitudinal pressing drive unit. In order to be able to press the product piece also in a transverse direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, the pressing device can further comprise a transverse pressing unit, which can be formed, for example, by a forming tube half of the forming tube that can be moved by means of a transverse pressing drive unit.In order that the longitudinal pressing unit, which can be configured to be capable of dipping into the forming tube in the longitudinal direction from an end of the forming tube facing away from the cutting unit, can be adapted to a change in the cross section of the pressing space caused by the transverse pressing unit, it is known to configure the longitudinal pressing unit in multiple parts and to provide for this purpose on the longitudinal pressing unit a compensating portion, for example a compensating plate, which projects during operation of the slicing machine and / or which is movable relative to a main body of the longitudinal pressing unit and can be prestressed in the direction of the transverse pressing unit by means of a prestressing device, for example a spring. The protruding compensating portion can thus serve to adapt the longitudinal pressing unit to a variable height dimension of the product piece, which can extend substantially parallel to the transverse direction, or to a varying dimension of the pressing space in the transverse direction.Since the fulfillment of extensive hygiene standards in the food industry is of greatest importance, all parts of the slicing machine that are directly and indirectly in contact with the product pieces to be sliced must be cleaned regularly. If the longitudinal pressing unit is formed in multiple parts, a plurality of gaps and / or intermediate spaces which are difficult to achieve are often produced, which gaps and spaces are correspondingly difficult to achieve. For cleaning, the longitudinal pressing unit must therefore frequently be completely disassembled into its individual parts, i.e. the base body, the compensating section and the prestressing device, for example the spring, and, if appropriate, fastening elements, such as screws or the like, connecting these parts must be separated with the aid of suitable tools. This not only makes a cleaning process of the slicing machine time-consuming, but also leads to the risk that metal parts, such as the fastening elements, can remain unnoticed in the slicing machine during the slicing process and thus can come into contact with product pieces to be processed, i.e. foodstuffs, at a later point in time.The document DE 10 2018 106 300 A1 discloses a slicing machine according to the preamble of claim 1.It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a slicing machine of the type mentioned at the beginning which can remedy this.This object is achieved according to the invention by a slicing machine of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which the longitudinal pressing unit further comprises a locking unit which is movable between a locking position and a release position, wherein the locking unit is configured to limit a movement of the compensating portion relative to the base body brought about by the prestressing device in the locking position, and in that the locking unit can be displaced from the locking position without tools into the release position, in which the locking unit does not limit the movement of the compensating portion relative to the base body brought about by the prestressing device.Since, according to the invention, the locking unit can be displaced from the locking position into the release position without tools, for example manually, the longitudinal pressing unit can be disassembled quickly and without difficulty in order to be able to carry out a thorough cleaning of the same or other maintenance measures on the longitudinal pressing unit. When the locking unit is in the release position, the movement of the compensating section relative to the base body in or counter to the transverse direction caused by the prestressing device is no longer limited, so that the base body and the compensating section can preferably be separated from one another solely by the action of the prestressing device. Since, in addition, according to the invention, separate fastening elements in the form of screws or the like preferably do not have to be loosened for disassembly, there is a significantly reduced risk that metal parts in the form of the fastening elements or the like are lost unnoticed during cleaning or maintenance of the slicing machine and / or come into contact with product pieces to be cut. The above statements analogously also apply to an assembly, i.e. an assembly, of the longitudinal pressing unit.The locking unit can be arranged movably on the base body or on the compensating section.The compensating section can be formed, for example, as a compensating plate or the like. Furthermore, the compensating section can be provided for adapting the longitudinal pressing unit to the dimension of the pressing space in the transverse direction. In addition, the compensating section can be arranged on the base body in an exchangeable manner.The cutting unit can comprise a knife which can be driven to rotate about an axis of rotation, for example, by means of a knife drive unit. The knife can preferably additionally be configured to perform an oscillatory movement in a direction substantially orthogonal to its axis of rotation. During the oscillatory movement, the knife can move between a retracted position, in which the knife releases a cutting channel of the cutting unit, and an advanced position, in which the knife penetrates the cutting channel of the cutting unit, in order to be able to cut a slice from the product piece in each case.In order to be able to press the product piece before the slicing preferably in all three spatial directions, i.e. in three dimensions, the pressing device can further comprise a further pressing unit which is configured to control a dimension of the pressing space in a width direction of the product piece in order to press the product piece in the width direction. The width direction can preferably run substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal direction and / or the transverse direction.According to one exemplary embodiment, the locking unit can be arranged on the base body and have a locking projection which is configured to engage with a locking recess which is formed on the compensating portion in the locking position in order to limit the movement of the compensating portion relative to the base body caused by the biasing device, and the locking projection and the locking recess can be disengaged in the release position of the locking unit. When the locking projection and the locking recess are disengaged, the movement of the compensating portion relative to the base body in or counter to the transverse direction caused by the biasing device is preferably no longer limited, so that the base body and the compensating portion are preferably separable from one another solely by the action of the biasing device. The locking projection can be designed, for example, as a locking tongue.In order to be able to define a maximum compensating movement of the compensating section relative to the base body, it is proposed in a development of the latter exemplary embodiment that the locking recess is a locking groove which has a delimiting surface which is configured to delimit the movement of the compensating section relative to the base body in the transverse direction brought about by the prestressing device. The boundary surface can be formed on the locking groove depending on a maximum height of the product piece. The height of the product piece can preferably extend to the extent of the product piece in the transverse direction.Additionally or alternatively, a release recess can be formed on the compensating portion, which can extend substantially parallel to the locking recess and can have a greater extension in the transverse direction than the locking recess. Preferably, the locking recess extends over an entire dimension of the compensating portion in the transverse direction. When the locking unit is located in the release recess, the biasing device can preferably move the compensating portion relative to the base body in the transverse direction to such an extent that the base body and the compensating portion can be separated from one another. Preferably, the release recess is formed continuously on the compensating portion in the transverse direction. Further preferably, the release recess can be formed as a release groove.If the compensating portion has the locking recess and the release recess, according to a further exemplary embodiment the locking recess and the release recess can be connected to one another via a connecting recess. In this case, the connecting recess can preferably extend substantially orthogonally to the locking recess and / or the release recess. The connecting recess can consequently enable a movement of the locking unit from an engagement position with the locking recess into an engagement position with the release recess. Preferably, the connecting recess can be formed as a connecting groove.In principle, the locking unit can be moved with any desired movement from the locking position into the release position and vice versa. According to a preferred embodiment, however, it is proposed that the locking unit is movable from the locking position into the release position substantially translationally, and preferably substantially orthogonally to the longitudinal pressing direction or substantially parallel to the longitudinal pressing direction, and vice versa. This is a simple displacement movement which can preferably be brought about by the hand, in particular by only one finger, of an operator of the slicing machine. Alternatively, the locking unit could also be movable from the locking position into the release position and vice versa by means of a pivoting movement about a pivot axis.In order to prevent unintentional unlocking, i.e. displacement into the release position, of the locking unit, in particular during a slicing operation of the slicing machine, according to a further exemplary embodiment the locking unit can only be displaceable from the locking position into the release position if the compensating portion is positioned relative to the base body in a disassembly position, in which the locking unit can preferably be located at a height of the connecting recess in the transverse direction.In a development of the last-mentioned exemplary embodiment, the compensating section can be configured to be inserted substantially completely into a recess formed in the base body in the disassembly position or to be inserted into a recess formed in the base body to such an extent that the base body protrudes beyond the compensating section in the transverse direction. In other words, the compensating section can, in the disassembly position, completely enter the base body or even even even beyond it. As a result, the disassembly position can preferably be achieved only by manual actuation of the compensating section, but not during a slicing operation of the slicing machine by actuation of the transverse pressing unit.In order to enable simple and uncomplicated displacement of the locking unit, it is proposed according to a further exemplary embodiment that the locking unit is designed as a slide, wherein the slide can preferably have at least one slot formed therein, wherein the slot can further preferably be designed to define the locking position and / or the release position. The slot can furthermore be configured to allow fastening of the slide to the base body via a fastening element, such as a screw, which is however preferably not removed when the longitudinal pressing unit is removed. Furthermore, the slide can have a plurality of slots in order to enable a particularly precise guidance of the slide.Additionally or alternatively, the locking unit can comprise an actuation recess which is configured to facilitate an actuation of the locking unit from the locking position into the release position and / or vice versa. This also enables an improved ergonomy to be achieved, in particular when the locking unit is actuated using only one finger.In order to be able to guide the movement of the compensating section precisely relative to the base body, it is further proposed that the base body has at least one, preferably at least two, guide projections which / are configured to cooperate with at least one, in particular at least two, guide recess / guide recesses formed on the compensating section. The number of guide projections can therefore preferably correspond to the number of guide recesses. Alternatively, the at least one guide protrusion can be formed on the compensating section and the at least one guide recess can be formed on the base body.In order to be able to pretension the compensating section in or counter to the transverse direction relative to the base body, the pretensioning device can comprise at least one spring, preferably at least one spiral spring. In order to further increase the pretensioning effect of the pretensioning device and to prevent a mishandling of the compensating section during the movement relative to the base body, the pretensioning device can preferably comprise at least two oppositely arranged springs.In a development of the last-mentioned exemplary embodiment, the prestressing device, in particular the spring, can be supported at one end on the compensating section or a part connected to the latter and at the other end on a holding unit, in particular a substantially U-shaped metal sheet, which is / is attached to the base body. In this case, the prestressing device can preferably be connected to the holding unit in a positively locking manner. By providing the holding unit, it is possible to prevent the prestressing device, in particular the at least one spring, from accidentally becoming detached from the base body, i.e. the holding unit, during disassembly and remaining in the slicing machine unnoticed, as a result of which later contact of the prestressing device with product pieces to be processed, such as foods, for example, can be prevented.The U-shaped sheet metal can preferably be welded to the base body. However, in principle any other type of fastening between the U-shaped sheet metal and the base body is also conceivable.Furthermore, the longitudinal pressing unit can be designed in a manner known per se as a longitudinal pressing punch, which can be moved in and preferably counter to the longitudinal direction by means of a longitudinal pressing drive unit of the pressing device.For receiving the product piece, the pressing device can further comprise a shaped tube which, in a slicing operation of the slicing machine, can preferably have an opening facing the cutting unit and a further opening facing the longitudinal pressing unit. The forming tube can thus define the pressing space and thus the achievable dimensions of the product piece, preferably in the transverse direction and / or a width direction which runs substantially orthogonally to the transverse direction.In a development of the latter exemplary embodiment, the forming tube can comprise at least two forming tube halves, namely a first forming tube half which can be part of or form the transverse pressing unit and which can be displaceable in and preferably counter to the transverse direction by means of a transverse pressing drive unit of the pressing device, and a second forming tube half which is configured to be opposite the first forming tube half and can be operatively connected to a frame of the slicing machine. Accordingly, the first and the second mold tube half can define the pressing space. Furthermore, the first mold tube half can preferably have a substantially C-shaped cross section and / or the second mold tube half can have a substantially U-shaped cross section. Finally, the first forming tube half can have a smaller dimension in the transverse direction than the second forming tube half, so that preferably only the forming tube half with a smaller dimension in the transverse direction and in particular a lower weight has to be moved by means of the transverse press drive unit.It should also be noted that the slicing machine can furthermore comprise a removal unit which is configured to remove the slices cut open by the cutting unit along a removal direction. Consequently, the slices can be discharged and / or portions formed for further processing and / or packaging, which preferably each can consist of a plurality of slices.Finally, it should also be noted that the slicing machine is also designed as a multi-track slicing machine which is designed to slice at least two of the product pieces mentioned substantially simultaneously. For this purpose, the pressing device can preferably comprise at least two forming tubes arranged next to one another in the width direction of the product pieces, which can be configured as described above and by means of which the at least two product pieces arranged next to one another in the width direction can be pressed substantially simultaneously before being cut open by the cutting unit.The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings using exemplary embodiments. They represent: FIG. 1 a shows a perspective view of a slicing machine according to an exemplary embodiment, FIG. 1 bshows a side view of the slicing machine according to FIG. 1 a, FIG. 1 cshows a perspective view of parts of a pressing device and a cutting unit of the slicing machine according to FIG. 1 a, FIG. 1 dis a side view of components of the pressing device of the slicing machine according to FIG. 1 a, in which a lower forming tube half of the pressing device is in a slicing position pivoted upward, FIG. 2 ashows a perspective view of a longitudinal pressing unit in the form of a longitudinal pressing punch, which can be provided on the slicing machine according to FIGS. 1 a- 1 d, FIG. 2 bshows the longitudinal press ram according to FIG. 2 a, but in a partially cut-away view, in order to be able to better explain the functioning of a locking unit of the longitudinal press ram, FIGS. 2 c- 2 f are perspective views according to FIG. 2 b, in which a compensating section of the longitudinal press ram is located in different positions relative to a base body of the longitudinal press ram, FIG. 3 ashows a further exemplary embodiment of a longitudinal pressing unit in the form of a longitudinal pressing punch in a perspective view, FIGS. 3 b- 3 eare perspective partial sectional views of the longitudinal pressing unit according to FIG. 3 a, FIG. 4 shows a further exemplary embodiment of a longitudinal pressing unit, and FIG. 5 shows yet another exemplary embodiment of a longitudinal pressing unit with a modified locking unit.In FIGS. 1 aand 1 b, an exemplary embodiment of a slicing machine according to the invention is generally denoted by the reference symbol 100.The slicing machine 100 comprises a pressing device 102 defining therein a pressing space R which is configured and intended to receive a product piece P, for example in the form of a food such as grown meat or fish or the like. The product piece P is not shown in FIG. 1 a, but is schematically shown in FIG. 1 b, for example.The pressing device 102 comprises a longitudinal pressing unit 104, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is designed as a longitudinal pressing punch. The longitudinal press ram 104 is configured to control a dimension of the press space R in a longitudinal direction L of the product piece P or a direction substantially parallel thereto in order to press the product piece P in its longitudinal direction L. For this purpose, the longitudinal pressing unit 104 can be connected via a piston rod 106 to a longitudinal pressing drive unit 108, which is configured to move the longitudinal pressing punch 104 in and counter to the longitudinal direction L in order to bring the product piece P to a desired length in the longitudinal direction L. The pressing device 102 further comprises a transverse pressing unit 110 which is configured to control a dimension of the pressing space R in a transverse direction Q of the product piece P substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction L in order to press the product piece P in the transverse direction Q. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the transverse pressing unit 110 comprises a mold tube 112 with an upper mold tube half 112 a, which can be displaced in and counter to the transverse direction Q by means of a transverse drive unit 114, for example in the form of a servomotor or hydraulic or pneumatic transverse drive unit. The upper forming tube half 112 acan also be seen in FIGS. 1 cand 1 d, for example, wherein it can be seen in particular from FIG. 1 cthat the upper forming tube half 112 a, viewed in the longitudinal direction L, has a substantially C-shaped cross section.The mold tube 112 further comprises a lower mold tube half 112 b,which is pivotable about a pivot axis S (see for example FIG. 1 b) by means of a pivot mechanism 126. In FIGS. 1 a- 1 c, the lower forming tube half 112 bis shown in a folded-down loading position in which the product piece P can be conveyed onto the lower forming tube half 112 bby a loading device 118 (see FIGS. 1 aand 1 b ) in the feed direction Z. For this purpose, the loading device 118 can comprise, for example, a belt conveyor 118 aand / or a feed device 118 b, for example in the form of a feed plunger 118 bor the like. In a slicing operation of the slicing machine 1, the shaped tube 112 can have an opening 113 afacing the cutting unit 126 and a further opening 113 bfacing the longitudinal pressing unit 104.In contrast, in FIG. 1 d, the lower forming tube half 112 bis shown in a cut-open position, in which the lower forming tube half 112 bfaces the upper forming tube half 112 aand, starting from the loading position shown in FIGS. 1 a- 1 c, has been folded up about the pivot axis S by means of the pivot mechanism 116. Once the lower forming tube half 112 bis in the position shown in FIG. 1 d, the upper forming tube half 112 acan be displaced by means of the transverse pressing unit 114 in the transverse direction Q in the direction of the product piece P until the product piece P has a desired dimension in the transverse direction Q. Subsequently or substantially simultaneously, the product piece P can be brought to a desired dimension in the longitudinal direction L by moving the longitudinal press punch 104 (see for example FIG. 1 c ) in the longitudinal direction L. During the pressing in the longitudinal direction L by means of the longitudinal pressing punch 104, an intermediate plate 120 can serve as a counterholder. For this purpose, the intermediate plate 120 can be displaced by means of a linkage 122, preferably in and counter to the transverse direction Q, and can be displaced between a position shown in FIG. 1 c, in which it exposes a cutting channel 124, and a further position, in which it blocks the cutting channel 124. In order to be displaced into the further position blocking the cutting channel, in particular during a pressing operation of the product piece P with the pressing device 102, the intermediate plate 120 can be displaced by a predetermined amount counter to the transverse direction Q starting from FIG. 1 c.After the product piece P has been pressed to desired dimensions in the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction Q, the intermediate plate 120 can be moved again to the position shown in FIG. 1c accordingly and subsequently the product piece P can be moved by a further movement of the longitudinal pressing punch 104 in the longitudinal direction L through the cutting channel 124 to a cutting unit 126 of the slicing machine 100, which is arranged adjacent to the pressing device 102, in particular is arranged downstream of the pressing device 102, and comprises a knife 128, which can be rotatable about an axis of rotation R' in order to cut the product piece P into slices S (see for example FIG. 1b). The axis of rotation R' of the knife 128 is schematically indicated in FIG. 1d, for example. The knife 128 can preferably be configured to perform an oscillatory movement in or counter to the transverse direction Q in addition to a rotational movement about the rotational axis R'. During the oscillatory movement, the knife 128 can be moved between a retracted position, in which the knife 128 substantially releases the cutting channel 124, and an advanced position, in which the knife 128 is moved in the transverse direction Q starting from FIG. 1 cto penetrate the cutting channel 124, in order to be able to cut a slice S from the product piece P. As long as the knife 128 is in the retracted position, the product piece P can be advanced in the longitudinal direction L by a predetermined amount corresponding to a desired slice thickness of the respective slice S.In order to be able to press the product piece P before the slicing preferably in all three spatial directions, i.e. in three dimensions, lateral boundary walls 112 b 1 and 112 b 2 of the lower mold tube half 112 bmay preferably also form a further pressing unit and be arranged such that it can be moved towards one another and away from one another in a width direction B in order to be able to bring a dimension of the product piece P in the width direction B to a desired dimension before slicing by the cutting unit 126.After the slices S have been cut open by means of the cutting unit 126, they can be conveyed out of the slicing machine 100 along a conveying direction A by means of a conveying-off unit 130, which can likewise be configured, for example, as a belt conveyor or the like, in order to be able to be further processed and / or packaged, for example.For operating the slicing machine 100, the slicing machine 100 may further include an operating unit 132, which may be arranged on a frame 134 of the slicing machine 100 and may be configured to be operated by an operator of the slicing machine 100. The operating unit can be designed, for example, as a touchscreen or the like.With reference to FIGS. 2 a- 2 f, the longitudinal pressing unit 104 in the form of the longitudinal pressing punch 104 will now be described in more detail.As can be seen in FIG. 2 a, the longitudinal press punch 104 comprises a compensating section 136 which is movable in and counter to the transverse direction Q relative to a base body 138 of the longitudinal press punch 104. The compensating section 138 is biased against the transverse direction Q by means of a biasing device 150 (see for example FIG. 2 f ). The biasing device 150 may include two springs 151 aand 151 b.According to the invention, the longitudinal press punch 104 further comprises a locking unit 140 which is movable between a locking position (see for example FIGS. 2 ato 2 d ) and a release position (see for example FIGS. 2 eand 2 f ). The locking unit 140, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is designed as a slide 140, is configured to limit a movement of the compensating section 136 relative to the base body 138 brought about by the biasing device 150 in the locking position, such that the compensating section 136 cannot project from the base body 138 further counter to the transverse direction Q by the biasing device 150, for example, than is shown in FIG. 2 a.The compensating section 136 is provided in this case to be able to adapt the longitudinal press ram 104 to a dimension of the press space R, i.e. a dimension of the product piece P, in the transverse direction Q when the longitudinal press ram 104 is located in the press space R, i.e. between the upper forming tube half 112 aand the lower forming tube half 112 band these are moved away from one another in the transverse direction Q towards one another or counter to the transverse direction Q.According to the invention, the slide 140 can be displaced without tools from the locking position shown in FIGS. 2 ato 2 dinto the release position shown in FIGS. 2 eand 2 f, in which the locking unit 140 does not limit the movement of the compensating section 136 relative to the base body 138 effected by the prestressing device 150. In the release position of the locking unit 140, the base body 138 and the compensating section 136 can therefore be separated from one another, as illustrated for example in FIG. 2 f, in order to enable cleaning of the components of the longitudinal press ram 104 and / or other maintenance. In the exemplary embodiment shown, tool-free dismantling of the longitudinal press ram 104 is made possible in that the slide 140 is arranged displaceably on the base body 138 and has a locking projection 140 a, which can be designed, for example, as a locking tongue 140 a, which is designed to engage, in the locking position, with a locking recess 142 which is formed on the compensating portion 136 in order to limit the movement of the compensating portion 136 relative to the base body 138 brought about by the prestressing device 150. For this purpose, the locking recess 142 comprises a lower limiting surface 142 a(see FIG. 2 f ) which is configured to limit the movement of the compensating section 136 relative to the base body 138 counter to the transverse direction Q as long as the locking tongue 140 ais engaged with the locking recess 142.If the compensating portion 136 and the base body 138 are compressed in the transverse direction Q, for example manually, and the compensating portion 136 is in the position shown in FIGS. 2 dand 2 e, the slide 140 can be displaced translationally via a connecting recess 144 in such a way that the locking tongue 140 ais located in a release recess 146 or engages with it. The release recess 146 preferably extends substantially parallel to the locking recess 142 and further preferably has a greater extension in the transverse direction Q than the locking recess 142. In the illustrated embodiment, the release recess 146 is formed over an entire dimension of the balancer portion 136 in the transverse direction Q, i.e., continuous with the balancer portion 136. As a result, the movement of the compensation section 136 relative to the base body 138 counter to the transverse direction Q is not limited, provided that the locking tongue 140 ais located in the release recess 146.In connection with the illustrated exemplary embodiment, it should be further noted that the slide 140 can only be moved from the locking position into the release position and vice versa when the compensating section 136 is in the position shown in FIGS. 2 dand 2 e, in which the compensating section 136 dips into a recess 138 aformed in the base body 138 to such an extent that the base body 138 protrudes beyond the compensating section 136 counter to the transverse direction Q. This is advantageous since the position of the compensating section 136 shown in FIGS. 2 dand 2 ecan preferably be brought about only manually, but in particular cannot be achieved if the longitudinal press ram 104 is located between the upper forming tube half 112 aand the lower forming tube half 112 bin operation of the slicing machine 100. During operation of the slicing machine 100, the compensating section 136 can preferably only be moved to the maximum into the position shown in FIG. 2 c, in which the compensating section 136 and the base body 138 are substantially aligned with one another in the transverse direction Q.The slide 140 can preferably have at least one slot 140 bformed therein, which can be configured to define the locking position and or the release position. The elongated hole 140 bmay furthermore be configured to allow fastening of the slide 140 to the base body 136 via a fastening element, such as a screw 137, which is however preferably not removed during disassembly of the longitudinal pressing punch 104. The screw 137 can be tightened with a comparatively low tightening torque, so that even when the screw 137 is tightened, the displacement of the slide 140 from the locking position into the release position and vice versa is still permitted.Additionally or alternatively, the slider 140 may include an actuation recess 140 cto facilitate actuation of the slider 140. Furthermore, the slide 140 can be arranged in a recess 138 bformed on the base body. The slot can furthermore be configured to allow fastening of the slide to the base body via a fastening element, such as a screw, which is however preferably not removed when the longitudinal pressing unit is removed.In order to ensure reliable guidance of the compensating section 136 during movement in and counter to the transverse direction Q relative to the base body 138, according to the exemplary embodiment shown, two guide projections 138 cand 138 dare furthermore formed on the base body 138, which guide projections are configured to cooperate with corresponding guide recesses 148 aand 148 bformed on the compensating section 136.FIGS. 3 a- 3 e now show a further exemplary embodiment of a longitudinal pressing unit 204, which corresponds in wide parts to the longitudinal pressing unit 104 described above. Accordingly, analogous components are correspondingly identified by analogous reference numerals, but increased by the number 100. Furthermore, the longitudinal pressing unit 204 will only be described insofar as it differs from the longitudinal pressing unit 104, wherein reference is otherwise made to the above explanations relating to the longitudinal pressing unit 104.As can be seen in FIGS. 3 a- 3 e, the longitudinal pressing unit 204 is likewise designed as a longitudinal pressing punch 204. The locking unit 240 in the form of the slide 240 differs from the slide 140 in that it has two elongated holes 240 b 1 and 240 b 2 in order to install a guidance of the slide 240 relative to the base body 238 even more precisely. The attachment of the slide 240 to the base body 238 can accordingly take place via two screws 237 aand 237 b.Furthermore, the slider 240 has two oppositely arranged actuating recesses 240 c 1 and 240 c 2, so that the slider 240 can be moved from both sides, for example by means of a respective finger of a user, from the locking position (see, for example, FIG. 3 a ) into the release position (see, for example, FIG. 3 d ) and vice versa.In the partial sectional views according to FIGS. 3 b- 3 e, the pretensioning device 250 can also be seen, which in the exemplary embodiment shown comprises a spiral spring 251. The spiral spring 251 is supported at one end on the compensating section 236 and at the other end on a holding unit 252 (see for example FIG. 3 e), which in the exemplary embodiment shown is formed as a U-shaped metal sheet 252, which can be welded to the base body 238 or fastened thereto in some other way. The spiral spring 251 is positively engaged with the U-shaped plate 252 so that the spiral spring 251 cannot fall down when the compensating portion 236 is separated from the base body 238. It is expressly pointed out here that the prestressing device 150 of the longitudinal pressing unit 104 illustrated in FIGS. 2 a- 2 fare designed analogously to the prestressing device 250, the springs 151 aand 151 bcan each be supported on the base body 138 on a holding unit designed analogously to the holding unit 252.FIG. 4 now shows a further exemplary embodiment of a longitudinal pressing unit 304, which likewise has a high similarity to the longitudinal pressing unit 104, for which reason analogous components are identified by analogous reference numerals, but increased by the number 200. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the longitudinal press unit 304, which is likewise configured as a longitudinal press die 304, has a smaller dimension in the width direction B than the longitudinal press dies 104 and 204. Further, only one locking groove 342 is formed on the balancer portion 336. By an actuation analogous to the locking unit 140 and 240, the slide 340 can likewise be transferred from a locking position shown in FIG. 4 into a release position in which a locking projection formed on the slide 340, which locking projection can likewise be formed as a locking tongue, can disengage from the locking recess 342, so that the base body 338 and the compensating portion 336 can be separated from one another. In this case, the guide recess 348 bmay also serve as a release recess. The operation of the slide 340 can therefore otherwise be substantially analogous to the slides 140 and 240.FIG. 5 finally shows a further exemplary embodiment of a longitudinal pressing unit 404 in the form of a longitudinal pressing punch 404, wherein components analogous to the locking unit 104 are identified by analogous reference numerals, but increased by the number 300. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the locking unit 440, which is designed as a slide 440 which is slightly modified with respect to the locking units 140, 240 and 340, has a further prestressing device 454 in the form of a spring 454, with which the slide 440 can be prestressed into the locking position which is illustrated in FIG. 5. By displacing the slide 440 substantially parallel to a displacement direction V, a locking projection on the slide 440 can be brought out of engagement with a locking recess 442, in particular a delimiting surface formed thereon, so that the compensating portion 436 and the base body 438 can be separated from one another.

Claims

Slicing machine (100) for slicing a product piece (P) into slices (S), comprising: a pressing device (102) defining therein a pressing space (R) configured and intended to receive the product piece (P), the pressing device (102) comprising a longitudinal pressing unit (104; 204; 304; 404), which is configured to control a dimension of the pressing space (R) in a longitudinal direction (L) of the product piece (P) in order to press the product piece (P) in the longitudinal direction (L), and comprises a transverse pressing unit (110), which is configured to control a dimension of the pressing space (R) in a transverse direction (Q) of the product piece (P) substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction (L) in order to press the product piece (P) in the transverse direction, and a cutting unit (126), which is arranged adjacent to the pressing device (102) and is configured to cut the product piece (P) into slices (S), wherein the longitudinal pressing unit (104; 204; 304; 404); 404) comprises a compensating section (136; 236; 336; 436) which is movable in and counter to the transverse direction (Q) relative to a base body (138; 238; 338; 438) of the longitudinal pressing unit (104; 204; 304; 404) and is prestressed in or counter to the transverse direction (Q) by means of a prestressing device (150; 250), characterized in that the longitudinal pressing unit (104; 204; 304; 404) further comprises a locking unit (140; 240; 340; 440) which is movable between a locking position and a release position, wherein the locking unit (140; 240; 340; 440) is configured, in the locking position, to move the compensating section (136; 236; 336; 436) relative to the base body (138; 238; 338; caused by the prestressing device (150; 250); 438), and that the locking unit (140; 240; 340; 440) can be displaced from the locking position without tools into the release position, in which the locking unit (140; 240; 340; 440) does not limit the movement of the compensating section (136; 236; 336; 436) relative to the base body (138; 238; 338; 438) caused by the biasing device (150; 250).Slicing machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the locking unit (140; 240; 340; 440) is arranged on the base body (138; 238; 338; 438) and has a locking projection (140a; 240a) which is configured, in the locking position, to engage with a locking recess (142; 242) which is formed on the compensating portion (136; 236; 336; 436) in order to limit the movement of the compensating portion (136; 236; 336; 436) relative to the base body (138; 238; 338; 438) caused by the biasing device (150; 250), and in that, in the release position of the locking unit (140; 240; 340; 440), the locking projection (140a; 240a) and the locking recess (142; 242) are disengaged.Slicing machine according to Claim 2, characterized in that the locking recess (142; 242) is a locking groove (142; 242) which has a limiting surface (142a; 242a) which is configured to limit the movement of the compensating section (136; 236; 336; 436) in the transverse direction (Q) brought about by the prestressing device (150; 250) relative to the main body (138; 238; 338; 438).Slicing machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that a release recess (146; 246) is furthermore formed on the compensating portion (136; 236), which release recess extends substantially parallel to the locking recess (142; 242) and has a greater extension in the transverse direction (Q) than the locking recess (142; 242), wherein the locking recess (142; 242) preferably extends over an entire dimension of the compensating portion (136; 236) in the transverse direction (Q).Slicing machine according to claims 2 and 4 and, if desired, according to claim 3, characterised in that the locking recess (142; 242) and the release recess (146; 246) are connected to one another via a connecting recess (144; 244), wherein the connecting recess (144; 244) extends substantially orthogonally to the locking recess (142; 242) and / or the release recess (146; 246).Slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking unit (140; 240; 340; 440) is movable from the locking position into the release position substantially translationally, and preferably substantially orthogonally (140; 240; 340) to the longitudinal pressing direction (L) or substantially parallel (440) to the longitudinal pressing direction (L), and vice versa.Slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking unit (140; 240; 340) can be displaced from the locking position into the release position only when the compensating portion (136; 236; 336) is positioned relative to the base body (138; 238; 338) in a dismantling position, in which the locking unit (140; 240) is preferably located at a height of the connecting recess (144; 244) in the transverse direction (Q).Slicing machine according to claim 7, characterised in that in the disassembly position the compensating portion (136; 236; 336) dips substantially completely into a recess (138a; 238a; 338a) formed in the base body (138; 238; 338) or dips so far into a recess (138a; 238a; 338a) formed in the base body (138; 238; 338) that the base body (138; 238; 338) protrudes beyond the compensating portion (136; 236; 336) in the transverse direction (Q).Slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking unit (140; 240; 340; 440) is designed as a slide (140; 240; 340; 440), wherein the slide (140; 240; 340) preferably has at least one slot (140b; 240b1, 240b1; 340b) formed therein, wherein the slot (140b; 240b1, 240b1; 340b) is further preferably designed to define the locking position and / or the release position.Slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking unit (140; 240; 340; 440) comprises an actuating recess (140c; 240c1, 240c2; 340c1, 340c2; 440c) which is configured to facilitate an actuation of the locking unit (140; 240; 340; 440) from the locking position into the release position.Slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base body (138; 238; 338; 438) has at least one, preferably at least two, guide projections (138c, 138d; 238c, 238d; 338c, 338d; 438c, 438d) which is / are designed to cooperate with at least one, in particular at least two, guide recess / guide recesses (148a, 148b; 248a, 248b; 348a; 348b; 448a; 448b) formed on the compensating portion (136; 236; 336; 436).Slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the prestressing device (150; 250) comprises at least one spring (151a, 151b; 251), preferably at least one helical spring (151a, 151b; 251).Slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the prestressing device (250), in particular the spring (251), is supported at one end on the compensating section (236) or a part connected thereto and at the other end on a holding unit (252), in particular a substantially U-shaped metal sheet (252), which is / is attached to the base body (238), wherein the prestressing device (250), in particular the spring (251), is preferably connected in a positively locking manner to the holding unit (252).Slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal pressing unit (104; 204; 304; 404) is designed as a longitudinal pressing punch (104; 204; 304; 404), which can be moved in and preferably counter to the longitudinal direction (L) by means of a longitudinal pressing drive unit (108) of the pressing device (102).Slicing machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressing device (102) comprises a shaped tube (112) which, in a slicing operation of the slicing machine (100), preferably has an opening (113a) facing the cutting unit (126) and a further opening (113b) facing the longitudinal pressing unit (104; 204; 304; 404).Slicing machine according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the forming tube (112) comprises at least two forming tube halves (112a, 112b), namely a first forming tube half (112a) which is part of or forms the transverse pressing unit (110) and which is displaceable in and preferably counter to the transverse direction (Q) by means of a transverse pressing drive unit (114) of the pressing device (102), and a second forming tube half (112b) which is configured to be opposite the first forming tube half (112a) and is operatively connected to a frame (134) of the slicing machine (100).

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