STINCHED CUTTING KNIFE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cutting blade, in particular a sickle blade, a spiral blade, or a circular blade, for a device for slicing food products, especially for a high-speed slicer, which rotates about a rotary axis during slicing. The blade has a radially outer circumferential edge acting as a cutting edge, which has a curved profile about the rotary axis. Furthermore, the cutting blade has a plurality of cutting teeth arranged successively along the circumferential edge, each cutting tooth comprising a cutting surface and a cutting edge radially outwardly bounding the cutting surface. Each of the cutting teeth arranged distributed along the circumferential edge has, in addition to the cutting surface, at least one edge surface directly adjacent to the cutting surface, which connects the cutting surface of a cutting tooth with a transition surface between two successive cutting teeth.

[0002] Cutting blades used to slice or cut food products, such as sausage, cheese, and meat, are known in various designs from the prior art. Particularly in the field of processing and portioning food products using high-speed slicers, a distinction is made between two different types of cutting blades: circular blades and sickle or spiral blades.

[0003] Circular knives have a cutting edge that curves at a constant distance around the axis of rotation. During cutting, in addition to rotating around the central axis, circular knives also rotate around an eccentric axis, i.e., one parallel to the axis of rotation. This cutting motion enables the separation of individual slices of the product being cut.

[0004] Unlike circular knives, sickle knives have a cutting edge that, while also curved around its axis of rotation, has a different radius. This radius varies in the direction of rotation, increasing from a smallest to a largest radius, thus describing a sickle or spiral curve. Because of this design, sickle knives only need to rotate around their axis during operation. The cutting motion required for the cutting process is achieved during rotation by the non-circular shape of the cutting edge. The intended direction of rotation for sickle knives is such that the knife enters the product at a relatively small radius area of ​​the cutting edge, also known as the penetration area.The actual cutting motion for separating a slice or piece from the product is achieved by the fact that, as the knife continues to rotate around its axis of rotation, the radius increases along the direction of rotation, and consequently the cutting edge is moved through the product.

[0005] It is known from the prior art to design cutting knives for slicing food products, both circular and sickle-shaped, either with a smooth cutting edge or with serrations. Furthermore, it is known to vary the so-called cutting angle in the circumferential direction in cutting knives with a smooth cutting edge. For example, WO 2014 / 114579 A2 discloses a smooth cutting knife with a cutting angle that changes in certain sections of the cutting edge. In such cutting knives, a relatively smaller cutting angle is preferably chosen in the insertion area to reduce product compression when the knife enters the cut. Starting from the insertion area, the cutting angle can, for example, increase continuously so that towards the end of the cutting process, and thus in the rear part of the cutting edge in the circumferential direction, the cutting angle is greatest.A relatively steep cutting angle allows for advantageous placement of the cut-off discs, as the cutting edge can transmit an impulse directed out of the cutting plane to each cut-off disc.

[0006] Such a variation of the cutting angle is also described in the prior art for cutting knives with teeth. Cutting knives with teeth along the circumferential edge are described, for example, in EP 0 548 615 B1 and DE 10 2017 108 841 A1. DE 10 2017 108 841 A1, which forms the basis for the preamble of claim 1, discloses a cutting knife in which the cutting surface of the plurality of cutting teeth arranged along the circumferential edge is inclined relative to a clamping plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation or a cutting plane, and this inclination of the respective cutting surfaces varies along the circumferential edge of the cutting knife.

[0007] In a typical tooth configuration of a cutting blade, particularly a sickle blade, spiral blade, or circular blade, for a device for slicing food products, the cutting surfaces of two successive cutting teeth are connected to each other via a transition edge and an adjacent transition surface, the transition surface preferably being designed as a recessed depression relative to the cutting surfaces. The depression can be designed as a radially extending notch, groove, furrow, or slot. Preferably, the cutting surfaces of two successive cutting teeth each transition over their entire radial extent via the transition edge into the transition surface.Such cutting blades often have a sharp transition edge adjacent to the cutting surface, which leads to an undesirable impairment, in particular roughening, of the surface of the cut product guided over this edge.

[0008] The technical problem underlying the present invention is therefore to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages in the prior art, in particular to provide a toothed cutting blade, especially a sickle blade, a spiral blade or a circular blade, with which an improved cutting quality, in particular an effective and product-friendly separation of individual product slices, can be achieved.

[0009] The problem underlying the present invention is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0010] The present invention relates in particular to a cutting knife, especially a sickle knife, spiral knife or circular knife, for a device for slicing food products, in particular for a high-speed slicer, which rotates about a rotary axis during cutting operation, with a radially outer circumferential edge acting as a cutting edge, which has a curved profile about the rotary axis, and with a plurality of cutting teeth arranged successively along the circumferential edge, wherein each cutting tooth has a cutting edge comprising a cutting surface and a cutting edge radially outwardly bounding the cutting surface, wherein each cutting surface is inclined relative to a clamping plane perpendicular to the rotary axis or a cutting plane, and wherein the transition between the cutting surface and the transition surface is at least partially formed as an edge surface, preferably as an edge surface.

[0011] According to the present invention, the transition area, particularly the transition edge, which is directly adjacent to the cutting surface of a successive cutting tooth arranged along the circumferential edge, is designed such that it is not formed as a single sharp edge, but at least partially as a surface, particularly a curved surface, and especially as an edge surface. This transition area is particularly important because it is the edge surface that separates the cutting surface of a cutting tooth from the transition surface between two successive cutting teeth in a prior art toothed cutting knife.In this way, in addition to preventing undesirable damage, particularly roughening, to the surface of the cut product with the cutting blade according to the invention, it is also achieved that the product in question can be cut effectively and gently at higher temperatures and the associated increased sensitivity of the product surface without impairing the cut quality. In this way, in addition to the high cut quality and gentle processing made possible by the higher cutting temperature, a reduction in costs, particularly energy costs, can advantageously be achieved.

[0012] A further advantage of designing the transition edge between the cutting surface and the transition surface at least partially as a surface, in particular a curved surface, especially as an edge surface, lies in the associated possibility of selecting the inclination of the cutting surface of the successive cutting teeth arranged along the circumferential edge of the cutting blade relative to a clamping plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation or a cutting plane, and thus the wedge angle β, independently of the settling angle α. In contrast to the present invention, the settling angle α, which influences the settling of the cut product slice, in prior art cutting blades necessarily results from the selected wedge angle β. If a desired settling angle α requires the selection of a particularly small wedge angle β, this adversely leads to increased wear of the cutting edge of the cutting blade.The design of the transition between the cut surface and the transition surface as an edge surface according to the present invention advantageously allows the wedge angle β and the deposit angle α to be selected independently of each other and thus, for example, to combine low wear susceptibility of the cut edge with good deposit properties.

[0013] According to the invention, the transition between the cut surface and the transition surface is therefore at least partially designed as a surface, in particular as a curved edge surface. Preferably, the predominant part, i.e., at least 50%, is formed as a surface. % The transition between the cut surface and the transition surface is designed as a surface, in particular as a curved edge surface. The vast majority, i.e., at least 90%, is particularly preferred. % The transition between the cut surface and the transition surface is formed as a surface, in particular as a curved edge surface.

[0014] Preferably, the transition between the cut surface and the transition surface is formed in a first section as an edge surface, in particular a curved edge surface, and in a second section as an edge.

[0015] Preferably, the edge in the radially outer area adjoins the edge surface.

[0016] In an alternative embodiment, the transition between the cut surface and the transition surface is continuously formed as a curved edge surface. In this embodiment, there is therefore no edge between the cut surface and the transition surface.

[0017] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inclination of the cutting surface of the cutting teeth arranged successively along the circumferential edge of the cutting knife is constant relative to a clamping plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation or a cutting plane.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inclination of the cutting surface of the cutting teeth arranged successively along the circumferential edge of the cutting blade relative to a clamping plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation or a cutting plane characterized by the so-called wedge angle β is in a range of 6 to 40°, preferably 8 to 38°, preferably 10 to 38°, preferably 12 to 38°, preferably 14 to 36°, preferably 16 to 36°, preferably 18 to 36°, preferably 20 to 34°, preferably 22 to 34°, preferably 24 to 34°, preferably 26 to 32°, preferably 28 to 32°, preferably 30 to 32°.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the edge surface of the cutting teeth arranged successively along the circumferential edge of the cutting blade forms an angle, the so-called bearing angle α, of 2 to 40°, preferably 4 to 38°, preferably 6 to 36°, preferably 8 to 34°, preferably 10 to 32°, preferably 12 to 30°, preferably 14 to 30°, preferably 16 to 28°, preferably 18 to 26°, with a clamping plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation or a cutting plane.

[0020] According to the present invention, the wedge angle β and the offset angle α can advantageously be selected independently of one another by choosing the inclination of the cutting surface of the successive cutting teeth arranged along the circumferential edge of the cutting knife relative to a clamping plane or cutting plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation and the edge surface of the successive cutting teeth arranged along the circumferential edge of the cutting knife relative to a clamping plane or cutting plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation. For example, it may be provided that the wedge angle β is kept constant along the entire circumferential edge or in partial regions of the circumferential edge of the cutting knife and that the offset angle α is varied along the entire circumferential edge or in partial regions of the circumferential edge of the cutting knife in the direction of rotation.However, it may also be possible, for example, to vary the wedge angle β along the entire circumferential edge or in parts of the circumferential edge of the cutting blade and to keep the bearing angle α constant along the entire circumferential edge or in parts of the circumferential edge of the cutting blade in the direction of rotation, or to keep both the wedge angle β and the bearing angle α constant along the entire circumferential edge or in parts of the circumferential edge of the cutting blade, or to vary both angles along the entire circumferential edge or in parts of the circumferential edge of the cutting blade.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inclination of the cutting surface of the cutting teeth arranged successively along the circumferential edge of the cutting blade varies relative to a clamping plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation or to a cutting plane in the direction of rotation of the cutting blade. However, according to this embodiment, it is not excluded that the inclination of all cutting surfaces of the cutting teeth arranged successively along the circumferential edge of the cutting blade is different. Rather, several cutting teeth of the cutting blade according to the invention can also have the same inclination of the cutting surface.Accordingly, an uneven, in particular abrupt, or uniform, in particular periodic, in particular wave-like, increase and decrease in the inclination of the cutting surface of the cutting teeth arranged successively along the circumferential edge of the cutting knife relative to a clamping plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation or a cutting plane in the direction of rotation of the cutting knife can also be provided.

[0022] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cutting edges of the cutting teeth arranged successively along the entire circumferential edge of the cutting blade lie in one plane, preferably in the clamping plane, preferably in a plane parallel to the clamping plane. In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the cutting edges of the cutting teeth arranged successively along the entire circumferential edge of the cutting blade lie in at least two different planes.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the cutting edges of the cutting teeth arranged successively along the entire circumferential edge of the cutting knife have a constant edge length.

[0024] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the length of the cutting edges of the cutting teeth arranged successively along the entire circumferential edge of the cutting blade varies. Preferably, the length of the cutting edges of the cutting teeth arranged successively along the entire circumferential edge of the cutting blade decreases or increases in the circumferential direction, preferably continuously. In a further embodiment, the length of the cutting edges of the cutting teeth arranged successively along the entire circumferential edge of the cutting blade decreases and / or increases in certain regions.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the length of the cutting edges of the cutting teeth arranged successively along the entire circumferential edge of the cutting blade is 2 to 10 mm, preferably 2.5 to 9 mm, preferably 3 to 8 mm, preferably 4 to 6 mm, preferably 5 mm.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the distance between two immediately successive cutting teeth in the circumferential direction, that is, the distance between two corresponding points of the two immediately successive cutting teeth, is 2 to 8 mm, preferably 2.5 to 7.5 mm, more preferably 3 to 7 mm, more preferably 3.5 to 6.5 mm, more preferably 4 to 6 mm, more preferably 4.5 to 5.5 mm. According to the invention, the distance between any two immediately successive cutting teeth in the circumferential direction can be constant over the entire circumferential edge of the cutting blade. However, according to the invention, it can also be provided that the distance between any two immediately successive cutting teeth in the circumferential direction varies over the entire circumferential edge of the cutting blade.

[0027] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the edge surface is a flat, i.e., planar, or a curved surface. Preferably, the transition plane is a curved surface. A curved surface as a transition plane has the additional, surprising technical advantage that the surface of the material being cut is very gently brushed over, and the contact area between the curved surface and the surface of the material being cut is as small as possible. The curved surface also ensures that the edges bounding the edge surface in the circumferential direction do not touch the surface of the material being cut, thus preventing additional abrasion of the surface of the material being cut by these edges. The rubbing of an edge against a surface is more damaging than the rubbing of a surface against a surface, especially a curved surface.The embodiment according to the invention makes it possible to minimize contact with the surface of the material being cut, thus avoiding damage to the soft surface and keeping the deflection impulse of the knife acting on the thin slice as small as possible. A low deflection impulse has a positive effect on the quality of the stack of sliced ​​pieces. With a curved surface, the contact area with the material being cut is advantageously smaller than with a flat surface. Thus, the curved surface combines the advantages of a minimized contact area and reduced friction from edges.

[0028] The preferred curvature of the edge surface between the cutting surface and the transition surface results in at least one of the edges bounding the curved edge surface being curved. At least one edge can be curved, preferably one edge, two edges, three edges, or four edges. Preferably, the edges are curved with a specific radius.

[0029] Preferably, the radially inner edge surface is curved in the radial direction. The radius of this edge is preferably at least 0.05 mm, more preferably at least 0.1 mm, and particularly preferably at least 0.15 mm. Preferably, the radius of this edge is at most 20 mm, more preferably at most 15 mm, more preferably at most 11 mm, more preferably at most 8 mm, and more preferably at most 5 mm. Preferably, the radius of this edge is at least 0.05 mm, more preferably at least 0.1 mm, more preferably at least 0.15 mm and at most 20 mm, more preferably at most 15 mm, more preferably at most 11 mm, more preferably at most 8 mm, and more preferably at most 5 mm.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the edges bounding the curved edge surface in the circumferential direction and / or the edges bounding the curved edge surface in the radial direction are curved. In a preferred embodiment, the edges bounding the curved edge surface in the circumferential direction and the edges bounding the curved edge surface in the radial direction are curved. In a preferred embodiment, the edges bounding the curved edge surface in the circumferential direction are curved. In a preferred embodiment, the edges bounding the curved edge surface in the radial direction are curved. In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the edges bounding the curved edge surface in the circumferential direction is curved. In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the edges bounding the curved edge surface in the radial direction is curved.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the curved edge surface is formed by a first curved surface and a second curved surface. The curved edge surface thus comprises two surface areas, the first surface area having a first curvature and the second surface area having a second curvature. The two areas can merge smoothly into one another or be separated by an edge. Due to the curvatures of the two surface areas, this edge is very blunt and therefore not disadvantageous. Preferably, this edge has a radius of at least 0.01 mm, more preferably at least 0.05 mm and at most 0.8 mm, and more preferably at most 0.5 mm.

[0032] Preferably, the first surface area is radially inner and the second surface area is radially outer, with the first surface area being particularly preferably larger than the second surface area. Preferably, the first surface area comprises at least 75 %, especially preferably at least 90 % The total area of ​​the curved edge surface is therefore many times larger than the second area.

[0033] Preferably, some cutting teeth of the cutting blade have a curved edge surface with a first curved surface and a second curved surface. Preferably, some cutting teeth of the cutting blade have a curved edge surface with a first curved surface and a second curved surface, and some cutting teeth of the cutting blade have a single-surface curved edge surface.

[0034] According to the invention, the edge surface adjacent to the cutting surface of the successively arranged cutting teeth along the circumferential edge of the cutting knife is bounded in the radial direction by a radially outer edge and a radially inner edge, as well as two edges lying in the circumferential direction of the cutting knife.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two edges bounding the edge surface in the direction of rotation run parallel to each other.

[0036] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the two edges bounding the edge surface in the direction of rotation run radially away from each other or towards each other.

[0037] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the edges bounding the edge surface in the radial direction, in particular the radially outer edge and the radially inner edge, and / or the edges bounding the edge surface in the circumferential direction, in particular the edge facing the cutting surface bounding the edge surface in the circumferential direction and the edge facing the transition surface bounding the edge surface in the circumferential direction, are straight lines.

[0038] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the edges bounding the edge surface in the radial direction, in particular the radially outer edge and the radially inner edge, and / or the edges bounding the edge surface in the circumferential direction, in particular the edge facing the cutting surface and the edge facing the transition surface, bounding the edge surface in the circumferential direction, have a course that deviates from a straight line, i.e., is non-linear.

[0039] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the edges bounding the edge surface in the radial direction, in particular the radially outer edge and the radially inner edge, and / or the edges bounding the edge surface in the circumferential direction, in particular the edge facing the cutting surface and the edge facing the transition surface, bounding the edge surface in the circumferential direction, describe a curve, in particular an arc.

[0040] Preferably, the edges bounding the edge surface in the radial direction, in particular the radially outer edge and the radially inner edge, and / or the edges bounding the edge surface in the circumferential direction, in particular the edge facing the cutting surface bounding the edge surface in the circumferential direction and the edge facing the transition surface bounding the edge surface in the circumferential direction, describe a circular arc.

[0041] Preferably, the edges bounding the edge surface in the radial direction, in particular the radially outer edge and the radially inner edge, and / or the edges bounding the edge surface in the circumferential direction, in particular the edge facing the cutting surface bounding the edge surface in the circumferential direction and the edge facing the transition surface bounding the edge surface in the circumferential direction, describe an elliptical arc.

[0042] According to the invention, it can also be provided that at least one, preferably at least two, preferably at least three, preferably exactly one, preferably exactly two, preferably exactly three, preferably all, preferably two opposing edges, the edge bounding the edge surface in the radial direction or circumferential direction, preferably the radially outer edge, preferably the radially inner edge, preferably the edge facing the cutting surface bounding the edge surface in the circumferential direction, preferably the edge facing the transition surface bounding the edge surface in the circumferential direction, has / have a course that deviates from a straight line, i.e., non-linear, in particular describes / describes a curve, in particular an arc, in particular a circular arc, in particular an elliptical arc.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the two edges bounding the edge surface in the radial direction have the same length.

[0044] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the two edges bounding the edge surface in the radial direction have different lengths.

[0045] Preferably, the radially outer edge bounding the edge surface is shorter than the radially inner edge bounding the edge surface. Particularly preferably, the radially outer edge bounding the edge surface is longer than the radially inner edge bounding the edge surface.

[0046] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the edge surfaces of the cutting teeth of the cutting knife, arranged successively along the circumferential edge, are axially symmetric.

[0047] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the edge area of ​​the cutting teeth arranged successively along the circumferential edge is constant in the circumferential direction. According to this embodiment, the length of the edges bounding the edge area in the radial and circumferential directions is constant.

[0048] In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the edge surface of the cutting teeth arranged successively along the circumferential edge varies in the circumferential direction.

[0049] Preferably, the size of the edge area of ​​the cutting teeth arranged successively along the circumferential edge increases in the circumferential direction. Preferably, the size of the edge area of ​​the cutting teeth arranged successively along the circumferential edge increases continuously in the circumferential direction.

[0050] Preferably, the size of the edge area of ​​the cutting teeth arranged successively along the circumferential edge decreases in the circumferential direction. Preferably, the size of the edge area of ​​the cutting teeth arranged successively along the circumferential edge decreases continuously in the circumferential direction.

[0051] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the size of the edge surface of successively arranged cutting teeth along the circumferential edge can increase, decrease and / or remain constant in different partial regions of the circumferential edge, i.e., in certain areas.

[0052] In another embodiment, the cutting blade according to the invention is not provided with teeth over the entire area of ​​its circumferential edge. According to this embodiment, areas without teeth can be provided along the circumferential edge of the cutting blade. Preferably, however, at least substantially the entire circumferential edge of the cutting blade, and particularly preferably the entire circumferential edge of the cutting blade, has teeth.

[0053] As already explained, according to the invention, the cutting blade can have a plurality of identical cutting teeth or a plurality of different cutting teeth. According to the invention, the cutting blade must have at least one cutting tooth in which the transition between the cutting surface and the transition surface is at least partially formed as an edge surface, preferably a curved edge surface. The remaining cutting teeth need not necessarily have this feature. Preferably, however, at least 25% of the cutting teeth of the cutting blade, more preferably at least 50% of the cutting teeth of the cutting blade, and particularly preferably at least 75% of the cutting teeth of the cutting blade have a transition between the cutting surface and the transition surface that is at least partially formed as an edge surface, in particular a curved edge surface.In another embodiment, all cutting teeth of the cutting knife have a transition between the cutting surface and the transition surface, which is at least partially designed as an edge surface, in particular a curved edge surface.

[0054] The size and shape of the edge surface, in particular curved edge surfaces of the individual cutting teeth, can be the same or different. The present invention further relates to the use of a cutting knife according to the invention for slicing a food product, such as in particular sausage, cheese and meat, into food slices, preferably by means of a high-speed slicer, wherein the cutting knife rotates during the cutting operation.

[0055] In the context of the present invention, an "edge surface" is understood to be a surface connecting the cutting surface of an incisor with a transition surface between two successive incisors. The "edge surface" can be either a curved or a flat surface.

[0056] The terms "clamping plane" and "cutting plane (SE)" used in connection with the present invention are understood in the manner customary in the trade, in particular as defined in EP 3 338 972 A1. Accordingly, the clamping plane and the cutting plane may be distinct from one another or coincide. The clamping plane may therefore coincide with the cutting plane defined by the cutting edge of the knife. However, this definition of the clamping plane is not mandatory. For example, the clamping plane may also be the plane defined by the rear side of a knife body.

[0057] In the context of the present invention, the term "and / or" means that all members of a group connected by the term "and / or" are disclosed both alternatively to one another and cumulatively to one another in any combination. For the expression "A, B and / or C", this means that the following disclosure content is to be understood: a) A or B or C or b) (A and B) or c) (A and C) or d) (B and C) or e) (A and B and C).

[0058] Further preferred embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims.

[0059] The present invention is described below by way of example, without limiting the general concept of the invention, with reference to the figures. These figures show: Figure 1 A top view of a sickle knife according to the invention. Figure 2An enlarged view of the toothing along the circumferential edge of the sickle blade with a constant curved edge surface. Figure 3 An enlarged view of the toothing along the circumferential edge of the sickle blade with different lengths of the edges bounding the curved edge surface in the radial and circumferential directions. Figure 4 An enlarged view of the toothing along the circumferential edge of the sickle blade with varying curved edge surface. Figure 5 an enlarged view of the toothing along the circumferential edge of the sickle blade with constant curved edge surface and the wedge angles β and offset angles α present at the intersection lines JJ and KK. Figure 6Aan enlarged view of the toothing along the circumferential edge of the sickle blade with different lengths of the edges bounding the curved edge surface in the radial and circumferential directions and the wedge angles β and bearing angles α present at the intersection lines GG and HH. Figure 6B an enlarged view of the toothing along the circumferential edge of a sickle blade with a curved edge surface and a back cut, as well as the wedge angles β and bearing angles α present at the cutting lines LL and MM. Figure 7 An enlarged view of a toothing along the circumferential edge with varying cutting teeth and varying curved edge surfaces. Figure 8 An enlarged view of the toothing along the circumferential edge with alternative embodiments of the cutting teeth.

[0060] The in Figure 1The illustrated embodiment shows a cutting blade (1) according to the invention for a device for cutting food products, in particular for a high-speed slicer, which rotates around a rotational axis (2) in such a way that the cutting blade (1) plunges into the product to be cut in the area of ​​the smallest radius R min of the circumferential edge (3), the so-called immersion area.

[0061] Figure 2 Figure 1 is an enlarged view of the toothing along the circumferential edge (3) of the cutting blade (1) with a constant curved edge surface (22). The edge surface (22) is defined in the circumferential direction of the cutting blade (1) by two edges (12, 13) and connects the cutting surface (11) of a cutting tooth with the transition surface (33) between two successive cutting teeth. In the Figure 2In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the two edges (12, 13) bounding the edge surface (22) in the circumferential direction run parallel to each other. Furthermore, in the illustrated area of ​​the circumferential edge (3) of the cutting blade (1), the inclination of the cutting surface (11) and thus the wedge angle β, the length of the cutting edge (10), as well as the edge surface (22) and thus the bearing angle α of the Figure 2 The depicted incisors are constant.

[0062] Unlike the one in Figure 2 The depicted view of the toothing along the circumferential edge (3) of the cutting blade (1) is in Figure 3 An embodiment is shown in which the edges (12, 13) bounding the edge surface (22) in the circumferential direction diverge from each other in the radial direction, and the two edges (14, 15) bounding the edge surface (22) in the radial direction accordingly have different lengths. According to the Figure 3In the illustrated embodiment, the radially outer edge (14) bounding the edge surface (22) in the radial direction is significantly shorter than the radially inner edge (15) bounding the edge surface (22) in the radial direction. The edge surface (22) connects the cutting surface (11) of a cutting tooth, which has the cutting edge (10), with the transition surface (33) between two successive cutting teeth. In a further embodiment of the present invention, however, the radially outer edge (14) bounding the edge surface (22) in the radial direction can also be longer than the radially inner edge (15) bounding the edge surface (22) in the radial direction.

[0063] In particular, in the Figure 3In the illustrated embodiment, the edge surface (22) connecting the cutting surface (11) with the transition surface (33) between two successive cutting teeth is curved. However, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the edge surface (22) can also be planar, and thus the edges (12, 13) and the edges (14, 15) are straight.

[0064] The in Figure 4The illustrated embodiment of a cutting blade (1) according to the invention shows a variation of the edge surface (22) for two successive cutting teeth in the circumferential direction. The lengths of the edges (12, 13) bounding the edge surface (22) in the circumferential direction and the edges (14, 15) bounding the edge surface (22) in the radial direction change compared to the lengths of the edges (12, 13, 14, 15) bounding the edge surface (22) of the adjacent cutting tooth. According to the invention, the edge surfaces (22) of the cutting teeth arranged along the circumferential edge (3) can change constantly or only in certain areas. Furthermore, it can be provided, for example, that the edge surfaces (22) of the cutting teeth arranged along the circumferential edge (3) change continuously, in particular that the size of the edge surface (22) of the cutting teeth arranged along the circumferential edge (3) continuously increases or decreases.In each of these cases, the cutting surface (11) of a cutting tooth having the cutting edge (10) is connected via the edge surface (22) to the transition surface (33) between two successive cutting teeth.

[0065] By appropriately selecting the inclination of the cutting surface (11) relative to a clamping plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation or a cutting plane (SE), the desired wedge angle β suitable for the application in question can be set. Independently of this, a desired bearing angle α can be set by appropriately selecting the shape, geometry, and curvature of the edge surface (22). Figure 5 Figure 1 shows, by way of example, the wedge and bearing angles present at the intersection lines JJ and KK in an embodiment of the present invention, in which the two edges (12, 13) limiting the edge surface (22) in the circumferential direction - as also in Figure 2 depicted - running parallel to each other.

[0066] In Figure 6AThe wedge (β) and bearing angles (α) present at the intersection lines GG and HH are shown as examples in an embodiment of the present invention, in which the two edges (12, 13) limiting the edge surface (22) in the circumferential direction - as also in the Figures 3 and 4 shown - running away from each other in a radial direction and the two edges (14, 15) that bound the edge surface (22) in a radial direction accordingly have different lengths.

[0067] Another embodiment of the cutting blade (1) according to the invention is shown in Figure 6B The wedge (β) and offset angles (α) present at the intersection lines LL and MM are shown. In contrast to the one in Figure 6A The cutting knife shown, the knife is in Figure 6B Additionally, a back cut is made, meaning that the back of the measuring surface is not completely in the cutting plane (SE) in the area shown.

[0068] In Figure 7 is similar to in Figure 3 An embodiment is shown in which the edges (12, 13) bounding the edge surface (22) in the circumferential direction diverge radially from each other, and the two edges (14, 15) bounding the edge surface (22) radially accordingly have different lengths. The three cutting teeth (SZ1, SZ2, SZ3) have different configurations of the edge surface (22). According to the embodiment shown for cutting teeth SZ1 and SZ2, the radially outer edge (14) bounding the edge surface (22) radially is significantly shorter than the radially inner edge (15) bounding the edge surface (22) radially. The edge surface (22) connects the cutting surface (11) of a cutting tooth with the transition surface (33) between two successive cutting teeth.

[0069] In the Figure 7In the illustrated embodiment, each of the edge surfaces (22) shown, which connects the cutting surface (11) with the transition surface (33) between two successive cutting teeth, is curved. Thus, at least the edges (12, 13) and partially also the edges (14, 15) are curved.

[0070] In the first two incisors (SZ1, SZ2), the edge surface (22) is divided into a first edge surface (22a) and a second edge surface (22b), which have different curvatures. The first edge surface (22a) is radially inner, and the second edge surface (22b) is radially outer. The first edge surface (22a) is significantly larger than the second edge surface (22b). In the second incisor (SZ2), the second edge surface (22b) is barely present. The third incisor (SZ3), on the other hand, has a single-surface edge surface (22).

[0071] In Figure 8is similar to in Figure 7 An embodiment is shown in which the edges (12, 13) bounding the edge surface (22) in the direction of rotation diverge radially from each other. The two cutting teeth (SZ4, SZ5) have similar dimensions to the edge surface (22). Each of the edge surfaces (22) shown, which connects the cutting surface (11) with the transition surface (33) between two successive cutting teeth, is curved. Thus, the edges (12, 13) are also curved.

[0072] In the case of the fifth incisor (SZ5), the edge surface (22) is the same as in the second incisor (SZ2). Figure 7The surface is divided into a first edge surface (22a) and a second edge surface (22b), which have different curvatures. The first edge surface (22a) is radially inner and bounding in the radial direction, while the second edge surface (22b) is radially outer. The first edge surface (22a) is significantly larger than the second edge surface (22b).

[0073] On the fourth incisor (SZ4), the edge surface (22) is single-surface. However, the edge surface (22) does not extend to the cutting edge (10), but ends before it. Thus, the curved edge surface (22) only partially, but here largely, replaces an edge between the cutting surface (11) and the transition surface (33). A very short edge (23) adjoins the edge surface (22) radially on the outside and touches the cutting edge (10). Reference symbol list:

[0074] 1 Cutting blade 2 Axis of rotation 3 Circumferential edge 10 Cutting edge 11 Cutting surface 12 Edge facing the cutting surface, bounding the edge surface in the direction of rotation 13 Edge facing the transition surface, bounding the edge surface in the direction of rotation 14 Radially outer edge, bounding the edge surface in the radial direction 15 Radially inner edge, bounding the edge surface in the radial direction 22 Edge surface 22 First edge surface 22 Second edge surface 23 Edge 33 Transition surface R min smallest radius of the circumferential edge of the cutting blade J-J Cutting line K-K Cutting line G-G Cutting line H-H Cutting line M-M Cutting line L-L Cutting line α Discharge angle β Wedge angle SE Cutting plane SZ1 First cutting tooth SZ2 Second cutting tooth SZ3 Third cutting tooth SZ4 Fourth cutting tooth SZ5 fifth incisor

Claims

1. A cutting knife (1), in particular a sickle knife, spiral knife or circular knife, for a device for cutting open food products, in particular for a high-speed slicer, which, during the cutting operation, rotates about an axis of rotation (2), having a radially outer circumferential edge (3) which acts as a blade having a curved course around the axis of rotation (2), and having a plurality of cutting teeth, which are arranged in succession along the circumferential edge (3), wherein each cutting tooth has a blade comprising a cutting face (11) and a cutting edge (10) delimiting the cutting face (11) radially outward, wherein each cutting face (11) extends inclined with respect to a cutting plane (SE) perpendicular to the axis of rotation (2), characterised in that the radially protruding transition between the radially protruding end of the cutting face (11) of a cutting tooth and the transition face (33) running between the radially protruding end of the cutting face (11) and the radially recessed end of the cutting face (11) of an adjacent cutting tooth is configured at least partially as a curved edge face (22).

2. The cutting knife of claim 1, characterised in that the radially protruding transition between the radially protruding end of the cutting face (11) of a cutting tooth and the transition face (33) running between the radially protruding end of the cutting face (11) and the radially recessed end of the cutting face (11) of an adjacent cutting tooth is configured in a first section as a curved edge face (22) and in a second section as an edge (23).

3. The cutting knife of claim 1, characterised in that the radially protruding transition between the radially protruding end of the cutting face (11) of a cutting tooth and the transition face (33) running between the radially protruding end of the cutting face (11) and the radially recessed end of the cutting face (11) of an adjacent cutting tooth is configured as a curved edge face (22).

4. The cutting knife of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the curved edge face (22) is formed by a first curved face (22a) and a second curved face (22b).

5. The cutting knife of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the edges (12) and (13) delimiting the curved edge face (22) in the peripheral direction and / or the edges (14) and (15) delimiting the curved edge face (22) in the radial direction are curved.

6. The cutting knife of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the edges (12) and (13) delimiting the curved edge face (22) in the peripheral direction run parallel to one another.

7. The cutting knife according to claim 1 to claim 5, characterised in that the edges (12) and (13) delimiting the curved edge face (22) in the peripheral direction run away from each other or towards each other in the radial direction.

8. The cutting knife of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the edges (14) and (15) delimiting the curved edge face (22) in the radial direction have a different length.

9. The cutting knife of claim 8, characterised in that the radially inner edge (15) delimiting the curved edge face (22) in the radial direction is longer than the radially outer edge (14).

10. The cutting knife of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inclination of the cutting face (11) with respect to a cutting plane (SE) perpendicular to the axis of rotation (2) of the cutting teeth arranged in succession along the circumferential edge (3) is constant along the entire circumferential edge (3).

11. The cutting knife of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the curved edge face (22) of the cutting teeth arranged in succession along the circumferential edge (3) is constant in the peripheral direction.

12. The cutting knife of one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the curved edge face (22) of the cutting teeth arranged in succession along the circumferential edge (3) varies in the peripheral direction.

13. The cutting knife of claim 12, characterised in that the curved edge face (22) of the cutting teeth arranged in succession along the circumferential edge (3) increases or decreases continuously in the peripheral direction.

14. The cutting knife of one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the cutting knife is a sickle knife, spiral knife or circular knife.

15. A use of a cutting knife of one of claims 1 to 14 for cutting open a food product into food slices, wherein the cutting knife rotates during the cutting operation.