System comprising a first food slicer and a second food slicer with differently spaced infeed and slicer modules, method for producing a system, method for converting a production line

Description

State of the art

[0001] The invention relates to a system comprising a first food slicing machine and a second food slicing machine with differently spaced infeed and slicing modules. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing a system and a method for converting a production line.

[0002] Systems incorporating food slicing machines are known from the prior art, for example, from German patent application DE 10 2011 013 919 A1. Food slicing machines, especially high-performance slicers, are typically used for the industrial slicing of food bars into food slices. For this purpose, a food bar is fed to the food slicing machine from an upstream feeding device of a production line comprising the food slicing machine, for example, a conveyor belt, via an infeed unit, transported by a conveyor belt to a slicing unit, and typically sliced ​​by the slicing unit with a knife.

[0003] To simplify the slicing process, food bars are typically of a specific length. The length of the food bars determines the dimensions of the production line up to the slicing unit, and in particular, the length of the conveyor belt between the infeed unit of the food slicer and the slicing unit itself. Generally, the longest possible food bars are used. Using longer food bars increases slicing efficiency because the production line needs to be reloaded less frequently and new food bars need to be fed into the slicing machine less often. However, often there is insufficient space available, so transport distances on the production line are shortened, thus limiting the number of available food bars.

[0004] The current state of the art therefore envisions different food slicing machines for different lengths of food bars. For example, food slicing machines for bars with a length of 1200 mm are designed significantly differently than those for bars with a length of 1850 mm. These different food slicing machines feature different slicing units, different infeed units, and different housings.

[0005] This makes providing a system with food slicers optimized for slicing food bars of varying lengths complicated, time-consuming, and expensive. Furthermore, it is equally complicated, time-consuming, and expensive to convert an existing production line from one length of food bars to another, as the entire food slicer needs to be replaced. Disclosure of the invention

[0006] The object of the present invention was therefore to provide a system comprising several food slicing machines which does not have the disadvantages of the prior art described above, but offers a simpler way of manufacturing and adapting to different lengths of food bars.

[0007] The problem is solved by a system comprising a first food slicing machine, in particular a high-performance slicer, for slicing food bars into food slices, the first food slicing machine comprising a first infeed module for feeding the food bars, a first slicing module for slicing the food bars, a first conveyor belt for transporting the fed food bars from the first infeed module to the first slicing module, and a first longitudinal beam for spacing the first slicing module from the first infeed module, wherein the system comprises a second food slicing machine, in particular a high-performance slicer, for slicing food bars into food slices, wherein the second food slicing machine comprises a second infeed module for feeding the food bars, a second slicing module for slicing the food bars,The system comprises a second conveyor belt for transporting the supplied food bars from the second infeed module to the second slicing module, and a second longitudinal beam for spacing the second slicing module from the second infeed module, wherein the first infeed module and the second infeed module are identical, the first slicing module and the second slicing module are identical, the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt are of different lengths, and the first longitudinal beam and the second longitudinal beam are of different lengths to ensure different distances between the first infeed module and the first slicing module, and between the second infeed module and the second slicing module.

[0008] The system according to the invention makes it possible to provide either the first food slicing machine for slicing food bars of a first length or the second food slicing machine for slicing food bars of a second length simply by exchanging the longitudinal beams and the conveyor belts. The spacing between the beams, and thus also the length of the longitudinal beams and the conveyor belts, depends on the length of the food bars to be sliced. The lengths of the food bars can be, for example, 1200 mm and 1850 mm. Those skilled in the art understand that these are approximate dimensions.

[0009] The food slicing machines of the system according to the invention have a modular design. This allows infeed modules and slicing modules to be produced regardless of the intended length of the food bars. Adaptation to the intended length of the food bars is achieved by spacing the infeed modules from the slicing modules using the longitudinal beams.

[0010] Infeed modules can include a housing inlet, such as a door or a flap. It is also conceivable that the infeed modules include one or more light barriers for sensing the food bars. Slicing modules can include knives, such as sickle knives or circular knives. It is also conceivable that the slicing modules include cutting guards and / or cutting strips. It is also conceivable that the slicing modules each include one or more light barriers for sensing the food bars. It is also conceivable that the slicing modules each include one or more product trays for receiving the sliced ​​food pieces.

[0011] It is conceivable that the longitudinal beams are designed as round bars and / or bars with a cuboid cross-section. Preferably, the food slicing machines each have several, in particular four, longitudinal beams.

[0012] It is conceivable that the conveyor belts each have a single-piece belt element for transporting the food bar. However, it is also conceivable that the conveyor belts each have several belt elements arranged parallel to one another. Preferably, the conveyor belts are designed to transition from a feed position that is essentially horizontal in the conveying direction to a cutting position that extends downwards in the conveying direction. It is conceivable that one cutting plane of the cutting modules is inclined to the horizontal. It is conceivable that the conveying direction in the cutting position is orthogonal to the cutting plane.

[0013] Food bars can include, for example, sausage, ham, or cheese bars.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first longitudinal beam and the second longitudinal beam are interchangeable in order to vary the width of the spacing between the first inlet module and the first cutting module or between the second inlet module and the second cutting module, wherein the first longitudinal beam is preferably screwed to the first inlet module and the first cutting module and the second longitudinal beam is preferably screwed to the second inlet module and the second cutting module.

[0015] This significantly simplifies the manufacturing process of the system. Furthermore, it allows for subsequent adjustments to the spacing between the infeed module and the slicing module. For example, it is therefore possible to easily convert the first food slicing machine into a second food slicing machine.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first food slicing machine and the second food slicing machine each have a control cabinet for housing control elements and / or for supplying the food slicing machines with electrical energy and / or for supplying the food slicing machines with compressed air, wherein the control cabinets are arranged on the slicing module and not on the infeed module of the respective food slicing machine, or wherein the control cabinets are arranged on the infeed module and not on the slicing module of the respective food slicing machine.

[0017] This makes it advantageously possible to easily adjust the spacing between the inlet modules and the cutting modules. No modifications to the control cabinet are necessary.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt are interchangeable for varying the spacing between the first infeed module and the first cutting module and the second infeed module and the second cutting module, respectively, wherein the first conveyor belt is preferably screwed to the first cutting module and the second conveyor belt is preferably screwed to the second cutting module.

[0019] This also significantly simplifies the manufacturing of the system. Preferably, the conveyor belts are not bolted to the infeed modules.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first food slicing machine and the second food slicing machine each have a gripper guide for guiding a gripper along the respective conveyor belt, wherein the gripper guides are interchangeable for varying the spacing between the first infeed module and the first slicing module or the second infeed module and the second slicing module, and wherein the gripper guides are preferably screwed to the respective slicing module and / or to the respective infeed module.

[0021] Preferably, the first food slicing machine has a first gripper guide, and the second food slicing machine has a second gripper guide, wherein the first and second gripper guides are of different lengths. This allows for optimal adaptation of the gripper guide and thus optimal adaptation of the guidance of the food bar for slicing along the respective conveyor belt to the respective slicing module. Unnecessarily long gripper guides, which could potentially lead to space constraints, are thereby avoided.

[0022] A further object of the present invention for solving the problem stated at the outset is a method for manufacturing a system according to the invention, wherein a plurality of identical infeed modules and a plurality of identical slicing modules are provided, wherein, for the manufacture of the first food slicing machine, the first infeed module from the plurality of identical infeed modules and the first slicing module from the plurality of identical slicing modules are connected to the first longitudinal beam and spaced apart from each other by a first width, wherein, for the manufacture of the second food slicing machine, the second infeed module from the plurality of identical infeed modules and the second slicing module from the plurality of identical slicing modules are connected to the second longitudinal beam and spaced apart from each other by a second width different from the first width.

[0023] This makes it possible to manufacture a system with food slicing machines for cutting food bars of varying lengths in a very efficient manner. The modular design and the assembly of the food slicing machines from the provided modules saves costs and production time. Furthermore, it is conceivable that an already manufactured food slicing machine of the system according to the invention can be very easily retrofitted to accommodate different lengths of food bars to be cut by that machine.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that, for the manufacture of the first food slicing machine, the first conveyor belt is screwed to the first slicing module, and, for the manufacture of the second food slicing machine, the second conveyor belt is screwed to the second slicing module.

[0025] This significantly simplifies the manufacturing of the system. Preferably, the conveyor belts are not screwed to the infeed modules.

[0026] Preferably, for the manufacture of the first food slicing machine, a first gripper guide for guiding the gripper along the first conveyor belt is screwed to the first slicing module and / or the first infeed module, and for the manufacture of the second food slicing machine, a second gripper guide for guiding the gripper along the second conveyor belt is screwed to the second slicing module and / or the second infeed module, wherein the first gripper guide and the second gripper guide are of different lengths. This allows for optimal adaptation of the gripper guide and thus optimal adaptation of the guidance of the food bar for slicing along the respective conveyor belt to the respective slicing module. Unnecessarily long gripper guides, which could potentially lead to installation space problems, are thereby avoided.

[0027] A further object of the present invention for solving the problem stated at the outset is a method for converting a production line with a food slicing machine of a system according to the invention, wherein the first longitudinal beam of the first food slicing machine is exchanged for the second longitudinal beam in order to change the width of the spacing of the first infeed module to the first slicing module and to convert the first food slicing machine to the second food slicing machine.

[0028] The inventive method for retooling a production line advantageously enables the production line to be adapted to a changed length of the food bars to be sliced ​​without having to replace the entire food slicing machine. This significantly reduces the changeover time and costs.

[0029] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first food slicing machine is converted into a second food slicing machine by using the first infeed module and the first slicing module as the second infeed module and second slicing module, respectively. In other words, the infeed module and the slicing module are retained. Only the distance between the infeed module and the slicing module is adjusted to the length of the food bars to be sliced.

[0030] Preferably, the conversion of the first food slicing machine to the second food slicing machine is achieved by exchanging the first conveyor belt for the second conveyor belt.

[0031] Preferably, the production line is to be converted to change the length of the food bars to be cut.

[0032] All the foregoing statements under "Disclosure of the Invention" apply equally to the system according to the invention, as well as to the method according to the invention for manufacturing a system and the method according to the invention for converting a production line.

[0033] Further details, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the drawing and from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawing. The drawing merely illustrates exemplary embodiments of the invention, which do not restrict the essential concept of the invention. Short description of the drawing

[0034] Figure 1 schematically shows a system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Embodiments of the invention

[0035] In the Figure 1A schematic representation of a system 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. The system 100 comprises a first food slicing machine 1 and a second food slicing machine 2. The food slicing machines 1 and 2 are preferably part of a production line 200.

[0036] The illustrated food slicing machines 1, 2 are preferably high-performance slicers and are used to slice food bars 5 into food slices. The food bars 5 are fed to the food slicing machines 1, 2 via a feed conveyor 8.

[0037] The first food slicing machine 1 has a first infeed module 1.2 through which the food bar 5 is fed to the first food slicing machine 1. For this purpose, a door or a flap is preferably provided in the first infeed module 1.2. It is also conceivable that the first infeed module 1.2 includes one or more light barriers (not shown) for sensing the food bar 5. From the first infeed module 1.2, the food bar 5 is placed on a first conveyor belt 1.4 of the first food slicing machine 1 and transported further to a first slicing module 1.3 of the first food slicing machine 1.

[0038] The first cutting module 1.3 comprises a knife (not shown), for example a sickle knife or a circular knife. For cutting, the first conveyor belt 1.4 is moved from a horizontal feeding position to an inclined cutting position (dashed line).

[0039] A gripper 6 grasps the end of the food bar 5 facing away from the cutting module 1.3 and guides it along a first gripper guide 4, 4.1 of the first food cutting machine 1 to the knife.

[0040] The sliced ​​food pieces (not shown) are placed on a product tray 7 of the first slicing module 1.3 and preferably arranged into portions.

[0041] The dimensions of the food slicing machines 1 and 2 are matched to the lengths of the food bars 5 to be sliced. Unnecessary excess length would lead to efficiency losses in the operation of the production lines 200.

[0042] The second food slicer 2 is optimized for slicing food bars 5, which are significantly shorter than those intended for slicing with the first food slicer 1. Accordingly, the paths within the second food slicer 2 must be shorter.

[0043] To avoid unnecessary effort and costs, the first food slicer 1 and the second food slicer 2 have a modular design. The second food slicer 2 has a second infeed module 2.2 and a second slicing module 2.3. The second infeed module 2.2 is identical to the first infeed module 1.2, and the second slicing module 2.3 is identical to the first slicing module 2.3.

[0044] To adjust the path lengths within the food slicers 1 and 2, the infeed modules 1.2 and 2.2 are separated from the slicing modules 1.3 and 2.3 by longitudinal beams 1.5 and 2.5. The first food slicer 1 has first longitudinal beams 1.5 that are significantly longer than the second longitudinal beams 2.5 of the second food slicer 2. Similarly, the first conveyor belt 1.4 and the first gripper guide 4.1 of the first food slicer 1 are significantly longer than the second conveyor belt 2.4 and the second gripper guide 4.2 of the second food slicer 2.

[0045] In order to provide for simple manufacturing and flexible use by allowing for uncomplicated conversion of the product line 200 to adapt to a new length of the food bars 5 to be cut, the longitudinal beams 1.5, 2.5, the conveyor belts 1.4, 2.5 and the gripper guides 4 are screwed to the respective cutting modules 1.3, 2.3.

[0046] Furthermore, the food slicing machines 1, 2 have control cabinets 3, which are arranged only on the slicing modules 1.3, 2.3 and, in particular, not on the infeed modules 1.2, 2.2. The control cabinets 3 house control elements, power supplies and / or compressed air supplies for the food slicing machines 1, 2. Due to their arrangement on the slicing modules 1.3, 2.3 and without their arrangement on the infeed modules 1.2, 2.2, the distance between the infeed modules 1.2, 2.2 and the slicing modules 1.3, 2.3 can be adjusted particularly easily by simply replacing the longitudinal beams 1.5, 2.5, the conveyor belts 1.4, 2.4 and the gripper guides 4. List of reference symbols

[0047] 1. First food slicer 1.2. First infeed module 1.3. First slicing module 1.4. First conveyor belt 1.5. First longitudinal beam 2. Second food slicer 2.2. Second infeed module 2.3. Second slicing module 2.4. Second conveyor belt 2.5. Second longitudinal beam 3. Control cabinet 4. Gripper guide 4.1. First gripper guide 4.2. Second gripper guide 5. Food bar 6. Gripper 7. Product tray 100. System 200. Product line

Claims

1. System (100) having a first food-slicing machine (1), in particular a high-performance slicer, for slicing blocks of food (5) into slices of food, the first food-slicing machine (1) having a first feed module (1.2) for feeding the blocks of food (5), a first slicing module (1.3) for slicing the blocks of food (5), a first transporting belt (1.4) for transporting the fed blocks of food (5) from the first feed module (1.2) to the first slicing module (1.3), and a first longitudinal member (1.5) for spacing the first slicing module (1.3) apart from the first feed module (1.2), the system having a second food-slicing machine (2), in particular a high-performance slicer, for slicing blocks of food (5) into slices of food, the second food-slicing machine (2) having a second feed module (2.2) for feeding the blocks of food (5), a second slicing module (2.3) for slicing the blocks of food (5), a second transporting belt (2.4) for transporting the fed blocks of food (5) from the second feed module (2.2) to the second slicing module (2.3), and a second longitudinal member (2.5) for spacing the second slicing module (2.3) apart from the second feed module (2.2), wherein the first feed module (1.2) and the second feed module (2.2) are identical and the first slicing module (1.3) and the second slicing module (2.3) are identical, characterized in that the first transporting belt (1.4) and the second transporting belt (2.4) are of different lengths and the first longitudinal member (1.5) and the second longitudinal member (2.5) are of different lengths for spacing the first feed module (1.2) apart from the first slicing module (1.3) and the second feed module (2.2) apart from the second slicing module (2.3) to different extents.

2. System (100) according to Claim 1, wherein the first longitudinal member (1.5) and the second longitudinal member (2.5), for varying the extent of the spacing between the first feed module (1.2) and the first slicing module (1.3) and between the second feed module (2.2) and the second slicing module (2.3), respectively, are interchangeable, wherein the first longitudinal member (1.5) is preferably screwed to the first feed module (1.2) and the first slicing module (1.3) and the second longitudinal member (2.5) is preferably screwed to the second feed module (2.2) and the second slicing module (2.3).

3. System (100) according to either of the preceding claims, wherein the first food-slicing machine (1) and the second food-slicing machine (2) each have a switchgear cabinet (3) for accommodating control elements and / or for supplying electrical energy to the food-slicing machines (1, 2) and / or for supplying compressed air to the food-slicing machines (1, 2), wherein the switchgear cabinets (3) are arranged on the slicing module (1.3, 2.3) and not on the feed module (1.2, 2.2) of the respective food-slicing machine (1, 2), or wherein the switchgear cabinets (3) are arranged on the feed module (1.2, 2.2) and not on the slicing module (1.3, 2.3) of the respective food-slicing machine (1, 2).

4. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first transporting belt (1.4) and the second transporting belt (2.4), for varying the extent of the spacing between the first feed module (1.2) and the first slicing module (1.3) and between the second feed module (2.2) and the second slicing module (2.3), respectively, are interchangeable, wherein the first transporting belt (1.4) is preferably screwed to the first slicing module (1.3) and the second transporting belt (2.4) is preferably screwed to the second slicing module (2.3).

5. System (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first food-slicing machine (1) and the second food-slicing machine (2) each have a gripper guide (4) for guiding a gripper (6) along the respective transporting belt (1.4, 2.4), wherein the gripper guides (4), for varying the extent of the spacing between the first feed module (1.2) and the first slicing module (1.3) and between the second feed module (2.2) and the second slicing module (2.3), respectively, are interchangeable, wherein the gripper guides (4) are preferably screwed to the respective slicing module (1.3, 2.3) and / or the respective feed module (1.2, 2.2).

6. Method for producing a system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of identical feed modules (1.2, 2.2) and a plurality of identical slicing modules (1.3, 2.3) are provided, wherein, for producing the first food-slicing machine (1), the first feed module (1.2) of the plurality of identical feed modules (1.2, 2.2) and the first slicing module (1.3) of the plurality of identical slicing modules (1.3, 2.3) are connected to the first longitudinal member (1.5) and are spaced apart from one another by a first extent, wherein, for producing the second food-slicing machine (2), the second feed module (2.2) of the plurality of identical feed modules (1.2, 2.2) and the second slicing module (2.3) of the plurality of identical slicing modules (1.3, 2.3) are connected to the second longitudinal member (2.5) and are spaced apart from one another by a second extent, which differs from the first extent.

7. Method according to Claim 6, wherein, for producing the first food-slicing machine (1), the first transporting belt (1.4) is screwed to the first slicing module (1.3), wherein, for producing the second food-slicing machine (2), the second transporting belt (2.4) is screwed to the second slicing module (2.3).

8. Method according to Claim 7, wherein, for producing the first food-slicing machine (1), a first gripper guide (4.1) for guiding the gripper (6) along the first transporting belt (1.4) is screwed to the first slicing module (1.3) and / or the first feed module (1.2), wherein, for producing the second food-slicing machine (2), a second gripper guide (2.4) for guiding the gripper (6) along the second transporting belt (2.4) is screwed to the second slicing module (2.3) and / or the second feed module (2.2), wherein the first gripper guide (4.1) and the second gripper guide (4.2) are of different lengths.

9. Method for changing over a production line (200) having a food-slicing machine (1, 2) of a system (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein, for changing the extent of the spacing of the first feed module (1.2) to the first slicing module (1.3) and for converting the first food-slicing machine (1) to the second food-slicing machine (2), the first longitudinal member (1.5) of the first food-slicing machine (1) is exchanged with the second longitudinal member (2.5).

10. Method according to Claim 9, wherein, for converting the first food-slicing machine (1) to the second food-slicing machine (2), the first feed module (1.2) and the first slicing module (1.3) are used as the second feed module (2.2) and the second slicing module (2.3), respectively.

11. Method according to either of Claims 9 and 10, wherein, for converting the first food-slicing machine (1) to the second food-slicing machine (2), the first transporting belt (1.4) is exchanged with the second transporting belt (2.4).

12. Method according to one of Claims 9 to 11, wherein, for changing a length of the block of food (5) to be sliced, the production line (200) is changed over.