PRODUCT GUIDE WITH TRACTION ROLLER

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a product guide for feeding food products to a slicing unit of a food slicing machine and to a food slicing machine.

[0002] Food products, such as sausage, cheese, or bread, are often presented as elongated food bars and are fed into a food slicing machine, which may be a high-performance slicer, into a slicing unit equipped with a cutting blade, for example, a rotating sickle-shaped or circular blade. For this purpose, one or more product guides are provided in a feed area, which engage with the food bar to move it to a cutting plane of the slicing unit. The product guide can be designed, in particular, as an upper product hold-down device that presses down on the food bar from above. An example of this is disclosed in US 2015 / 321372 A1; the product is fed to the cutting blade between an upper conveyor belt and a lower conveyor belt.

[0003] The known variants of product management can have disadvantages, particularly with regard to product and / or application-specific requirements.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide an alternative product guidance.

[0005] In a food slicing machine, particularly a high-performance slicer, one or more food products can be sliced ​​into food slices by means of a slicing unit. The slicing unit can comprise a rotary and / or planetary cutting blade, particularly a sickle or circular blade.

[0006] In the food slicing machine, a food product can initially be placed on a single-feed belt, or placed or conveyed onto it. A track system with center dividers, particularly metal sheets, can be installed above the single-feed belt. These dividers extend from the top to just above the belt surface. The lateral position of these center dividers can be adjusted to the width of the food product to be sliced. From the single-feed belt, the food product can be conveyed onto a product conveyor belt.

[0007] The product conveyor belt following the infeed belt in the conveying direction can be part of a loading swing arm and can be pivoted upwards about an axis located on its downstream side. In this way, the food product can be conveyed horizontally from the infeed belt onto the product conveyor belt and the product conveyor belt can then be pivoted upwards to feed the food product to the cutting blade in a support plane inclined to the horizontal. A lateral fixed stop can be provided whose transverse position and longitudinal alignment are coordinated with a cutting edge or cutting frame that interacts with the cutting blade when separating the slices from the product. A lateral stop running parallel can be arranged on the side opposite the fixed lateral stop. This allows the food product to be guided longitudinally.The adjustable side stop can be adjustable in the transverse direction to align a product transversely. In a multi-track food slicing machine that can slice several parallel products simultaneously, the product feeds are designed with multiple tracks. Accordingly, several side stops can be provided in the area of ​​the product conveyor belt, which are adjustable laterally to the conveying direction. The side stops can be adjustable together.

[0008] A product conveyor device in the form of a lower product support can be arranged between the product conveyor belt and the cutting blade, which feeds the food product to the cutting blade. The product support can be relatively short compared to the product conveyor belt. The product support can extend right up to the cutting edge, thus supporting the food product up to the cutting edge. The product support can support precise product advancement into the cutting plane.

[0009] A gripper can be provided which engages a rear end, in particular an upstream end, of a food product and acts as a product holder during product feeding to the cutting plane. By being guided by the gripper, differences in the weight or cross-sectional profile of the products can be compensated for, and the thickness of the separated product slices for the fed products can be changed independently of one another during slicing, in order to individually achieve a predetermined weight for individual product slices or the weight of portions from multiple slices. By retracting the food product using the gripper, a distance from the cutting blade can be created for blank cuts.In multi-track food slicing machines, one gripper can be provided per conveyor track and the grippers can be attached to a common feed unit and can be independently extendable relative to the feed unit in the conveying direction and retractable against the conveying direction.

[0010] An upper product guide can be provided which, in the form of a product hold-down device, presses on the food product from above in order to support the feed.

[0011] The food slices separated from the food product by the cutting blade can fall onto a portioning unit, in particular a portioning belt. The portioning unit can be adjustable so that a portion, in particular a stack of food slices, with a defined size and arrangement can be created. The portioning unit, in particular a conveyor or support surface of the portioning unit, can be height-adjustable to ensure a consistent fall path of the slices. The portioning unit or its support surface can be displaceable in the conveying direction or laterally, or both, in order to realize defined stack shapes, for example a shingled arrangement. Once a complete portion has been created, it can be conveyed away using the support surface.

[0012] During the slicing of the food portion, separator sheets can be automatically inserted between the food slices on the portioning unit using a separator sheet inserter, also called an "interleaver".

[0013] Multi-track food slicing machines allow multiple food products to be sliced ​​in parallel. The elements contributing to product advancement can be individually controlled for each track. In particular, the food products can be fed to the cutting blade at different speeds.

[0014] According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a product guide for feeding food products to a slicing unit of a food slicing machine. The product guide comprises a traction roller configured to come into conveying contact with a food product and to contribute to feeding the food product to the slicing unit. The product guide further comprises a carrier, wherein the carrier is pivotally mountable about a first axis, and a drive means configured to rotate the traction roller about a second axis. The traction roller is arranged on the carrier, and the first axis is spaced from the second axis.

[0015] The carrier can be arranged to pivot about a first horizontal axis.

[0016] The product guide can adjust its orientation to the size, especially the height, of the food product. The traction roller can be positioned close to the slicing unit. The contact pressure can be adjusted to the type or condition of the food product, for example, its resilience and surface finish. For bars of a softer food product, a lower contact pressure can be set than for bars of a harder food product. This way, the structure of the food product is not compromised, yet precise feeding is ensured.

[0017] The carrier can be designed to pivot during operation. This allows the contact pressure to be varied. The product guide can be adjusted to the size, in particular height, of the food product. This adjustment can be made before the actual production operation. The carrier can be designed to pivot vertically during operation, in particular vertically within a limited range. When the food product moves into the effective range of the product guide, the guide can automatically follow the contour of the food product, in particular pivoting upwards from a lower position, which is below the upper product edge, in order to come into contact with the upper side of the food product.

[0018] The product guide can be an upper product guide, in particular a product hold-down device. The traction roller can come into contact with the upper side of the food product, in particular the food bar. This can achieve a certain clamping effect, ensuring more precise product advancement than with pure advancement by a lower product support. The upper product guide, in particular the traction roller, can be actively pressed onto the food product from above. In particular, it can be actively pressed with a defined contact pressure. The food product can be clamped between the upper product guide and the lower product support.

[0019] The first and second axes can be offset from each other in the conveying direction. Such an arrangement of the first and second axes can enable adaptation to different product heights. The product guide, in particular the carrier, can be arranged in the form of a swing arm or a pivoting arm. The contact pressure can also be adjusted.

[0020] The first axis can be located in an upstream half of the support, and the second axis in a downstream half of the support. This allows the food bar to be moved into or under the product guide, with the traction roller initially positioned at least partially below the height of the food bar and automatically pivoting upward upon contact with the food bar, which may have a somewhat smaller cross-section or a crest at the front end. A downward bias of the product guide can also be set. For this purpose, appropriate springing can be arranged on the support. Alternatively or additionally, an active pressure mechanism, for example, pneumatic, can be provided.

[0021] The product guide can be part of a feed device associated with a lower product support. The feed speed of the upper product guide and the lower product support can be coordinated, in particular synchronized. A height adjustment for the upper product guide and / or lower product support can be provided. This allows adjustment or adjustment of the height of the food product and the pre-tension required for good traction. Additionally or alternatively, the height adjustment can be used to align the food product with a cutting edge of the slicing unit.

[0022] The drive mechanism can be a rotating drive mechanism. Thus, a simple and stable structure can transmit the force needed to rotate the traction roller, and the force can be sufficiently large to precisely feed food products, even those with greater density or weight, to the slicing unit. The drive mechanism can be low-wear.

[0023] The drive means can be a revolving drive belt. The revolving drive belt can be a toothed belt. This allows for precise rotation of the traction roller and thus precise advancement of the food product. The toothed belt can engage with corresponding teeth arranged on the traction roller. Power transmission via drive belts, especially toothed belts, can provide a low-maintenance, precise, and stable drive.

[0024] The traction roller may be connected to a drive shaft via the rotating drive means in order to be driven by the drive shaft.

[0025] The drive shaft can be spaced apart from the traction roller. A drive motor connected to the drive shaft and, if appropriate, a gearbox can be arranged spaced apart from the traction roller. Thus, the drive shaft, drive motor, and gearbox can be arranged farther from a cutting plane of the slicing unit than the traction roller, or the traction roller can be positioned closer to the cutting plane. The drive shaft can be arranged separately from the pivoting support in the food slicing machine, in particular extending from a housing of the food slicing machine.

[0026] The drive shaft can be arranged offset from the traction roller in the conveying direction. In particular, the drive shaft can be arranged upstream of the traction roller and thus farther away from the slicing unit than the traction roller.

[0027] Preferably, a drive roller is arranged on the support, and a first drive means rotates around the traction roller and the drive roller, and a second drive means rotates around the drive roller and a drive shaft. The first drive means can thus be individually adapted to the support geometry and the arrangement of the traction roller, whereas the second drive means can be provided in a standard size. This allows the product guide to be adapted to different food products with reduced modification effort. In addition, the traction roller is decoupled from the drive shaft, allowing the drive means to experience less wear and the drive to have improved stability. In addition, elongation can have a less severe effect with two shorter drive belts than with a single, long drive belt.In addition, cleaning can be simplified because only the first drive element rotating around the traction roller comes close to the food product.

[0028] The drive roller can comprise two essentially separate rollers connected by a rigid axle. The first and second drive means can each rotate over one of these rollers. The rollers can each be equipped, for example, with lateral elevations or flanges, to prevent lateral displacement of the drive means. This allows the drive means to rotate stably and at a distance from each other.

[0029] The two separate rollers of the drive roller can have different diameters. This allows a gear ratio to be defined between the first and second drive means.

[0030] The drive means can be a drive shaft arranged coaxially with the traction roller. Thus, there is no need to drive the traction roller with a rotating drive means, such as a drive belt.

[0031] The power transmission to the traction roller and thus the drive can be carried out by means of a cardan shaft, or a propeller shaft, or two bevel gear sets, or combinations thereof.

[0032] The traction roller can be coaxially connected to a drive motor or a motor gearbox to be driven by it. A drive shaft can be arranged between the drive motor and the traction roller, or between the motor gearbox and the traction roller.

[0033] A drive motor can be installed directly in the traction roller to power the roller. A drum motor can be integrated into the traction roller. This allows for a particularly compact product guide.

[0034] The traction roller can be movably mounted on the support. The traction roller can be rotatably mounted on the support.

[0035] The traction roller can be mounted between two side struts of the support. The spacing between the side struts can essentially correspond to a conveyor track width, in particular at most to a conveyor track width. The spacing between the side struts can essentially correspond to a product width, in particular at most to a product width. The width across all components of a product guide can essentially correspond to a conveyor track width or product width, in particular at most to a conveyor track width or product width. All components of a product guide, in particular of a support, can be arranged within a conveyor track. Several product guides, preferably two, can be arranged within a conveyor track, in particular in order to influence particularly wide products. These product guides can act on a product synchronously or independently.

[0036] The traction roller preferably comprises a first circumferential region and a second circumferential region, wherein the drive means rotates around the second circumferential region, wherein the diameter of the second circumferential region and of the supporting drive means is smaller than the diameter of the first circumferential region. This makes it possible to achieve a compact design and drive of the traction roller. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent a food product from coming into contact with the drive means, since the food product only comes into contact with the first circumferential region, which has the largest circumference of the traction roller, i.e. the largest outer diameter or, in the case of traction rollers that easily penetrate the food product or are flexible, the diameter or effective diameter effective on the food product. This also makes it possible to avoid contamination of the drive means and disruptions to the feed of the food product.

[0037] The second, smaller-diameter circumferential region can be arranged at a lateral end of the traction roller. The second circumferential region can be arranged at a left or right lateral end of the traction roller, as seen in the conveying direction.

[0038] The second peripheral area can be located at a lateral end of the traction roller on an operating side of the product guide. This allows the drive mechanism to be easily accessible and removed for cleaning.

[0039] The second circumferential area can be arranged between a first circumferential area arranged laterally, to the left and right in the conveying direction. This allows for central, axisymmetric force transmission, which can prevent one-sided loading of the traction roller bearing.

[0040] The traction roller preferably has a surface structure on its outer circumference with a height of less than approximately 3 millimeters to 4 millimeters, preferably less than approximately 2 millimeters. This can enable at least partial positive engagement with the material of the food product, i.e., deformation of the same. This allows a force for moving the food product to be transferred to it more advantageously. On the other hand, damage to the food product due to excessively protruding surface structures can be avoided. In particular, tearing of the surface of the food product can be avoided, which is particularly relevant for softer food products.

[0041] The traction roller can have transverse grooves. These transverse grooves can be rectangular, for example, or tapered raised edges, i.e., outer edges, that extend transversely to the conveying direction along the traction roller. The transverse grooves can cause a corresponding deformation of the surface of the food product, thus providing a positive-locking component in addition to the force-fitting propulsion of the food product.

[0042] The traction roller can be provided with nubs. This allows for further increased engagement of the traction roller with the material of the food product and increases the positive-locking component of the force transmission.

[0043] The traction roller can have a wave-like or bulged surface. These can ensure only a light and therefore gentle impression into the surface of the food product.

[0044] The traction roller can have spikes. Spikes can be protruding structures similar to knobs, but with a pointed tip. This allows for stable feeding of heavy and solid food products, especially those with high density. The spikes can be inclined in the conveying direction. The spikes can be arranged or inclined so that they are inclined in the conveying direction on the side of the traction roller that is directly in contact with the food product. This can further increase the power transmission into the food product.

[0045] The outer perimeter of the traction roller can be made of stainless steel, especially rust-proof stainless steel. This makes the traction roller suitable for use in the food industry and easy to clean. Furthermore, stainless steel can increase longevity due to reduced wear.

[0046] The outer circumference of the traction roller can be made of an elastomer. This allows for gentle transport of the food product. Furthermore, an elastomer with a higher coefficient of static friction can be selected, which improves power transmission.

[0047] The outer circumference of the traction roller or the entire roller can be made of a plastic, particularly one with food-grade approval. This can be easy to clean and can exhibit advantageous static friction and / or elasticity.

[0048] Preferably, a second traction roller is arranged on the carrier so as to be rotatable about a third axis, wherein the third axis is arranged parallel to and spaced apart from the second axis of the first traction roller in the conveying direction. The first and second traction rollers can contribute to the advancement of the food product. This can enable increased force transmission to the food product. The increased force transmission and the larger contact area can ensure particularly precise and stable advancement of the food product. The first and second traction rollers can be arranged one after the other along the conveying direction. The first and second traction rollers can be arranged at a distance of a few millimeters or a few centimeters from one another. The first and second traction rollers can be arranged at a greater distance from one another, for example at a distance of 10 centimeters to 20 centimeters.The first and second traction rollers can be arranged in a downstream half, in particular on a downstream side, of the product guide. The first traction roller can be arranged in a downstream half, in particular on a downstream side, of the product guide, and the second traction roller can be arranged centrally or in an upstream half of the product guide.

[0049] Preferably, the first drive means is arranged to drive the first and second traction rollers. Thus, the traction rollers can move synchronously, and a single drive shaft may be sufficient to drive both traction rollers. Material and space requirements can be reduced. Cleaning effort can be reduced, since only one drive means needs to be removed when it requires cleaning.

[0050] The first and second traction rollers can be arranged as part of a rocker or pendulum. The traction rollers can be designed to follow the contours of the food product. This can enable improved contact with the surface of the food product.

[0051] The rocker may have a rotation axis which is arranged in the conveying direction between the first and the second traction roller, in particular between the first and the second traction roller and offset in height.

[0052] The drive roller can be arranged concentrically around the rotational axis of the rocker, and a rotating drive means can rotate around the drive roller and the first and second traction rollers to drive the first and second traction rollers. Thus, the distance between the first traction roller or the second traction roller and the drive roller remains constant even when the rocker or pendulum rotates or pivots.

[0053] The carrier can comprise one or more tensioning pulleys that tension the rotating drive means(s). The tensioning pulley can be rigidly mounted on the carrier in the form of a deflection pulley. The tensioning pulley can keep the rotating drive means under pre-tension. The tensioning pulley can be movably mounted, for example, by means of a spring mechanism. This allows for compensation for elongation of the drive means.

[0054] Preferably, the carrier comprises a first and a second traction roller and a tensioning roller, wherein the tensioning roller is arranged substantially between the first and second traction rollers. The tensioning roller can help ensure that the rotating drive means engages the traction rollers with sufficient tension.

[0055] The first rotating drive means can rotate around the tension pulley between the first and second traction pulleys. The rotating drive means can rotate around the first traction pulley, then around the tension pulley, and then around the second traction pulley. The rotating drive means can engage the first and second traction pulleys by means of a first side and engage the tension pulley by means of a second side.

[0056] The tensioning pulley can be arranged at a height offset from the first and second traction pulleys. This allows tensioning of the drive means to be achieved while simultaneously arranging the first and second traction pulleys and the tensioning pulley in a space-saving manner.

[0057] The carrier can have a first and a second traction roller and three tensioning rollers arranged so that the drive means rotates alternately around a tensioning roller and a traction roller. Thus, the rotating drive means can be held in tension against the respective traction roller on both sides of each of the two traction rollers. The three tensioning rollers can be arranged at a height offset from the rotational axes of the traction rollers.

[0058] One or more free-running pressure rollers can be arranged on the carrier. These can be brought into contact with the food product using contact pressure. The contact of the pressure rollers with the food product can occur simultaneously or at a different time than the contact of the traction rollers with the food product. The latter can occur, for example, as the product guide or carrier approaches the food product. The one or more pressure rollers can stabilize the feed movement of the food product in addition to the traction rollers.

[0059] Preferably, one or more free-running pressure rollers are arranged downstream of the traction roller. Preferably, one or more free-running pressure rollers are arranged downstream of the traction roller in the conveying direction. The pressure roller can be arranged offset from the traction roller towards a cutting plane of the slicing unit. The pressure roller can be positioned closer to the cutting plane of the slicing unit than the traction roller. The pressure roller can have a smaller diameter than the traction roller and thus be positioned closer to the cutting plane of the slicing unit. The one or more free-running pressure rollers can be arranged at an end of the support remote from a suspension of the support.

[0060] Preferably, a free-running pressure roller is spring-mounted to allow elastic pressure against a food product. Preferably, a free-running pressure roller is arranged downstream of the traction roller and spring-mounted to allow elastic pressure against a food product. This prevents excessive pressure.

[0061] A free-running pressure roller can be spring-mounted downstream of the traction roller by means of a lever arm. The free-running, spring-mounted pressure roller can be arranged at a downstream end of the support. Due to the lever arm, the spring mechanism can be positioned upstream of the pressure roller, allowing the pressure roller to be moved as close as possible to a cutting plane without the spring mechanism interfering with the positioning of the pressure roller. In particular, the space above the pressure roller can remain free due to the lever arm.

[0062] The lever arm can be mounted so it can rotate or pivot around the second axis. This eliminates the need for an additional rotation axis or bearing. The pressure roller can be positioned downstream of the traction roller, and the spring mechanism upstream. This allows for the optimal use of the available space on the support or in the product guide.

[0063] The lever arm can be aligned essentially longitudinally. This allows the carrier and product guide, especially in the front area, to retain a flat design.

[0064] One or more free-running pressure rollers can be arranged upstream of the traction roller, particularly toward a product feed side or product loading side. This creates additional pressure points, further improving the stability of the feed.

[0065] At least one free-running pressure roller can be arranged downstream and one pressure roller upstream of the traction roller.

[0066] Preferably, one or more free-running pressure rollers are arranged on the carrier so that they can swing around a common axis of rotation. This allows the contour of the food product to be followed, thus improving the maintenance of stable contact between the pressure roller and the food product.

[0067] Preferably, one pressure roller is arranged downstream of the traction roller and one pressure roller is arranged upstream of the traction roller on a rocker that can rotate about the second axis. Preferably, one pressure roller is arranged upstream of the traction roller in the conveying direction and one pressure roller is arranged downstream of the traction roller on a rocker that can rotate about the second axis. Preferably, one pressure roller is arranged downstream of the traction roller and one pressure roller is arranged upstream of the traction roller on a rocker that can rotate about the second axis and is assigned to the traction roller. In this way, the contour of the food product can be followed by means of the rocker. If two or more traction rollers are present, a corresponding rocker can be present on one traction roller, on several or on all traction rollers or can be assigned to the respective traction roller.The rocker can have one or two lateral struts on which the pressure rollers are mounted, and the struts in turn are mounted on the axle of the traction roller.

[0068] In a first stop position and a second stop position of the rocker, one of the pressure rollers can be pivoted away from the conveying direction in such a way that the respective pressure roller does not come into contact with a conveyed food product.

[0069] The rotating drive means can be guided over a tension pulley and the traction pulley in such a way that it runs outside the range of movement of the rocker.

[0070] The carrier can have a support element configured to come into sliding contact with the food product. This allows an additional element for product guidance to be provided using particularly simple construction.

[0071] The support element can be pivotally mounted on the carrier along a rotation axis, allowing it to follow the contours of the food product.

[0072] The support can have a base element, in particular a base plate, wherein the base element has at least one recess through which one or more traction rollers pass at least partially. Thus, the remaining area of ​​the support, which is covered from below by the base element, can be protected from contamination. The base element can serve as a support element.

[0073] The carrier can have a flat side element, particularly a side plate, on a lateral left side or right side, or on both sides. The side element can protect the interior elements of the carrier or the product guide from contamination. The side elements can serve to support the rollers. The side elements can provide stability to the carrier.

[0074] The carrier can comprise a spring tensioner connected to a tensioning roller, which is configured to tension a rotating drive means. The tensioning roller can be mounted so that it can be moved, in particular displaced. The spring tensioner can press the tensioning roller against the rotating drive means with a constant force, so that the drive means is maintained at a constant tension. In particular, this can compensate for elongation of the drive means, i.e., linear expansion.

[0075] The spring tensioner can be arranged to tension a rotating drive mechanism that rotates via a drive shaft. This ensures reliable power transmission to the traction roller.

[0076] The carrier can comprise a pneumatic clamp connected to a tensioning roller, which is configured to tension a rotating drive means. The pneumatic clamp can be configured to build up or maintain a defined pressure. In particular, higher pressures and thus higher clamping forces can be achieved than, for example, using purely mechanical clamping devices. This allows the rotating drive means to be clamped particularly reliably, even with higher clamping forces. A pneumatic control system can be configured to regulate or adjust the clamping force, or both.

[0077] The pneumatic tensioner can be configured to tension a rotating drive mechanism that rotates via a drive shaft. This allows the rotating drive mechanism to be reliably maintained under tension, ensuring the traction roller is driven accordingly.

[0078] The pneumatic tensioner can comprise a second tensioning roller arranged coaxially around a fourth axis, and wherein the rotating drive means rotates around the first and second tensioning rollers, and the pneumatic tensioner is configured to pivot the first tensioning roller about the fourth axis by means of a pneumatic piston in order to tension or release the drive means. This can simplify the installation of the drive means onto the rollers of the carrier, since the drive means can be placed over the rollers without tension, and the first tensioning roller can then be pivoted to achieve the desired tension of the drive means. Likewise, when removing the drive means, it can be released before being removed.

[0079] The first and second tensioning rollers of the pneumatic tensioner can be connected by a frame part. The pneumatic piston can be pivoted to the frame part. The pneumatic piston can be arranged centrally, preventing twisting or distortion of the first tensioning roller during movement. In particular, the pneumatic piston can be pivoted to the frame part by means of a cross brace.

[0080] A strut can be hinged to the first tension pulley, and the strut can be slidably mounted in a side profile by means of a roller. This guides the pivoting movement and can thus provide additional stability.

[0081] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a food slicing machine comprising a slicing unit and a product guide according to one of the above-described embodiments, and a holding element, wherein the carrier is detachably arranged on the holding element and pivots about the first axis. By pivoting, the product guide can be brought into contact with the food product with adjustable pressure. The holding element can serve as a bearing and represent or comprise the pivot axis.

[0082] The holding element can be a strut running transversely to the conveying direction. This allows the product guide to pivot around the strut.

[0083] The carrier can be attached to the holding element.

[0084] The carrier can be slid onto the holding element. The carrier or the product guide can be removed for cleaning. In particular, two or more product guides can be detachably mounted on the holding element. One product guide can be provided per conveyor track. The number of conveyor tracks of the food slicing machine can be variable. A number of product guides corresponding to the number of conveyor tracks can be mounted on the holding element. The food slicing machine can be designed for a variable and selectable number of one to four conveyor tracks.

[0085] The carrier can be fixable, in particular lockable, to the holding element.

[0086] The food slicing machine can include a pneumatic piston for pivoting the carrier. The carrier, and thus the traction roller, can be brought into contact with a food product in a controllable manner and with a defined contact pressure.

[0087] The product guide can be a top-mounted product guide. The traction roller can be pressed onto the food product from above.

[0088] The product guide may be an upper product guide, and the food slicing machine may further comprise a lower product support. The upper product guide and the lower product support may cooperate to feed the food product to the slicing unit.

[0089] The lower product support may comprise a sliding surface, a conveyor surface, a support roller, a roller conveyor, a driven traction roller, a belt conveyor, or combinations thereof. Both the upper product guide and the lower product support may contain active elements that generate the feed, as well as passive elements that serve, in particular, to guide or support the product.

[0090] The product guide can be an upper product guide, and the food slicing machine can further comprise a lower product support, wherein a traction roller of the upper product guide can be associated with a traction roller or a support roller of the lower product support. In particular, a traction roller of the upper product guide can be positioned opposite a traction roller or a support roller of the lower product support, substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0091] Two upper traction rollers can be positioned centrally opposite a lower support roller or traction roller, essentially perpendicular to the conveying direction. The upper traction roller can also be positioned slightly diagonally opposite the lower traction roller or support roller. The food product can be clamped between the rollers or guided along the feed path.

[0092] The upper product guide can comprise a traction roller and a pressure roller, and the lower product support can comprise a traction roller and a support roller. Each upper traction roller and pressure roller can be assigned to a lower traction roller and support roller. In particular, each upper traction roller and pressure roller can be positioned substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction, opposite each lower traction roller and support roller. Thus, the food product can be clamped with two support points at the top and bottom. This allows for particularly stable advancement and prevents vertical bending of the food product.

[0093] The upper product guide and the lower product support can each comprise two traction rollers, with one of the upper traction rollers being opposite one of the lower traction rollers essentially perpendicular to the conveying direction.

[0094] Two or more product guides can be arranged on the holding element. Thus, two or more product guides can be provided for one conveyor track, thus in particular for advancing a food product. In particular, two product guides can act jointly on a flat food product by arranging and operating the two product guides together, in particular concurrently, in one conveyor track.

[0095] The two or more product guides can form a corresponding number of conveyor tracks.

[0096] The number of conveyor tracks, and thus the number of product guides, can be variable. The food processing machine can be designed to operate with one to four conveyor tracks.

[0097] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a food slicing machine comprising a slicing unit, a holding element and a carrier, wherein the carrier is detachably arranged on the holding element and pivotable about a first axis, wherein a pressure roller is arranged on the carrier so as to be rotatable about a second axis, wherein the first axis is spaced from the second axis and the pressure roller is designed to come into conveying contact with a food product, wherein the second axis of the pressure roller is spaced less than 250 millimeters from a cutting plane of the slicing unit.

[0098] In particular, the second axis of the pressure roller can be spaced less than 200 millimeters, in particular less than 100 millimeters, in particular less than 50 millimeters, from the cutting plane of the slicing unit.

[0099] This allows for a pivoting product guide that presses the product particularly close to the cutting plane. This allows the advantages of a pressure roller positioned close to the cutting plane to be combined with those of a pivoting product guide, particularly precise product advancement, adaptation to different sizes, shapes, and surfaces of a food product, and automatic following of the contour of the food product as it moves under the pressure roller.

[0100] Two or more pressure rollers can be arranged on the carrier. The pressure rollers can be arranged one behind the other in the conveying direction, i.e., along the conveying direction. The aforementioned distances refer to the most downstream pressure roller, i.e., the pressure roller closest to the cutting plane.

[0101] The two or more pressure rollers can be arranged on the support as part of a pendulum or rocker, pivoting together, with the axis of rotation of the pendulum or rocker oriented transversely to the conveying direction. This allows the contour of the food product to be followed, especially when entering under the product guide.

[0102] The most upstream pressure roller can be positioned vertically upwards. This makes it easier for the food product to enter beneath the product guide. The product guide can be lifted by the food product and then automatically follow the upper contour of the food product.

[0103] The two or more pressure rollers can each be mounted on the support, pivoting individually on a pivot axis. This allows unevenness to be compensated for.

[0104] According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a food slicing machine comprising a slicing unit, a holding element and a carrier, wherein the carrier is detachably arranged on the holding element and pivotable about a first axis, and wherein two or more pressure rollers are arranged on the carrier as part of a pendulum or a rocker jointly pivotable about a second axis, wherein the second axis is spaced from the first axis.

[0105] This allows the contour of the food product to be followed, especially when moving under the product guide.

[0106] The pressure rollers can be designed to come into conveying contact with a food product.

[0107] All non-driven rollers shown that come into contact with the food product can alternatively be designed as sliding surfaces.

[0108] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail with reference to the figures. Figure 1 : a food processing line, Figure 2 : a perspective view of a food slicing machine with a product guide of a first embodiment, Figure 3 : a perspective view of a second embodiment of a product guide, Figure 4 : a perspective sectional view of a third embodiment of a product guide, Figure 5 : a perspective sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a product guide, Figure 6 : a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a product guide, Figure 7 : a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a product guide, Figure 8 : a schematic view of a combination of upper product guide and lower product support.

[0109] Corresponding components are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0110] Figure 1shows a perspective view of a food processing line 1 with several processing stations along a conveying direction 500. A food block 3, for example a cheese block, is fed to a block divider 5 to be divided, for example, into four elongated food products, each of which has a smaller height and width than the original food block 3. The food products are then analyzed in a scanner 7, for example an X-ray scanner. For example, the external dimensions of the food products can be recorded, or their internal density structure can be determined, or both. In the downstream food slicing machine 9, the food products are sliced ​​into food slices by means of a slicing unit 11. Separating sheets can be inserted between the slices by means of a separating sheet inserter 13, also called an "interleaver."A portioning unit 15, onto which the cut slices initially fall, determines the arrangement and number of slices in a food portion through the movement of its conveyor unit. A continuous checkweigher 17 verifies the portion weight. A desired number of food portions can be lined up on a subsequent buffer 19, in order to then process portion groups or format sets in the subsequent stations. In a loading station 21, the food portions are placed into packaging trays, for example, using a picking robot or a belt conveyor. In a subsequent packaging machine 23, the packaging trays filled with food portions are closed, for example, sealed. The closed packages are then labeled and separated.

[0111] Figure 2shows a perspective view of a section of the food slicing machine 9 with slicing unit 11. A product conveyor belt 25 can be pivoted from a lower horizontal position into the inclined position shown and conveys a food product (not shown) onto a lower product conveyor device 27 or product support 27, which in turn feeds the food product to the slicing unit 11, where it is sliced ​​at a cutting edge 29 by means of a rotating knife (not shown for the sake of clarity). The knife is replaceably mounted on a knife holder 31 and is rotated by the latter. The cutting edge of the knife rotates directly in front of the cutting edge 29 and thus defines a cutting plane 33. In this embodiment, the product support 27 comprises four conveyor tracks, each with five support rollers 35 and a driven traction roller 37.A product guide 39 is arranged to come into contact with the food product from above and to contribute to feeding the food product to the slicing unit 11. The product guide 39 has a carrier 41 which is arranged on a holding element 43 in the form of a cross strut and can pivot about a first axis 100. The product guide 39 has a traction roller 37 which comes into conveying contact with the food product by the product guide 39 being pressed onto the food product from above. For this purpose, a pneumatic cylinder 45 is connected to the carrier 43 by means of a pneumatic piston 47. The traction roller 37 of the product guide 39 is mounted so as to be rotatable about a second axis 200. To drive the traction roller 37 of the product guide 39, a first drive means 49 rotates around a section of the traction roller 37 and a drive roller 51.A second drive means 53 rotates around the drive roller 51 and a drive shaft 55 in order to transmit the rotation of the drive shaft 55 to the drive roller 51 and thus to the traction roller 37. The drive shaft 55 is in turn driven by a drive motor, which is installed here invisibly under the cover 57. In this embodiment of the food slicing machine 9, a drive shaft 55 is provided for each of the four conveyor tracks 10, each of which is assigned to a product guide 39. The product guides 39 are designed here, by way of example, in different variants, wherein the first product guide 39 facing the viewer is a product guide 39 according to the invention of a first embodiment.

[0112] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a product guide 39, which is slightly different from the first embodiment of Figure 2The traction roller 37 is again driven by a first drive means 49, wherein the first drive means 49 rotates around the drive roller 51. The drive roller 51 is in turn driven by a drive shaft 55 (see Figure 2 ). The drive roller 51 essentially comprises two separate rollers, which are connected by a rigid axle 59. The drive means 49, 53 are guided on the drive roller 51 by means of lateral disc segments 61.

[0113] Several tension rollers 63 redirect the drive means 49, 53 and keep them under tension. The traction roller 37 is mounted between two side struts 65 for rotation about the second axis 200. The traction roller 37 has a surface structure in the form of a tapered, triangular transverse groove. At the outermost downstream end of the product guide 39, a free-running pressure roller 67 is arranged, which is spring-mounted by means of a lever arm 69. The lever arm 69 is mounted for rotation about the second axis 200 and is connected to a spring element 71, which generates the downward pretension in the direction of the food product. The carrier 41 has a recess 73 in each of the side struts 65, with which the carrier 41 can be pushed onto the holding element 43 (see Figure 2 ) can be pushed on. A foldable lock 75 serves to fix the carrier 41 on the holding element 43.

[0114] Figure 4shows a perspective sectional view of a third embodiment of a product guide 39 with two traction rollers 37 and a pressure roller 67. The traction rollers 37 partially pass through recesses 77 of a base element 79 of the carrier 41 in order to come into contact with the food product, whereby the rest of the carrier 41 is protected from contamination by the base element 79. The traction rollers 37 are driven in this embodiment by a single first drive means 49, wherein the drive means 49 is directly connected to a drive shaft 55 (shown in Figure 2 ) of the food slicing machine 9. The traction rollers 37 are mounted on the carrier 41 so as to be rotatable about the second axis 200 and the third axis 300, respectively.

[0115] The drive means 49 rotates over several tensioning rollers 63, with one tensioning roller 63 being arranged between the first and second traction rollers 37 and slightly offset in height. Thus, the drive means 49 rotates alternately around the traction rollers 37 and the tensioning rollers 63.

[0116] The traction rollers 37 have a first circumferential region 81 and a second circumferential region 83, with the drive means 49 rotating around the second, smaller-diameter circumferential region 83. The diameter of the second circumferential region 83, including the supporting drive means 49, is smaller than the diameter of the first circumferential region 81. Thus, the food product does not come into contact with the drive means 49. The second circumferential region 83 is arranged at a lateral end of the traction roller 37 on an operating side of the product guide 39, i.e., on the side of the food slicing machine 9 from which the product guides 39 can be removed from the holding element 43.

[0117] At the upstream end of the product guide 39, a tension roller 63 is mounted on a spring tensioner 85 to tension the drive means 49.

[0118] Figure 5shows a perspective sectional view of a fourth embodiment of a product guide 39 with a traction roller 37 and a first drive means 49 and a second drive means 53, which rotate around the drive roller 51. Upstream and downstream of the traction roller 37, a pressure roller 67 is arranged, which are connected by means of the lever arm 69, wherein the lever arm 69 is mounted so as to be swingable or rotatable about the second axis 200, so that the pressure rollers 67 connected via the lever arm 69 form a rocker 87. Since the representation of Figure 5Since this is a sectional view, only the rear side strut 65 is visible, but on the side facing the viewer, i.e. the left side as seen in the conveying direction 500, a side strut 65 is also present as part of the support 41, on which in particular the traction roller 37 and the drive roller 51 are mounted. Stop elements 89 are provided for the rocker 87, which in this embodiment come into contact with the base element 79. The drive means 49 is guided such that it does not come into contact with the upstream pressure roller 67, but that this is stopped beforehand by means of a stop element 89.

[0119] Figure 6shows a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a product guide 39 with two traction rollers 37, which are driven via a drive means 49, wherein the drive means 49 is directly connected to a drive shaft 55 (not shown here). The product guide 39 has a pneumatic tensioner 91, which comprises a first tensioning roller 63 and a second tensioning roller 95 or is connected to these in order to tension the drive means 49. The second tensioning roller 95 is arranged coaxially so as to be rotatable about a fourth axis 400. The pneumatic tensioner 91 has a pneumatic piston 47, which rotates the first tensioning roller 63 about the fourth axis 400, namely the axis of rotation of the second tensioning roller 95. The first tensioning roller 63 of the pneumatic tensioner 91 is rotated clockwise around the second tensioning roller 95 in this view in order to tension the drive means 49.The first tensioning roller 63 of the pneumatic tensioner 91 is rotated counterclockwise around the second tensioning roller 95 to release the tension on the drive means 49. The first and second tensioning rollers 63, 95 of the pneumatic tensioner 91 are connected by a frame part 97. A strut 99 is hinged to the first tensioning roller 63 to the left and right of the pneumatic piston 47, and the struts 99 are each displaceably mounted in a side profile 103 by means of a roller 101. When the pneumatic piston 47 of the pneumatic tensioner 91 is actuated, i.e., when the piston-cylinder combination is extended or shortened, the first tensioning roller 63 is pivoted around the second tensioning roller 95, and the rollers 101 run in the side profile 103 to additionally guide the movement. The angle between frame part 97 and strut 99 changes accordingly.

[0120] Figure 7shows a perspective view obliquely from below of a sixth embodiment of a product guide 39, in which five free-running pressure rollers 67 are arranged in a rocker 87, wherein the rocker 87 is pivotally mounted about the second axis 200. The most upstream pressure roller 67 is arranged offset upwards in the rocker 87. This allows for improved tracking of the contour of the food product, particularly when running under the product guide 39. The carrier 41 has a support element 105 as part of the base element 79, wherein the support element 105 can come into sliding contact with the food product. For this purpose, the support element 105 additionally has two bevels 107 for sliding onto the food product. A guide 109, in which a lateral bolt of the rocker 87 engages in a groove of a side strut 65 of the carrier 41, serves to guide and as a stop for pivoting the rocker 87.

[0121] Figure 8shows a schematic view of a combination of an upper product guide 39 and a lower product support 27, between which a food product 111 is conveyed in the conveying direction 500 to a cutting plane 33. The lower product support 27 comprises a support roller 35 and a traction roller 37. The upper product guide 39 comprises a traction roller 37 and a pressure roller 67, which are respectively assigned to the rollers 35, 37 of the product support 27. In particular, the traction roller 37 of the upper product guide 39 is substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction 500 of the lower support roller 35, and the upper pressure roller 67 is substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction 500 of the lower traction roller 37. The imaginary connecting line between the centers of the upper traction roller 37 and the lower support roller 35 thus forms a right angle with the conveying direction 500.Likewise, the imaginary connecting line of the centers of the upper pressure roller 67 and the lower traction roller 37 forms a right angle with the conveying direction 500.

Claims

1. A product guide (39) for supplying food products (111) to a slicing unit (11) of a food slicing machine (9) comprising: a traction roller (37) configured to come into conveying contact with a food product (111) for contributing to the supply of the food product (111) to the slicing unit (11), a carrier (41), wherein the carrier (41) can be arranged pivotable around a first axis (100), a drive means (49), wherein the drive means (49) is configured to rotate the traction roller (37) around a second axis (200), wherein the traction roller (37) is disposed on the carrier (41) and the first axis (100) is spaced from the second axis (200).

2. The product guide according to claim 1, wherein a drive roller (51) is disposed at the carrier (41) and a first drive means (49) revolves about the traction roller (39) and the drive roller (51) and a second drive means (53) revolves about the drive roller (51) and a drive shaft (55).

3. The product guide according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the traction roller (37) comprises a first circumferential region (81) and a second circumferential region (38), wherein the drive means (49) revolves about the second circumferential region (83), wherein the diameter of the second circumferential region (83) and of the drive means (49) supported thereon is smaller than the diameter of the first circumferential region (81).

4. The product guide according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a second traction roller (37) is arranged rotatable around a third axis (300) on the carrier, wherein the third axis (300) is disposed parallel to the second axis (200) of the first traction roller (37) and is spaced therefrom in the conveying direction (500).

5. The product guide according to claim 4, wherein the first drive means (49) is arranged to drive the first and second traction rollers (37).

6. The product guide according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier (41) comprises first and second traction rollers (37) and a tension roller (63), wherein the tension roller (36) is substantially interposed between the first and second traction rollers (37).

7. The product guide according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more freewheeling pinch rollers (67) are disposed downstream of the traction roller (37).

8. The product guide according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one freewheeling pinch roller (67) is spring-mounted to be elastically pressable against a food product (111).

9. The product guide according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more freewheeling pinch rollers (67) are disposed on the carrier (41) to be pivotable about a common rotation axis10. The product guide according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein two separate pinch rollers (67) are disposed on a rocker (87) rotatable around a second axis (200) downstream and upstream of the traction roller (37), respectively.

11. The product guide according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier (41) comprises a pneumatic tensioner (91) coupled with a tension roller (63) configured to tension a revolving drive means (49, 53).

12. The product guide according to claim 11, wherein the pneumatic tensioner (91) comprises a second tension roller (95) disposed coaxially around a fourth axis (400) and the revolving drive means (49, 53) revolves about the first and second tension rollers (63, 95) and the pneumatic tensioner is configured to swivel the first tension roller (63) around the fourth axis (400) by means of a pneumatic piston (47) for tensioning or releasing the drive means (49, 53).

13. A food slicing machine (9) comprising a slicing unit (11) and a product guide (39) according to any one of the preceding claims, and a holding member (43), wherein the carrier (41) is releasably disposed on the holding member (43) to be pivoted around the first axis (100).

14. The food slicing machine according to claim 13, wherein the product guide (39) is an upper product guide (39) and wherein the food slicing machine (9) further comprises a lower food support (27), wherein a traction roller (37) of the upper product guide (39) is allocated to a traction roller (37) or a support roller (35) of the lower food support (27), in particular a traction roller (37) of the upper product guide (39) faces a traction roller (37) or a support roller (35) of the lower food support (27) substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction (500).

15. The food slicing machine according to claims 13 or 14, wherein the upper product guide (39) comprises a traction roller (37) and a pinch roller (67) and wherein the lower product support (27) comprises a traction roller (37) and a support roller (35) and one of the upper traction roller (37) and the pinch roller (67) is allocated to one of the lower traction roller (37) and the support roller (35), in particular faces the same substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction (500).