METHOD FOR FORMING A PRODUCT PIECE AND FORMING PIPE UNIT THEREFOR

Description

I. Area of ​​application

[0001] The invention relates to the forming by pressing of a product piece which is virtually incompressible due to the high liquid content and consists of a material which behaves more elastically or more plastically depending on the boundary conditions, such as a piece of grown meat.

[0002] Such a product piece, which in its initial state has a changing cross-section over its length, is formed into a cross-section that is the same over its entire length and is usually then cut into slices, in particular with the most accurate weight possible. II. Technical background

[0003] For the purposes of the present invention, meat pieces will be frequently referred to below, without limiting the invention to this specific type of product piece.

[0004] The production of slices or portions of precise weight from a single piece is relatively easy if the piece has the same cross-section along its length - then called caliber - and is made of a homogeneous, uniform, limitedly elastic material, such as sausage or cheese, which is also usually somewhat compressible because it consists largely of coagulated protein.

[0005] So-called slicers are known for this purpose. They usually use a rotating, round or spiral-shaped knife, which can be moved back and forth across the caliber, for example, to cut off a slice at a time, while the caliber, which is usually exposed, is continuously moved forward.

[0006] A irregularHowever, a shaped piece of product made from natural meat, such as a topside, does not have these properties, as each piece is of a different size and shape and, in addition, has a cross-section that changes over its length and is made up of material components of different consistencies, elasticity and compressibility, for example fat, water, muscle tissue, the surrounding silver skin and possibly also bones, such as in a chop, which behave very differently mechanically.

[0007] Furthermore, it should be clear that a grown piece of meat is usually an elongated muscle strand, which has a much greater deformability and plasticity in its longitudinal direction, i.e. the direction in which its muscle fibers run, than transversely to this, because the lengthening and shortening of the muscle is precisely its causal function.

[0008] In this context, it is already known to first reshape such an irregularly shaped product piece so that it has a defined, known cross-section over its entire length.

[0009] Then a rough relationship can be established between the adjustable thickness of the slice and the desired weight of the slice, although not exact, since the composition of the meat, whose components have different specific weights, can already change from one slice to the next.

[0010] In order to achieve this deformation, the product piece - usually slightly frozen - is usually first introduced into a circumferentially closed forming tube with an inner mold cavity that remains constant over its length in terms of cross-section, and is then pressed in the longitudinal direction and / or transverse direction so that the product piece fills the entire inner space of the forming tube and thus also takes on its cross-section, thus forming a uniform product caliber.

[0011] For this purpose, the inner cross-section of the formed tube in the transverse direction can be changed after the product piece has been inserted, for example, by moving two opposing longitudinal walls of the formed tube toward each other in a first transverse direction so far that transverse compression of the product piece is effected. However, this requires at least a cross-sectional limitation or active transverse compression in a second transverse direction as well, which then requires a transverse compression die with an automatically adjustable width or transverse compression dies of different widths, in which case the longitudinal walls can only be adjusted to certain defined distances from each other.

[0012] Longitudinal pressing by means of a longitudinal pressing ram that can be inserted tightly into the forming tube in the axial direction and which presses the product piece longitudinally against a stop is mandatory anyway.

[0013] A slicing machine with a corresponding shaped tube is known, for example, from DE 102020134505.4.

[0014] The document DE 24 46 959 A1 discloses a shaped tube unit according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, reference is made to the document EP 0 521 179 A1. III. Description of the invention a) Technical task

[0015] It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a method and a forming tube unit for forming and pressing the product piece, which avoids the described disadvantages, in particular enables continuous transverse pressing. b) Solution to the task

[0016] This object is achieved by the features of claims 1, 13 and 14. Advantageous embodiments emerge from the subclaims.

[0017] A generic Forming tube unitcomprises the molding tube itself, which has a mold cavity which is continuously open from one end face to the other, the longitudinal direction, and has a variable cross-section, in that the longitudinal walls which adjoin one another in the circumferential direction and circumferentially surround the mold cavity are movable relative to one another in the transverse direction.

[0018] Furthermore, the forming tube unit comprises a base body - which can also be part of the forming tube - and an actuating element for moving the longitudinal walls relative to each other.

[0019] According to the invention all longitudinal walls are arranged to be movable with respect to the base body, and in particular the base body is not part of the forming tube, i.e. it does not contain any of the longitudinal walls.

[0020] Furthermore, none of the longitudinal walls is adjustable in its cross-section measured transversely to the longitudinal direction, but the cross-section of the mold cavity is variable in that the longitudinal wall, preferably all longitudinal walls, are each wider than the dimension of the mold cavity in this direction, including its maximum dimension.

[0021] This means that the longitudinal walls can be designed very simply.

[0022] Preferably, the base body is arranged around the forming tube, in particular a base body ring surrounding the forming tube circumferentially, i.e. around the longitudinal direction, preferably concentrically surrounding the base body ring, in particular a base body circular ring, or a base body sleeve, which enables a very simple, largely symmetrical, construction of the entire forming tube unit.

[0023] The mold tube and its longitudinal walls are designed and connected to each other in such a way that when the longitudinal walls move relative to each other, the cross-sectional shape of the mold cavity and thus also the longitudinal walls can rotate around its longitudinal center line.

[0024] This provides the greatest possible variability of the molded tube unit. Preferably, two circumferentially adjacent longitudinal walls are guided to each other so that they can move along a wall guide extending in a transverse direction. This wall guide is preferably designed such that the two adjacent guide parts of the two longitudinal walls are only movable relative to each other in the direction of the wall guide, but cannot be moved apart transversely to the direction of the wall guide, at least not along the length of the wall guide.

[0025] Preferably, the wall guide is designed as a form-fitting wall guide, for example in the form of an undercut guide groove as one guide part and a sliding block which can be moved therein as the other guide part.

[0026] This makes the longitudinal walls highly resilient and allows them to exert considerable pressure on the product piece held in the mold cavity.

[0027] The longitudinal walls can move in different ways relative to the base body.

[0028] At a first design the longitudinal walls are opposite the base body swiveling each mounted around its own first pivot axis running in the longitudinal direction.

[0029] Preferably, if there is an even number of longitudinal walls, every second longitudinal wall is pivotally attached to the base body in this way.

[0030] In addition, each of these pivotable longitudinal walls attached to the base body is pivotally mounted on a pivot lever, which engages the longitudinal wall at a second pivot axis spaced from the first pivot axis and also extending in the longitudinal direction. This pivot lever is used to effect and adjust the extent to which the longitudinal wall pivots relative to the base body.

[0031] Each of these pivot levers is pivotally attached at its other end to a common actuating element, again about a base pivot axis running in the longitudinal direction.

[0032] By moving this common actuating element relative to the base body, all pivoting levers are actuated and all longitudinal walls attached to the pivoting levers are pivoted. This allows for a very simple change in the cross-section of the mold cavity.

[0033] In particular, if allIf the longitudinal walls are each connected by a pivot lever, all first pivot axes must lie on a circle, the first pivot axis circle. However, if there are four first pivot axes, these four pivot axes should form a square when viewed in the axial direction, otherwise the geometric overdetermination of the unit would occur.

[0034] If each longitudinal wall is connected to the common actuating element via such a second pivot axis and a pivot lever, at least one of the pivot axes of each pivot lever and / or the first pivot axis on the longitudinal wall should have a possibility of movement transverse to its direction of travel, since otherwise a geometric overdetermination also occurs if, for example, in the case of four first pivot axes, these do not form a square when viewed axially.

[0035] In any case, when viewed axially, all first swivel axes should lie on a first swivel axis circle and / or all second swivel axes should lie on a second swivel axis circle and then, if there are four first swivel axes, these should form at least a rectangle, or better a square, when viewed axially.

[0036] According to the invention, the actuating element for the pivoting lever is an actuating ring surrounding, in particular concentrically surrounding, the forming tube, which is rotatable relative to the base body about its longitudinal center line, in particular the longitudinal center line of the interior of the mold cavity of the forming tube.

[0037] This means that by operating the common actuating element, all pivot levers are operated at once.

[0038] As an actuating element for actuating the actuating element, a controlled drivable actuating element such as a working cylinder is preferably used, wherein the actuating element should be movable in a transverse direction to the longitudinal direction, in the case of an actuating ring, in particular should be movable tangentially to the actuating ring.

[0039] At a second design When viewed axially, the longitudinal walls are not pivotable over the base body, but radially linearly movable .

[0040] For this purpose, at least one longitudinal wall, preferably every second longitudinal wall in the case of an even number of longitudinal walls, must be guided so as to be linearly movable relative to the base body in a transverse direction, in particular radially to the longitudinal center line.

[0041] In this group of longitudinal walls guided linearly relative to the base body, each longitudinal wall is operatively connected to a common actuating element for moving each of these longitudinal walls.

[0042] The remaining longitudinal walls are operatively connected to another actuating element common to this second group.

[0043] In this way, at least with an even number of longitudinal walls, the two groups of longitudinal walls can be individually adjusted in the transverse direction, in particular radially, and thus, with, for example, four longitudinal walls, not only the size of the cross-section but also the relations of the dimensions of the cross-section of the mold cavity can be changed.

[0044] Here too, two adjacent longitudinal walls are guided to one another by means of a wall guide as already described, wherein the longitudinal walls of one of the two groups are preferably designed in two parts, wherein one longitudinal wall part, the so-called guide part, contains the wall guide and the other longitudinal wall part, the drive part, is connected to the actuating element.

[0045] Guide parts and drive part are movable relative to each other, in particular pivotable relative to each other or positively linearly movable relative to each other.

[0046] In this way, very individual changes to the cross-section of the mold cavity are possible.

[0047] At a slicing machine , which has such a forming tube unit for forming the product piece and, in addition, a cutting unit for cutting the product pieces into slices and a removal unit for removing the separated slices including a control for controlling moving parts of the slicing machine, the forming tube unit is designed as described above.

[0048] Regarding the ProcedureFor forming an irregularly shaped, in particular elongated, product piece made of a partially elastic material by pressing the product piece at least in a transverse direction to a product caliber that remains constant over the length with regard to the cross-section, the procedure is such that the displacement of the longitudinal walls that are movable relative to one another takes place in such a way that the longitudinal walls approach the longitudinal center, in particular the longitudinal center line, of the mold cavity - whether linearly or by a pivoting movement or another movement - but do not lose mutual contact.

[0049] This ensures that the forming tube remains closed all around and that no components of the product piece can be pushed out in the circumferential direction.

[0050] Preferably, the displacement is carried out in such a way that the relations of the cross-section of the mold cavity and its basic shape are not changed during the movement of the longitudinal walls, i.e. a rectangular cross-section with an aspect ratio of 4:3 retains this aspect ratio and the rectangular shape.

[0051] Preferably, in the case of an even number of longitudinal walls of the longitudinal center line of the mold cavity, opposing pairs of longitudinal walls, in particular the group of the respective second longitudinal walls, are moved synchronously by means of the actuating element along identical movement paths, in particular by means of the common movement element.

[0052] Preferably, all longitudinal walls can also be moved synchronously along identical movement paths, although this requires a point-symmetric, in particular square, cross-section of the mold cavity.

[0053] In this way, the product piece held in the mold cavity is pressed evenly in all radial transverse directions, which is particularly gentle on the structure of the product piece. c) Examples of implementation

[0054] Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail below by way of example. They show: Figure 1a - c: a well-known machine for pressing and slicing loaves in side view in partial section in different functional positions, Figure 2a: a well-known design of a shaped pipe in side view in section, Figure 2b: the shaped tube of the Figure 2a cut along the line B - B, Figure 2c: the shaped tube of the Figure 2a cut along the line C - C, Figure 2d: a well-known, multi-lane shaped tube with variable width Figure 3a, b:a first design of a shaped tube according to the invention, viewed in the axial direction, in two different functional positions, Figure 4a, b : a second design of a shaped tube according to the invention, viewed in the axial direction, in two different functional positions.

[0055] In the Figures 1a , b is - as best in Figure 1b to recognize - the entire slicing machine 1 is shown, which, apart from the forming tube unit 2 with the forming tube 20 - see Figure 1b - and the pressing dies 4, 5 comprise a cutting unit 6 for separating slices 101 from the pressed product caliber 100*.

[0056] How Figure 2c shows, the known shaped tube 20, which is open at the front and rear, consists of a shaped tube groove 2.1 which is U-shaped in cross section and into which a transverse pressing punch 5 can be inserted from the open side, usually from above, which together form the shaped tube 20.

[0057] With regard to the shaped tube 2, it can also be seen that the shaped tube 20 in Figure 1b is arranged obliquely downwards, and additionally, near the cutting end 2a of the forming tube 20, an intermediate plate 18 can be introduced into the forming tube 20 in such a way that it closes the entire free cross-section 7' ​​of its inner free space, the mold cavity 7. This serves to ensure that, when pressing the product piece 100, it does not have to be pressed against the stop plate 13 moved towards the forming tube 20, but rather against the intermediate plate 18, which is more stably mounted in the forming tube 20 itself.

[0058] Since their position in the longitudinal direction 10 is known, the length 99 of the product piece 100 in the longitudinal direction 10 and its cross-sectional area 100" and the shape of the cross-sectional area in the transverse directions 11.1, 11.2, which are at right angles to one another and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 10, can be deduced from the positions of the transverse press ram 5 and a longitudinal press ram 4 in their pressing directions 10, 11.1 in the pressed state. The press rams 4, 5 are attached, for example, to the free end of a piston rod 12 or 12' that moves them.

[0059] How Figure 1a shows, the forming tube trough 2.1 can be folded down into a horizontal position about a pivot axis located in its front area, here the lower edge at the cutting end 2a of the forming tube 20, running in the second transverse direction 11.2, to facilitate loading, while the transverse pressing punch 5 and the longitudinal pressing punch 4 remain in the original position.

[0060] In this folded-down position of the forming tube trough 2.1, a new product piece 100 can be moved from the rear, loading-side end 2b to the forming tube trough 2.1 and pushed into it - for example by means of the feed conveyor 14 shown.

[0061] In this case, for example, a light barrier directed from above onto the feed conveyor 14 arranged upstream of the forming tube trough 2.1 can detect at least the beginning and the end of the product piece 100 as it passes through, from which the length 99 of the product piece 100 in the unpressed state is known due to the speed of the feed conveyor 14.

[0062] The weight can be determined by equipping the feed conveyor 14 with a scale 16.1.

[0063] From weight and length 99, the control 1* can calculate the average cross-section ( 100") of the unpressed product piece 100.

[0064] Subsequently, the forming tube channel 2.1 with the product piece 100 is pivoted upwards again into the pressing position, parallel to the longitudinal pressing direction 10 of the longitudinal pressing punch 4, whereby the transverse pressing punch 5 and longitudinal pressing punch 4 are each in their maximum retracted position, in which they just dip into this forming tube channel 2.1 in order not to collide with the unpressed product piece 100 located therein when the forming tube channel 2.1 is pivoted upwards.

[0065] The Figures 2a and 2b show the known shaped tube 20 alone in principle representation in a vertical longitudinal section and in a view from above.

[0066] How Figure 2c As can be seen, the inner surfaces of the side walls of the U-shaped shaped pipe channel 2.1 run parallel to each other, and in Figure 2cat a non-changeable distance from one another, so that the transverse press stamp 5 can have a fixed width in the direction of the width of the opening of the forming tube channel 2.1, the second transverse direction 11.2, and can also have a fixed length in the longitudinal direction 10, namely, for example, corresponding to the length of the forming tube channel 2.1.

[0067] In Figure 2a The transverse pressing ram 5 has been moved to such a distance from the bottom of the forming tube channel 2.1 that the free cross-section 7' ​​between them still almost corresponds to the largest cross-section of the unpressed product piece 100. Consequently, the product piece 100 is already slightly compressed in the transverse direction 11.1 and has a length that - without pressing force in the longitudinal direction 10 - is slightly greater than the length 99* in the unpressed state.

[0068] However, the product piece 100 still has, in terms of quality, a roughly elongated egg-shaped shape, or the shape of an American football, according to its initial state, with a cross-section 100", which changes in the longitudinal direction 10 and is still larger in the middle length region than at its ends.

[0069] With such an adjustment of the inner free cross section 7', the following is Figure 1b the product piece 100 first against the intermediate plate 18 or according to Figure 2b pushed forward against the stop plate 13 at the front end 2a of the forming tube 20 by means of the longitudinal pressing ram 4.

[0070] Only by further moving the press rams 4, 5 forwards does the product piece 100 then get pressed into the Figure 1bdrawn product caliber 100* in the longitudinal direction 10, until the entire mold cavity 7 of the mold tube 20 up to the stop 13 or 18 is filled by the material of the product piece 100 and which then has a significantly shorter length 99*.

[0071] However, as described, the measurement of the length and cross-section of the product caliber 100* in the contaminated state is not carried out with the force, especially on the longitudinal press die 4, that was necessary for pressing, but with a significantly lower measuring force.

[0072] Figure 1cshows the subsequent automatic cutting of the pressed product caliber 100* into slices 101 after removal of the intermediate plate 18: For this purpose, after removal of the intermediate plate 18, the pressed product caliber 100* is pushed further forward by means of the longitudinal press punch 4 with a cutting force that preferably corresponds to the measuring force, namely beyond the cutting end 2a of the forming tube 20 by a desired slice thickness, in that the product caliber 100* should rest with its front end face on a stop plate 13 set at a corresponding distance 17 from the forming tube 20.

[0073] When the position of the product caliber 100* for cutting off the next slice 101 is reached in this way in the longitudinal direction 10, the cutting edge 3a of a round or sickle-shaped knife 3, which in this case rotates about a knife axis 3', increasingly penetrates the cross section of the product caliber 100* in the transverse direction 11.1 and cuts off a slice 101.

[0074] When the knife 3 is inserted, the stop plate 13 is also moved in the same transverse direction, so that the separated slice 101 can tip over the upper edge of the stop plate 13 and fall onto the discharge conveyor 8 located immediately below, which transports it away and transfers it to another discharge conveyor 9.

[0075] One of the two discharge conveyors, preferably the downstream discharge conveyor 9, comprises a scale 16 for weighing the individual slices 101 produced, and their weight is fed back to the control 1* of the machine 1 for automatically correcting the thickness of the subsequent slices 101 by changing the distance 17.

[0076] Figure 1c shows the state in which the product caliber 100* is already partially cut into slices101.

[0077] For this purpose, both the knife 3 and the stop plate 13 are movably mounted on a base frame 15 of the cutting unit 6, along which the stop plate 13 is adjustable in its distance 17 in the longitudinal direction 10, and along which the knife 3 held on a support arm 19 can also be moved at least in one of the transverse directions to the longitudinal direction 10, preferably the first transverse direction 11.1, the transverse pressing direction of the transverse pressing ram 5.

[0078] If the longitudinal pressing ram 4 - which is arranged between the transverse pressing ram 5 and the forming tube groove 2.1 during pressing or pushing forward - is to always completely fill the free cross section 7' ​​between the forming tube groove 2.1 and the transverse pressing ram 5, regardless of the position of the transverse pressing ram 5 in the transverse pressing direction, the 1st transverse direction 11.1, it must, for example, as in Figure 2c , left half shown - consist of two parts 4a, 4b, which on the side facing each other have alternating prongs and recesses which engage into each other, so that the transverse pressing punch 5 can change its extension in this transverse direction 11.1, which happens automatically since the two parts 4a, b are prestressed by means of springs in the direction pointing away from each other.

[0079] Figure 2dshows how two forming tube troughs 2.1 can be arranged side by side for cutting two product pieces 100. The middle of three longitudinal walls projecting from a base of the forming tube trough 2.1 is firmly connected to the latter, in particular integrally, while the two outer longitudinal walls, in contrast, can be adjusted in their distance from the latter in the second transverse direction 11.2, from a large distance for inserting the product piece 100 to a smaller distance for subsequently pressing the product piece 100, which then also corresponds to the width of the transverse pressing ram 5 that is inserted from above into the respective forming tube trough 2.1.

[0080] The Figures 3a , b and 4a , b show two different inventive Designs of a shaped tube unit 2 compared to the known design of the Figures 2c , d.

[0081] The Figures 3a to 4bshow the molded tube 20 according to the invention, each viewed in the axial direction 10, i.e. from one open end face to the other, wherein in each case four longitudinal walls 20a to 20d extending in this axial direction, the longitudinal direction 10, which circumferentially surround the mold cavity 7 and each have a preferably flat contact surface delimiting the mold cavity 7, with which they later bear against the product piece 100 inserted into the mold cavity 7.

[0082] Accordingly, the mold cavity 7 has a rectangular cross-section, in this case with rounded corners due to a corresponding end edge region having an inner rounding, the respective contact surface of each of the longitudinal walls 20a - d.

[0083] The contact surfaces - with four longitudinal walls 20a - d - are essentially at right angles to one another and are also maintained at this angle by connecting two adjacent longitudinal walls 20a, b, 20b, c, etc., via a wall guide 24 in such a way that when the adjacent longitudinal walls, e.g., 20b, 20c, move relative to one another, the intermediate angle between the contact surfaces is maintained, in this case at 90°. However, one of the two longitudinal walls, e.g., 20c, is displaced toward the longitudinal center line 10' of the mold cavity relative to the longitudinal wall 20d connected to it.

[0084] The longitudinal center line 10' lies on the axis of symmetry in the case of point-symmetrical cross-sectional shapes of the mold cavity 7, otherwise on the center of gravity of the cross-section of the mold cavity 7.

[0085] For a rectangle as shown here, the longitudinal center line 10' lies at the intersection point of the two diagonals through the rectangular mold cavity 21.

[0086] In this case, the longitudinal guide 24 is preferably implemented by an undercut groove 24a in one of the radially extending outer sides of the longitudinal wall, which is adjacent to the adjacent longitudinal wall, and a sliding block 24b formed on the adjacent longitudinal wall and movable along the undercut groove 24a. The groove opens into the radial outer side of the longitudinal wall, from where the sliding block 24b can be inserted, but does not extend to the contact surface of the longitudinal wall.

[0087] The shaped tube 20 is concentrically surrounded by a base body 22 which is circular in this illustration but in practice is usually hollow cylindrical.

[0088] This base body 22, in particular base body ring, has in this case projections projecting radially inwards, and depending on the design, some or all of the longitudinal walls 20a - d can be pivoted relative to the base body 22, here the corresponding projection of the base body ring 22, about a first pivot axis 20.1' running in the axial direction 10.

[0089] All of these longitudinal walls 20a-d, which are pivotally mounted directly relative to the base body 22, are each pivotally connected to an actuating element 23 via a pivot lever 25. The actuating element 23 is also annular in the illustration, but in practice is preferably cylindrical, and is arranged concentrically to the longitudinal center line 10' of the mold cavity 7, preferably mounted in the base body 22 so as to be rotatable about the longitudinal center line 10'.

[0090] Each of the pivot levers 25 is thus articulated on one of the longitudinal walls 20a - d about a second pivot axis 20.2' running in the longitudinal direction 10 and is fastened with its other end about a base pivot axis 23' to the actuating element 23 common to all pivot levers 25.

[0091] As only in Figure 3a As indicated, the actuating element 23 can be adjusted relative to the base body 22 in the circumferential direction U, for example, controlled by a motor by means of an actuating element 21, such as a working cylinder 21.

[0092] At the first design according to the Figures 3a , b each of the longitudinal walls 20a - d is on the one hand articulated directly to the base body via a first pivot axis 20.1' and on the other hand articulated to the actuating element 23 via a second pivot axis 20.2' by means of a pivot lever 25.

[0093] If the actuating element 23 is moved from the position of the Figure 3a by 5° clockwise relative to the base body 22, this will - as shown in Figure 3b As can be seen, the mold cavity 21 decreases in size, but remains rectangular and, in particular, with the same length-to-width ratio of its cross-section. In addition, however, the cross-section of the mold cavity 7 also rotates in this direction, e.g., clockwise by the same angle.

[0094] The individual longitudinal walls 20a - d move with their contact surfaces in a pivoting movement around the first pivot axes 20.1' in the direction of the longitudinal center line 10'.

[0095] If geometrical over-determinations occur as a result, these can be eliminated by incorporating play in the form of elongated holes and bolts that can be moved therein as pivot axes in two of the opposite longitudinal walls, but not in the other two longitudinal walls.

[0096] The Figures 4a , bshow a second design of the shaped tube 20 according to the invention, which differs from the one shown in the Figures 3a , b differs in that only in the circumferential direction U every second of the even number of longitudinal walls, so in this case the two longitudinal walls e.g. 20a, 20c as with respect. Figure 3a , b described, are fastened to the base body 22 on the one hand and to the actuating element 23 on the other hand via first pivot axes 20.1' and second pivot axes 20.2' and pivot levers 25 fastened thereto.

[0097] By actuating the actuating element 23, only these two longitudinal walls 20a, c are actively displaced relative to the base body 22.

[0098] The two other longitudinal walls 20b, d are automatically adjusted by forced guidance, since they are movably connected to each of their two adjacent longitudinal walls 20a, c via a wall guide 24 each.

[0099] As a result, the angles between the contact surfaces of the individual longitudinal walls remain the same, even when the actuating element 23 is pivoted - as for 5° counterclockwise in Figure 4b shown - and the cross section of the mold cavity 7 is also rotated.

[0100] The advantage of the second design is that no geometric overdeterminations can occur and, with a non-self-locking design of the longitudinal guides 24, a simpler design is also obtained.

[0101] In both designs, the size of the cross-section of the mold cavity 7 is changed centrally with respect to the longitudinal center line 10', and additionally a rotation around the longitudinal center line 10', in contrast to the known solution of the Figures 2c, 2d , in which the bottom surface of the trough-shaped shaped pipe channel 2.1 remains in position.

[0102] The advantage of the design according to the invention is the more gentle pressing of the product piece 100 inserted in the mold cavity 7 by the pressing forces acting centrally in the direction of the longitudinal center line 10'.

[0103] If the rotation of the mold cavity 7 and / or the change in the position of all inner surfaces of the mold cavity 21, i.e. contact surfaces of all longitudinal walls 20a - d, is seen as a disadvantage, this can be compensated by a simple additional mechanism (not shown) acting on the base body 22 and also actuated by the actuating element 23, so that the peripheral surfaces of the mold cavity 7 retain their angular position to the X and Y directions in space even when the mold cavity 7 is changed and, if desired, at least one of the inner surfaces, i.e. a contact surface of one of the longitudinal walls, retains its position when the size of the cross-section of the mold cavity 7 is changed. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0104] 1 Slicing machine 1*Control 2 Forming tube unit 2.1 Forming tube chute 2a Cutting end 2b Loading end 3 Blade 3' Blade axis 3" Blade plane 3a Cutting edge 4 Longitudinal press ram 5 Transverse press ram 6 Cutting unit 7 Inner free space, mold cavity 7' Inner free cross section 8 Discharge conveyor 9 Discharge conveyor 10 Longitudinal direction, axial direction, feed direction 11.1 First transverse direction 11.2 Second transverse direction 12, 12' Piston rod 13 Stop plate 14 Feed conveyor 15 Base frame 16.1, 16.2 Scale 17 Distance 18 Intermediate plate 19 Support arm 20 Forming tube 20.11. Swivel axis circle 20.22. Swivel axis circle 20a - dLongitudinal wall 20.1'1st pivot axis 20.2'2nd pivot axis 21Adjusting element, working cylinder 22Base body 23Actuating element 23'Basic pivot axis 24Wall guide 24a, bGuide parts 25Pivoting lever 99unpressed length 99*pressed length 100unpressed product piece 100*pressed product caliber 100"cross-section 100"maxmaximum cross-section 101disk Ucircumferential direction

Claims

1. Forming tube unit (2) for shaping an irregularly shaped produce piece (100) consisting of a resilient material, e.g. a piece of meat (100), into a shape having a uniform cross-section (100") over its length (99), comprising - a main body (22), - a forming tube (20), which has a forming cavity (7) of variable cross-section which is open continuously from one to the opposite end face, i.e. in the longitudinal direction (10), comprising - longitudinal walls (20 a - d) which adjoin one another in the peripheral direction (U) and peripherally surround the forming cavity (7), - the longitudinal walls (20 a - d) being movable relative to one another in the transverse direction (11.1, 11.2) relative to the longitudinal direction (10) of the forming tube (20), - a common actuation element (23) for moving the longitudinal walls (20a - d), - all the longitudinal walls (20a - d) being arranged so as to be movable relative to the main body (22), characterised in that - the common actuation element (23) is an actuation ring (23) that surrounds the forming tube (20), and - the actuation ring is rotatable relative to the main body (22) about a longitudinal centre line (10') of the forming tube (20).

2. Forming tube unit according to claim 1, characterised in that - the main body (22), viewed in the longitudinal direction (10), is a main body ring (22), in particular a main body annulus (22), that surrounds the forming tube (20), in particular surrounds it concentrically, and / or - the forming cavity (7) rotates about the longitudinal centre line (10') in the case of a relative movement of the longitudinal walls (20 a - d) with respect to one another.

3. Forming tube unit according to either of the preceding claims, characterised in that - each two longitudinal walls (20a - d), neighbouring in the peripheral direction (U), are guided relative to one another along a wall guide (24) extending in the transverse direction (11.1, 11.2), - in particular, the wall guide (24) is designed such that the two guide parts (24a, b) guided relative to one another are movable towards one another only in the extension direction of the wall guide (24) but cannot be removed from one another transversely to the wall guide (24) in the length region of the wall guide (24), - in particular, the wall guide (24) is a form-fitting wall guide (24), - in particular being designed having an undercut guide groove (24a) and a slot nut (24b) that is displaceable therein.

4. Forming tube unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that - at least one longitudinal wall (20a - d) is fastened to the main body (22) so as to be pivotable about a first swivel pin (20.1') extending in the longitudinal direction (10), - preferably, in the case of an even number of longitudinal walls (20a - d), every second longitudinal wall (20a - d) is fastened to the main body (22) so as to be pivotable about a first swivel pin (20.1') extending in the longitudinal direction (10).

5. Forming tube unit according to claim 4, characterised in that - each longitudinal wall (20a - d) that is pivotably fastened to the main body (22) is additionally fastened to a pivot lever (25) so as to be pivotable about a second swivel pin (20.2') that extends in the longitudinal direction (10) and is spaced apart from the first swivel pin (20.1'), - each pivot lever (25) is fastened to the common actuation element (23) so as to be pivotable about a base swivel pin (23') extending in the longitudinal direction (10), - the actuation element (23) is movable relative to the main body (22).

6. Forming tube unit according to claim 4 and optionally according to claim 5, characterised in that if each longitudinal wall (20a - d) is fastened to the common actuation element (23) via a second swivel pin (20.2') and a pivot lever (25), at least one of the swivel pins of the pivot lever (25) and / or the first swivel pin (20.1') has a possibility of moving transversely to its extension direction, in particular transversely to the extension direction of the wall guide (24) and / or in the extension direction of the wall guide (24).

7. Forming tube unit according to claim 5, characterised in that - this applies for each longitudinal wall (20a - d), - provided the first swivel pins (20.1') are located on a first swivel pin circle (20.1) and, in the case of four first swivel pins (20.1'), these form a square.

8. Forming tube unit according to claims 4 and 5 and optionally according to either of claims 6 and 7, characterised in that - when viewed axially, the first swivel pins (20.1') are arranged on a first swivel pin circle (20.1), and / or - when viewed axially, the second swivel pins (20.2') are arranged on a second swivel pin circle (20.2), - in the case of four first swivel pins (20.1'), when viewed axially these form a rectangle, in particular a square.

9. Forming tube unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that - the common actuation element (23) is an actuation ring (23) that concentrically surrounds the forming tube (20), - the actuation ring is rotatable relative to the main body ring (22) about a longitudinal centre line (10') of the forming tube (20).

10. Forming tube unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that - the actuation element (23), in particular the actuation ring (23), is operatively connected to an actuator (21) that can be driven in a controlled manner, for example a power cylinder (21), - the actuator (26) is movable in a transverse direction (11.1, 11.2) relative to the longitudinal direction (10), in the case of an actuation ring (23) in particular tangentially to the actuation ring (23).

11. Forming tube unit according to any of claims 1 - 3, characterised in that - at least one longitudinal wall (20a - d) is guided so as to be linearly movable relative to the main body (22), in a transverse direction (11.1, 11.2) relative to the longitudinal direction (10), in particular radially to the longitudinal centre line (10') of the forming cavity (7), - preferably, in the case of an even number of longitudinal walls (20a - d), - every second longitudinal wall (20a - d) is operatively connected to the same actuation element (23) that is common to said first group of longitudinal walls (20a - d), - the remaining longitudinal walls (20a - d) are each operatively connected to another actuation element (23) that is common to said second group of longitudinal walls (20a - d).

12. Forming tube unit according to claim 11, characterised in that - each two neighbouring longitudinal walls (20a - d) are guided relative to one another along a wall guide (24) extending in the transverse direction, - in particular, each longitudinal wall (20a - d) is guided relative with each of its two neighbouring longitudinal walls (20a - d) along a wall guide (24) extending in the transverse direction, - in particular the longitudinal walls (20a - d) of one of the two groups are formed in two parts in the radial direction, having a guide part which comprises the wall guide (24), and a drive part which is operatively connected to the actuation element (23), and the two parts are fastened so as to be movable relative to one another, in particular are guided in a form-fitting manner relative to one another.

13. Cutting machine (1) for making an irregularly shaped produce piece (100) consisting of a resilient material, e.g. a piece of meat (100), into a shape having a uniform cross-section (100") over its length (99), and subsequently for cutting it into slices (101), in particular of equal weight, comprising - a forming tube unit (2) for shaping the product piece (100) - a cutting unit (6) having an in particular rotating blade (3), - a removal unit comprising at least one removal means (8) for removing the separated slices (101), - a controller (1*) for controlling movable parts of the cutting machine (1) characterised in that the forming tube unit (2) is designed according to any of the preceding claims.

14. Method for shaping an irregularly shaped, elongate product piece (100) consisting of a partially resilient material, in that the product piece (100) is pressed, at least in at least one transverse direction (11.1, 11.2) relative to the longitudinal direction (10), in a forming tube (20) of a forming tube unit (2) according to any of claims 1 to 12, to a product gauge (100*) having a largely uniform cross-section (100") over its length (99), by displacing the longitudinal walls (20a - d) of the forming tube (20), the forming tube (20) - peripherally surrounding the forming cavity (7) having a uniform cross-section over its length, characterised in that - the displacement takes place such that the longitudinal walls (20a - d) move towards one another linearly or by a pivot movement of the longitudinal centre line (10') of the forming cavity (7), but do not lose reciprocal contact in the process.

15. Method according to claim 14, characterised in that - the displacement takes place such that the cross-section of the forming cavity (7) is changed merely quantitatively, not with respect to its shape, in particular also not with respect to the relations of its shape - in particular in the case of an even number of longitudinal walls (20a - d) the pairs of side walls (20a - d) that are opposite one another with respect to the axial longitudinal centre line (10') of the forming cavity (7), in particular in each case every second longitudinal wall (20a - d), are moved synchronously along identical movement paths in each case, - in particular all the longitudinal walls (20a - d) are moved synchronously along identical movement paths in each case.