CUTTING VALVE UNIT FOR PORTIONING A PASTY PRODUCT MASS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cutting valve unit for portioning pumpable pasty to liquid product masses according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A cutting valve unit according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from EP 2 215 912 B1. This unit is particularly suitable for product masses with a lumpy or fibrous consistency, such as sausage or ham mass. To advantageously portion these products, an ejection piston with a cutting edge on its end face is guided inside a filling tube over an inlet formed laterally therein for a strand of the product mass. This reciprocating movement of the ejection piston is superimposed with a rotary movement, so that when a portion is separated from the strand of mass, the cutting edge moves along a helical path over the inlet, thereby performing a drawn cut, which is known in principle.

[0003] The stroke motion is generated by a linear drive and transmitted to the ejection piston via a gearbox, which forces the rotational movement. In EP 2 215 912 B1, the gearbox is designed as a cam guide and is arranged between the ejection piston and the filling tube or between the ejection piston and the linear drive. The ejection piston, or a plunger rigidly connected to it, features, for example, radially projecting cams that engage in a helical guide groove formed on the stationary filling tube. The linear drive is, for example, a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, or an electromechanical spindle drive, which is individually assigned to the ejection piston and connected to it via a piston rod.

[0004] However, such a cam guide is relatively complex to manufacture and also requires a complex design for the filling tube, for example, by forming the guide grooves of the cam guide in a separate guide sleeve that is inserted into the filling tube. Furthermore, the cam guide only allows helical lines with a relatively large pitch and thus little rotation of the ejector piston, and is comparatively susceptible to material wear.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for improved cutting valve units.

[0006] The stated problem is solved with a cutting valve unit according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] The cutting valve unit is suitable for portioning pumpable pasty to liquid product masses with a particularly lumpy or fibrous consistency, such as sausage or ham mass, bakery products, dairy products, delicatessen products, meat substitutes and / or animal feed.

[0008] The cutting valve unit comprises a cutting valve and, in particular, at least two cutting valves, each with a filling tube in which a lateral inlet for a strand of the product mass is formed, and with an ejection piston that can be repeatedly moved over the inlet by an oscillating stroke movement in the filling tube in order to separate a portion of the product mass from the strand and then eject it. The cutting valve unit further comprises a linear actuator for generating the stroke movement of the ejection piston and a gearbox associated with each cutting valve, which is designed to transmit the stroke movement and superimpose a rotary movement of the ejection piston upon it.

[0009] According to the invention, the transmission is a spindle transmission comprising a threaded spindle. This spindle is connected to the ejector piston in a rotationally fixed and translationally fixed manner. Furthermore, the threaded spindle is connected to the linear drive in a rotatable manner and in a translationally fixed manner. The term "translationally fixed" is to be understood here and subsequently in the sense of axial (relative to the threaded spindle) or in the direction of the stroke movement.

[0010] The threaded spindle thus functions as a piston rod, simultaneously transmitting the linear oscillating stroke motion of the linear drive and the rotary motion generated by the spindle drive to the ejector piston. The threaded spindle can be easily combined with a corresponding spindle nut, allowing the gearbox to be manufactured primarily with standardized components and replaced relatively easily as needed.

[0011] The threaded spindle can also be coupled to the linear drive in a simple and flexible manner, in particular in such a way that at least two ejector pistons are coupled to a common linear drive by means of a threaded spindle each. The threaded spindle can, for example, be rotatably coupled to the rotor of a linear motor or to a separately driven and linearly guided coupling element of the linear drive, such as a slide.

[0012] The linear drive generates only an oscillating stroke movement; the spindle drive forces only the superimposed rotary movement of the ejector piston from this.

[0013] The ejection piston can, in a manner known in principle, include a cutting edge arranged essentially at the front and, for example, in an annular form, which, through the described combination of the stroke movement and the rotational movement of the ejection piston, makes a drawn cut through a product mass supplied through the inlet.

[0014] Preferably, the spindle drive includes a stationary spindle nut for guiding the threaded spindle. This allows for a particularly simple and cost-effective design of the drive, essentially using two standardized components that can be combined with each other. Furthermore, such a spindle drive can be replaced cost-effectively if necessary, for example, to adapt the rotary motion to specific production requirements by using a different thread pitch.

[0015] Preferably, the spindle nut is arranged on the filling tube and, in particular, attached to it. This enables a compact and hygienically advantageous embodiment of the respective cutting valve.

[0016] Preferably, the spindle drive is designed such that it forces the rotary motion over the entire working stroke of the ejection piston for dividing and ejecting. This not only facilitates gentle dividing of portions but also promotes reliable and complete ejection of the separated portions at the end outlet of the filling tube. For this purpose, the thread of the threaded spindle extends at least over the entire length of the working stroke.

[0017] Preferably, the lead screw is a ball screw, a metric screw, a trapezoidal screw, or a hygienically designed special screw. Ball screws are known to be components of ball screw drives, also called ball recirculating spindles, in which force-transmitting balls circulate within the lead screw nut. This enables particularly precise and low-wear generation of the rotary motion. In contrast, the lead screws of metric screws, trapezoidal screws, or hygienically designed special screws are particularly compact and cost-effective.

[0018] Preferably, the threaded spindle has a pitch of 2 mm to 120 mm, particularly 40 mm to 100 mm. This allows for particularly practical drawn cuts through the product mass. The rotary motion also facilitates the separation and ejection of the produced portions.

[0019] Preferably, the linear drive comprises a coupling element guided in the stroke direction and extending substantially transversely thereto, which may, for example, be designed in the form of a support or a strip, for the translationally fixed and yet freely rotatable coupling of the threaded spindle, and in particular of at least two threaded spindles, to the linear drive. This allows the stroke movement to be generated synchronously for several ejector pistons with minimal technical effort. The coupling element then extends, for example, orthogonally to the stroke direction between at least two linear guides for the coupling element that extend in the stroke direction.

[0020] The linear drive can comprise a rotary motor and a crank mechanism for the oscillating drive of the threaded spindle, for example, by connecting the coupling element to a crankshaft driven by such a motor via a connecting rod. Thus, the reciprocating motion of the ejector piston, in particular of multiple ejector pistons, can be generated with minimal wear and vibration by means of a continuously operating rotary motor.

[0021] In a favorable embodiment, the cutting valve unit comprises at least two cutting valves, which are coupled to the linear drive via their respective associated spindle drives. In particular, the threaded spindles of the spindle drives are then coupled to the linear drive by means of the coupling element. This minimizes the overall complexity of the equipment required to drive the ejector pistons.

[0022] Preferred embodiments are specified in the dependent claims.

[0023] A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings. The drawings show: Figure 1 shows a cutting valve with the spindle drive; Figure 2 shows a cutting valve unit with jointly driven cutting valves; and Figure 3 shows a cutting valve unit with an alternative drive for the cutting valves.

[0024] As the Figure 1As can be seen in a schematic partial view of a cutting valve unit 100, the cutting valve 1 comprises a filling tube 2 with a lateral inlet 2a for a strand 3a of a pasty product mass 3 and an ejection piston 4, which is moved back and forth in an oscillating motion within the filling tube 2 via the inlet 2a by a working stroke 5. The working stroke 5 can be variably designed so that the cutting edge 6 can be flush with, extending beyond, or within the filling tube 2 at the end of the working stroke 5. During each forward or downward stroke, a portion 3b of the product mass 3 is separated from the strand 3a and ejected through an outlet 2b formed on the end face of the filling tube 2.

[0025] The ejection piston 4 comprises at least one cutting edge 6 formed on its end face, which is formed by the superposition of a stroke movement 7 and a rotary movement 8 (for clarity, in the upper area of ​​the Figure 1(shown) of the ejection piston 4 is guided along a helical line through the product mass 3 and consequently makes a drawn cut when separating the respective portion 3b from the mass strand 3a.

[0026] The cutting valve 1 also includes, as components of the cutting valve unit 100, a linear drive 9 for generating the stroke movement 7 and a spindle drive 10, with which the stroke movement 7 is transmitted from the linear drive 9 to the ejection piston 4 and at the same time its rotary movement 8 is forced and thus superimposed on the stroke movement 7.

[0027] The spindle drive 10 comprises a threaded spindle 11 which is connected on the one hand to the ejection piston 4 in a rotationally fixed and translationally fixed or rigid manner, i.e. in the direction of the stroke movement 7, and on the other hand to the linear drive 9 in a freely rotatable and translationally fixed or rigid manner.

[0028] The spindle drive 10 also includes a stationary spindle nut 12, which guides the threaded spindle 11 and derives the rotary movement 8 from the stroke movement 7. The spindle nut 12 is preferably arranged at the end 2c of the filling tube 2 opposite the outlet 2b and is positively secured there, for example, by means of a union nut 13.

[0029] The threaded spindle 11 is, for example, fixed to the ejection piston 4 both translationally, i.e. in the direction of the stroke movement 7, and rotationally, by means of a positive-locking coupling 14, in order to transmit both the stroke movement 7 and the rotational movement 8 of the threaded spindle 11 to the ejection piston 4.

[0030] The threaded spindle 11 can be designed as a ball screw, metric spindle, trapezoidal spindle or hygienically designed special spindle, with the spindle nut 12 then serving as a matching counterpart.

[0031] The threaded spindle 11, for example, has a pitch 11a of 2 mm to 120 mm, preferably of 40 mm to 100 mm. This allows the ratio of the rotary movement 8 to the stroke movement 7 to be advantageously adjusted both for separating the portions 3b from the mass strand 3a and for ejecting the respective portion 3b through the outlet 2b, according to the respective product consistency.

[0032] As the Figure 1 Furthermore, as can be seen schematically, the drive-side end of the threaded spindle 11 can be freely rotatable and translationally fixed to a coupling element 16 oscillating in the direction of the stroke movement 7 by means of a bearing 15, which can be, for example, a sliding bearing or rolling bearing.

[0033] The coupling element 16, as well as at least one associated linear guide 17, is a component of the linear drive 9 for the threaded spindle 11 and the ejector piston 4. The at least one linear guide 17 guides the coupling element 16 in a fixed rotational position. The rotary motion 8 is thus generated exclusively by the spindle drive 10.

[0034] As the Figure 2 As can be seen schematically and not to scale, the cutting valve unit 100 preferably comprises several cutting valves 1 and a linear drive 9 associated with them. For mutual coupling, this includes a coupling element 16, which is guided linearly in a fixed rotational position and in the stroke direction, i.e., in the direction of the stroke movement 7, and which runs essentially transversely thereto, and which is designed, for example, as a crossbeam, strip or the like.

[0035] The threaded spindles 11 assigned to the individual cutting valves 1 are each connected to the common coupling element 16, and thus to the linear drive 9, in a translationally fixed and freely rotatable manner by means of at least one bearing 15. This allows all ejection pistons 4 of the cutting valve unit 100 to be moved together by the linear drive 9 into the stroke movement 7, with the rotary movement 8 superimposed on this by means of the individual spindle drives 10.

[0036] The linear drive 9 can further comprise a crank mechanism 18 with a connecting rod 18a for coupling the coupling element 16 and with a crankshaft 18b, as well as a rotary motor 19 driving this crankshaft. During operation, the crankshaft 18b rotates continuously or oscillates and / or is driven directly by the rotary motor 19. This motor is, for example, an electric motor.

[0037] As the Figure 3As can be seen schematically and not to scale, the linear drive 9 can instead comprise a toggle lever arrangement 20, which is moved linearly, for example, by a linear actuator 21 operating transversely to the stroke movement 7.

[0038] The linear drive 9 can, for example, include two linear guides 17 for guiding the coupling element 16 on both sides in the direction of the stroke movement 7. Such a drive, in which Figure 2 The basic design of the linear drive 9 is comparatively robust and low in vibration and also enables simple synchronous operation of several cutting valves 1.

[0039] In principle, the linear drive 9 could also include a linear actuator 21, for example in the form of a linear motor (not shown), whose rotor operates in the direction of the stroke movement 7 and which is, for example, directly connected to the coupling element 16. Pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders are also conceivable as linear drives 9.

[0040] In principle, individual linear drives 9 for individual cutting valves 1 would also be conceivable.

[0041] The illustrated / described coupling of several cutting valves 1 to a common linear actuator 9 is particularly efficient and also relatively easy to scale, since, for example, only the number of cutting valves 1 coupled to the coupling element 16 needs to be changed, and the coupling element 16 may need to be replaced. The cutting valve unit 100 can thus be constructed modularly in a comparatively simple manner with a specific number of required cutting valves 1.

[0042] The design of the ejection piston 4, including the end-face cutting edge 6, as well as the inlet 2a and outlet 2b of the filling tube 2, can be carried out in a manner known in principle. This also applies to the supply of the mass strand 3a of the pasty product mass 3, which can be continuous or, for example, pulsed to support portioning.

[0043] Compared to the known cam gear, the spindle gear 10 enables a simplified and more compact design of the filling tube 2. For example, the running surface 2d of the filling tube 2 can essentially be designed as a simple cylindrical bushing, without the need for gear components such as grooves, sleeves or the like.

[0044] The spindle nut 12 can be attached to the end 2c of the filling tube 2 opposite the outlet 2b in a simple and easily accessible positive-locking manner by means of a union nut 13 or the like and can be replaced if necessary, for example to adjust the rotary movement 8 by using a threaded spindle 11 with a different pitch 11a.

[0045] The gear part extending over the (entire) working stroke 5 for dividing and ejecting portions 3b of the pasty product mass 3 is also advantageously located not on the filling tube 2, but on the piston rod of the ejection piston, which according to the invention is formed by the threaded spindle 11.

Claims

1. A cutting valve unit (100) for portioning pumpable pasty or liquid product masses (3), in particular having lumpy or fibrous consistence such as sausage or ham mass, bakery products, dairy products, delicatessen products, meat substitute products and / or pet food, comprising: - at least one cutting valve (1) respectively comprising a filling pipe (2) having a lateral inlet (2a) for an extruded strand (3a) of the product mass and a discharge piston (4) movable through a working stroke (5) within the filling pipe beyond the inlet for severing and discharging a portion (3b) of the product mass from the strand; - a linear drive (9) for producing a stroke movement (7) of the discharge piston; and - a transmission associated with the at least one cutting valve, configured to superimpose the stroke movement (7) with a rotary movement (8) of the discharge piston, characterized in that the transmission is a screw drive (10) comprising a leadscrew (11) rotationally and translationally fixed to the discharge piston on the one hand and rotationally and translationally fixed to the linear drive on the other hand.

2. The cutting valve unit according to claim 1, wherein the screw drive (10) comprises a stationary ball nut (12) for guiding the lead screw (11) to produce the rotary movement (8).

3. The cutting valve unit according to claim 2, wherein the ball nut (12) is disposed on the filling pipe (2) and in particular fixed thereto.

4. The cutting valve unit according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the screw drive (10) is configured to produce the rotary movement (8) over the entire working stroke (5) of the discharge piston (4).

5. The cutting valve unit according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the lead screw (11) is a ball screw, a metric screw, a trapezoidal screw or a special hygienic-conform screw.

6. The cutting valve unit according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the lead screw (11) has a pitch (11a) of 2 mm to 120 mm, in particular of 40 mm to 100 mm.

7. The cutting valve unit according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the linear drive (9) comprises a coupling element (16) guided along the direction of the stroke movement (7) and extending transverse thereto, to which the lead screw (11) is translationally fixed and rotatably coupled.

8. The cutting valve unit according to claim 7, wherein the coupling element (16) is configured as a crossbar.

9. The cutting valve unit according to claims 7 or 8, wherein the coupling element (16) is configured for translationally fixed and separately rotatable coupling to at least two lead screws (11).

10. The cutting valve unit according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the linear drive (9) comprises a rotary motor (19) and a crank mechanism (18) for a linearly oscillating drive of the lead screw (11).

11. The cutting valve unit according to claim 10 and at least one of claims 7 through 9, wherein the crank mechanism (18) comprises a connecting rod (18a) for drivingly coupling to the coupling element (16).

12. The cutting valve unit according to at least one of the preceding claims, comprising at least two cutting valves (1) jointly coupled to the linear drive (9) via the screw drives (10) associated therewith.

13. The cutting valve unit according to claims 9 and 12, wherein the lead screws (11) of the screw drives (10) are coupled to the linear drive (9) by means of the coupling element (16).