Cutting system with stator ring and cutting rotor as well as stator ring for such a cutting system

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cutting system with a stator ring and a cutting rotor according to the preamble of claim 1 and a stator ring for such a cutting system according to claim 9.

[0002] The invention relates to a cutting system such as that known, for example, from EP 1 980 323 B1. Such a conventional cutting system comprises a stator ring and a cutting rotor rotatably arranged within the stator ring. The stator ring includes a plurality of stator studs and slot-like openings, with a stator stud arranged between each pair of adjacent slot-like openings.

[0003] The cutting rotor has a multitude of rotor cutting cleats designed in such a way that they run past the stator cutting plates during the cutting operation of the cutting system.

[0004] This conventional cutting system is composed of a large number of components, which makes it considerably more difficult to clean the cutting system in the manner required for applications with high hygiene requirements, e.g. in the production of food, e.g. sausage, or animal feed.

[0005] In the system known from EP 1 980 323 B1, for example, pins are screwed into radial bores in the stator lugs. These pins extend radially into the inner region of the stator beyond a rear contact surface for the stator cutting plates. They engage in longitudinal grooves provided in the outward-facing surface of the stator cutting plates. These longitudinal grooves run axially parallel to the axis of rotation of the cutting rotor. The arrangement of these pins and longitudinal grooves determines, on the one hand, the position of the stator cutting plates relative to the stator lugs. On the other hand, during cutting operations, these pins absorb the forces exerted on the stator cutting plates, acting in the circumferential direction of the cutting rotor, and transfer these forces to the stator lugs.

[0006] During the cutting process, however, minute particles are generated that can get trapped between the stator cutting plates and the stator cleats, becoming permanently lodged there. If the product conveyed by the cutting system is, for example, meat, the presence of such meat particles in the spaces between the stator cutting plates and the stator cleats poses significant health risks to the consumer.

[0007] Regular cleaning of such areas of the cutting system is therefore essential to prevent contamination of production in applications with increased hygiene requirements.

[0008] Such hygiene requirements apply not only to the processing of meat, but to the processing of food in general, as well as to the production of, for example, animal feed or medicines, and to other applications.

[0009] For cleaning, the stator cutting plates are therefore removed, which requires loosening the corresponding fixing screws. However, the journals usually remain in the cutting slots, so the circumferential surfaces of the cutting slots on the stator ring must be cleaned. If a brush rotating inside the stator ring is used for this purpose, the circumferential surfaces of the cutting slots will only be partially cleaned, specifically where the brush reaches. Therefore, significantly more complex cleaning methods must be used in this case. However, even with more elaborate cleaning methods, there remains a considerable risk of particles adhering to the surfaces, as the surfaces to be cleaned are too uneven and irregularly structured.

[0010] The cutting system known from EP 1 980 323 B1 further features rotor cutting plates on the rotor cutting studs, which are screwed to the rotor cutting studs. Particles can also penetrate the gaps between the rotor cutting studs and the rotor cutting plates, causing contamination of the cutting system that is also very difficult to remove.

[0011] Furthermore, a generic cutting system is known from DE 28 23 245 A1, in which an inner cutting ring rotates relative to a rotationally secured outer cutting ring. Plate-shaped cutting profiles are attached to teeth of the outer cutting ring by means of rivet fixings. Each cutting profile engages a corresponding tooth. For fastening, the cutting profiles have bores that align with corresponding bores in the teeth and serve to receive the rivet fixings.

[0012] Another generic cutting system is known from EP 4 197 639 A1. This document falls under Article 54(3) EPC and is therefore not relevant to the question of inventive step.

[0013] The invention is therefore based on the objective of improving cutting systems in such a way that they can be used safely even in applications with high hygiene requirements, in particular that they can be cleaned more reliably with less effort.

[0014] The invention solves this problem with the features of a cutting system according to claim 1 and with a stator ring having the features according to claim 9.

[0015] The cutting system according to the invention comprises a stator ring and a cutting rotor rotatably arranged within the stator ring. The stator ring has a plurality of stator slots and slot-like openings, with a stator slot arranged between each pair of adjacent slot-like openings. A stator cutting plate associated with the stator slot is provided on the inner side of a stator slot facing the central axis of the stator ring. The cutting rotor has a plurality of rotor cutting slots designed such that they pass by the stator cutting plates during the cutting operation of the cutting system. The inner side of each stator slot is free of projections and depressions. This results in a surface that is easy and reliable to clean. Furthermore, such a surface is simple, quick, and cost-effective to manufacture.

[0016] Each stator cutting plate has a front guide rail and a rear guide rail, with the front and rear guide rails framing the stator lug to which the stator cutting plate is assigned. Thanks to this design of the stator cutting plates, the inner surfaces of the cutting lugs can be kept free of retaining elements for the cutting plates. The inner surfaces of the cutting lugs can therefore have a very uniform surface shape. This surface shape is characterized in particular by having only slightly curved or flat surfaces, which are very easy to clean, for example, by brushing. Cleaning of protruding pins, as required in the conventional cutting system described in the introduction, is unnecessary.

[0017] After disassembly of the stator cutting plates according to the invention, the cutting system according to the invention can therefore be cleaned very reliably in a simple manner. The cutting system according to the invention can therefore also be used without problems in applications with very high hygiene requirements. The aforementioned problem is further solved by a stator ring for such a cutting system. The stator ring has a plurality of stator lugs and slot-like openings, with a stator lug arranged between each pair of adjacent slot-like openings. A stator cutting plate associated with the stator lug is provided on an inner surface of the stator lug facing the central axis of the stator ring. Each stator cutting plate has a front guide rail and a rear guide rail, the front guide rail and the rear guide rail framing the stator lug to which the stator cutting plate is assigned.The inside of each stator tunnel is free of protrusions and depressions.

[0018] Overall, the invention significantly improves the cleaning possibilities of the cutting system according to the invention, as well as of the stator ring according to the invention, due to the design of the stator cutting plates.

[0019] According to a further development of the invention, the front guide strip and the rear guide strip are arranged in the area of ​​two longitudinal edges of the stator cutting plate, which are spaced apart and arranged parallel to a cutting edge of the stator cutting plate.

[0020] According to a further development of the invention, the stator cutting plate has a cutting edge which is arranged parallel to the front guide rail and the rear guide rail, wherein the cutting edge is arranged closer to the front guide rail than to the rear guide rail and the front guide rail is thicker than the rear guide rail.

[0021] Thanks to this design, the front guide rail is aligned with the cutting edge and must absorb forces transverse to its longitudinal extent during cutting. The resulting transverse forces act as spring forces on this guide rail. The thicker design of the front guide rail, compared to the rear guide rail, reinforces it and allows it to absorb even large transverse forces that can occur during cutting.

[0022] The rear guide rail is therefore preferably thinner than the front guide rail, which saves material, weight, and / or costs during the manufacture of the stator cutting plates. Furthermore, the thinner design of the rear guide rail saves space in the area of ​​the slot-like opening compared to a thicker design, so that the cross-sectional width of the slot-like opening is reduced only slightly by the guide rail, or to a lesser extent than if the rear guide rail were the same thickness as the front guide rail.

[0023] A further development of the invention provides that the stator cutting plate has a recess on one of its end faces and the stator stud, to which the stator cutting plate is assigned, has a threaded bore on its end section for receiving a fixing screw which penetrates into the recess and exerts a transverse force on the stator cutting plate at a contact point on an inclined surface of the recess such that the stator cutting plate is pressed against this stator stud, wherein the inclined surface has a straight or planar section in the area of ​​possible contact points.

[0024] During the insertion and tightening of the locking screw into the recess, the contact point of the screw head moves along a line on the inclined surface of the recess. This results in a multitude of possible contact points. Thanks to the design of the inclined surface in the area of ​​these potential contact points as a straight or flat section, tightening the locking screw results in a uniform increase in force pressing the stator cutting plate against the stator stud. In this way, the locking screw can advantageously exert a defined force on the stator cutting plate. This defined force also ensures that the locking screw remains firmly tightened even when vibrations act on it during cutting operations. Loosening of the locking screws can thus be reliably prevented – even without the use of washers or similar components.

[0025] A further development of the invention provides that the surface is partially cylindrical. The surface thus forms a part or section of a cylindrical surface. The surfaces of the inner sides of all stator slots therefore lie on a cylindrical surface. This design improves the possibility of quick and thorough cleaning of the cutting rotor.

[0026] According to a further development of the invention, the stator cutting plate has a recess on its rear side facing the stator stud. This recess serves to save material and weight.

[0027] A further development of the invention provides that the cutting rotor is formed in one piece. This design of the cutting rotor avoids gaps between different components that are difficult to clean. This design also allows for compliance with high hygiene requirements. Furthermore, this design avoids complex screw connections, e.g., between rotor cutting cleats and rotor cutting plates, as are provided, for example, in the prior art mentioned in the introduction. This also eliminates the effort required for assembling the cutting system.

[0028] According to a further development of the invention, the cutting rotor is designed in multiple parts and comprises a hub, a toothed ring with rotor cutting lugs, and a plurality of screws for connecting the hub to the toothed ring. This design of the cutting rotor allows for the reuse of parts, such as the hub, when the toothed ring, in particular its rotor cutting lugs, is worn.

[0029] A further development of the invention provides that the cutting rotor has cutting edges that are integrally formed with a rotor cutting cleat. This means that the cutting edges on the cutting rotor are integrated into the rotor cutting cleats. This eliminates the need for cutting plates for the rotor. This design avoids gaps in the area of ​​the rotor cutting cleats. This design is advantageous with regard to the cleaning of the cutting system. This design allows for compliance with high hygiene requirements.

[0030] Further developments of the invention are described in the claims, the description, and the drawings. The aforementioned advantages of features and combinations of features are exemplary and can be achieved alternatively or cumulatively, without necessarily requiring that the advantages be obtained from specific embodiments of the invention. Further features can be seen in the drawings—in particular, the geometries and relative dimensions of several components to one another, as well as their relative arrangement and functional connection. The combination of features from different embodiments of the invention or features from different claims is also possible, deviating from the chosen cross-references in the claims, and is hereby proposed. This also applies to features that are illustrated in separate drawings or mentioned in their description.These features can also be combined with features from different claims. Likewise, features listed in claims can be omitted for further embodiments of the invention.

[0031] The drawing shows: Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a cutting system according to the invention with a stator ring and a one-piece formed cutting rotor in an exploded view, Fig. 2 shows the in Fig. 1 The cutting system shown in the assembled state of the stator ring and cutting rotor, Fig. 3, is shown in Fig. 2 The cutting system shown in a perspective view into the interior of the cutting system, Fig. 4, the cutting rotor of the [unclear text] Figures 1 to 3 The cutting system shown in Fig. 5 shows an enlarged section of the rotor cutting cleats of the [machining system]. Fig. 4The cutting rotor shown in Fig. 6 is a further embodiment of a cutting system according to the invention with a stator ring and a multi-part cutting rotor in an exploded view, Fig. 7 is shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 6 The cutting system shown in the assembled state of the stator ring and cutting rotor, Fig. 8, is shown in Fig. 7 The cutting system shown in a perspective view into the interior of the cutting system, Fig. 9, the cutting rotor of the [unclear text] Figures 6 to 8 The cutting system shown in Fig. 10 shows an enlarged section of the rotor cutting cleats of the [machining system]. Fig. 9 shown cutting rotor, Fig. 11, the stator ring of which is in the Figures 1 to 10 The cutting systems shown, including its mounted stator cutting plates, are shown in perspective view in Fig. 12, as is the stator ring according to Fig. 12. Fig. 11 without its stator cutting plates in perspective view, Fig. 13 the stator ring according to Fig. 11in a side view, Fig. 14 an enlarged section of the central area of ​​the stator ring according to Fig. 13 , Fig. 15 a horizontal cross-section of the in Fig. 14 shown central area of ​​the stator ring, Fig. 16, a vertical cross-section of the in Fig. 13 the right-hand area of ​​the stator ring shown and Fig. 17 an enlarged and rotated section of the Fig. 1 The stator ring shown has a disassembled stator cutting plate and a removed fixing screw.

[0032] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a cutting system 10 according to the invention, comprising a stator ring 12 and a cutting rotor 14. The exploded view is shown in Figure 1. Fig. 1 For illustrative purposes, the cutting rotor 14 is pulled out along the central axis 16 of the cutting system 10.

[0033] The stator ring 12 comprises an annular base 18 from which a multitude of stator tunnels 20 extend.

[0034] The stator tunnels 20 can, as in Fig. 1 shown, each aligned in a skew direction to the central axis 16.

[0035] The stator ring 12 further comprises a plurality of slot-like openings 22, wherein a stator slot 20 is arranged between each pair of adjacent slot-like openings 22.

[0036] The stator ring 12 has stator cutting plates 24 on the inner sides of the stator slots 20 facing the central axis 16. These stator cutting plates 24 are fastened with fixing screws 26, which are received by threaded bores 28 in the end sections 30 of the stator slots 20. For illustrative purposes, one of these stator cutting plates 24 has been pulled out of the stator ring 12.

[0037] Fig. 17 shows an enlarged section in the area of ​​the stator cutting plate 24, which has been pulled out of the stator ring 12 for illustrative purposes.

[0038] Each stator cutting plate 24 has a cutting edge 32. This cutting edge 32 is located at a front region of the stator cutting plate 24 in such a way that the cutting edges 36 of the rotor cutting studs 38 of the cutting rotor 14, rotating in the direction of arrow 34 during cutting operation, first pass the front region of the stator cutting plates 24 and their cutting edges 32 when the cutting rotor 14 – as shown in Figures 2 and 3 shown - inserted into the interior of the stator ring 12.

[0039] The cutting rotor 14 has a hole 40 in a central area for receiving a shaft (not shown), wherein a groove 42 is provided in the hole 40, which can receive a spring in the shaft. By means of this shaft, the cutting rotor 14 is rotated, specifically in the direction of arrow 34 during cutting operation, as shown in the Figures 1 to 4 depicted.

[0040] Fig. 5shows an enlarged section of the rotor cutting slots 38 of the cutting rotor 14 and the respective cutting edges 36 of the rotor cutting slots 38 at their front areas.

[0041] The one in the Figures 1 to 5 The depicted cutting rotor 14 is formed in one piece. It therefore has no joints susceptible to contamination. This applies in particular to the design of the rotor cutting studs 38, whose cutting edges 36 are integrally formed within the rotor cutting studs 38.

[0042] This integral design of the cutting edges 36 of the rotor cutting studs 38 is also found in another embodiment of a cutting system according to the invention. Figures 6 to 10 again.

[0043] In the embodiment according to the Figures 6 to 10 The stator ring 12 is designed in the same way as in the embodiment according to the Figures 1 to 5 Therefore, reference is made to the above explanations regarding the Figures 1 to 5 as well as 17 referred.

[0044] In the exemplary embodiment according to the Figures 6 to 10 However, the cutting rotor 14' is designed in multiple sections and includes a hub 43 which can be connected to a toothed ring 46 by means of screws 44. Washers 48 may also be provided to secure the screws 44.

[0045] The hub 43 also has a hole 40 with a groove 42 - corresponding to the one shown in the Figures 1 to 4 in the illustrated embodiment - to accommodate a shaft with which the cutting rotor 14' can be rotatably driven.

[0046] Fig. 10 differs essentially only in that it from Fig. 5 that the cutting rotor 14' comprises the toothed ring 46 and the hub 43, which is formed separately from the toothed ring 46. Furthermore, in this embodiment as well, the cutting edges 36 of the rotor cutting studs 38 are integrally formed with the rotor cutting studs 38.

[0047] Fig. 11shows the stator ring 12 with stator cutting plates 24 fixed to all stator studs 20 by means of fixing screws 26.

[0048] Fig. 12 shows the stator ring 12 with the fixing screws 26 and stator cutting plates 24 removed.

[0049] Fig. 13 shows the stator ring 12 with mounted stator cutting plates 24 and screwed-in fixing screws 26.

[0050] Fig. 14 shows an enlarged section of a central area of Fig. 13 .

[0051] Front guide strips 50 and rear guide strips 52 are shown in the slot-like openings 22, with one front guide strip 50 and one rear guide strip 52 belonging to a stator cutting plate 24.

[0052] Fig. 15 shows a horizontal section plane of the in Fig. 14The stator ring 12 shown. An example is a section through a stator slot 20, on the inside of which a stator cutting plate 24 is arranged. The cutting edge 32 of the stator cutting plate 24 is located at the front. On the side of the stator cutting plate 24 facing the stator slot 20, the two guide rails 50, 52 belonging to this stator cutting plate 24 are arranged, with the front guide rail 50 being located at the front of the stator cutting plate 24 and the rear guide rail 52 at the rear.

[0053] The guide rails 50 and 52 run parallel to each other.

[0054] Fig. 15 This shows that the front guide rail 50 is thicker than the rear guide rail 52. The guide rail 50 can therefore absorb larger lateral forces or shear forces without damage, which act on the stator cutting plate 24 during the cutting operation.

[0055] On the side of the stator cutting plate 24 facing the stator stud 20, the stator cutting plate 24 has a recess 54 to reduce the weight of the cutting plate 24 and save material.

[0056] Fig. 16 shows a vertical cross-section of the in Fig. 13 The right-hand area of ​​the stator ring 12 is shown. A stator cutting plate 24 is therefore also shown in section, with the recess 54 shown on the side facing the stator stud 20.

[0057] Figures 16 and 17The figures show that the stator cutting plate 24 has a recess 58 on its end face 56, which faces the end section 30 of the stator shaft 20, the end section having the threaded bore 28 and the fixing screw 26 therein. The fixing screw 26 penetrates the recess 58 with its rounded end section 60. This end section 60 comes into contact with an inclined surface 62 of the recess 58 at a contact point 61. The fixing screw 26 exerts a radially outward transverse force on the stator cutting plate 24, which holds the stator cutting plate 24 in its position together with the front guide rail 50 and the rear guide rail 52. The inclined surface 62 has a straight or flat section in the area of ​​the contact point 61.

[0058] The stator cutting plates 24 described above are preferably identical in design and evenly distributed at all positions of the stator ring 12. This also applies to the fixing screws 26 that secure these stator cutting plates 24 and their threaded bores 28, as well as to the stator lugs 20.

[0059] The inventive design of the stator cutting plates 24 enables an inner surface of each of the stator lugs 20 that is free of protrusions and depressions. This allows for simple, reliable, and thorough cleaning of the stator ring 12 when the stator cutting plates 24 are removed. The inventive cutting system 10 is therefore advantageously suited for use in applications with high hygiene requirements.

[0060] The following reference numbers are used in the figures: 10 Cutting system 12 Stator ring 14, 14' Cutting rotor 16 Central shaft 18 Ring-shaped base 20 Stator stud 22 Slotted opening 24 Stator cutting plate 26 Fixing screw 28 Threaded hole 30 End section of a stator stud 32 Cutting edge 34 Arrow 36 Cutting edge of a rotor cutting stud 38 Rotor cutting stud 40 Hole 42 Groove 43 Hub 44 Screw 46 Toothed ring 48 Washer 50 Front guide rail 52 Rear guide rail 54 Recess 56 End face 58 Recess 60 End section of the fixing screw 61 Contact point 62 Slanted surface

Claims

1. Cutting system with a stator ring (12) and a cutting rotor (14, 14') rotatably arranged within the stator ring (12), wherein the stator ring (12) has a plurality of stator lugs (20) and slot-like openings (22), wherein a stator lug (20) is arranged between each two adjacent slot-like openings (22), wherein a stator cutting plate (24) associated with the stator lug (20) is provided on an inner side of a stator lug (20) facing the center axis (16) of the stator ring (12), wherein the cutting rotor (14, 14') has a plurality of rotor cutting lugs (38) which are designed in such a way that they run past the stator cutting plates (24) during the cutting operation of the cutting system (10), wherein each stator cutting plate (24) has a front guide bar (50) and a rear guide bar (52), wherein the front guide bar (50) and the rear guide bar (52) enclose the stator lug (20) to which the stator cutting plate (24) is assigned, characterized in that the inside of the stator lug (20) is free of protrusions and indentations.

2. Cutting system according to claim 1, characterized in that the stator cutting plate (24) has a cutting edge (32), wherein the front guide bar (50) and the rear guide bar (52) are arranged parallel to this cutting edge (32), wherein this cutting edge (32) is arranged closer to the front guide bar (50) than the rear guide bar (52) and the front guide bar (50) is thicker than the rear guide bar (52).

3. Cutting system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the stator cutting plate (24) has an indentation (58) on one of its front sides (56) and the stator lug (20), to which the stator cutting plate (24) is assigned, has a threaded bore (28) at its end section (30) for receiving a fixing screw (26), which penetrates into the indentation (58) and exerts a transverse force on the stator cutting plate (24) at a contact point (61) on a sloping surface (62) of the indentation (58) in such a way that the stator cutting plate (24) is pressed against this stator lug (20), wherein the sloping surface (62) has a straight or flat section in the area of possible contact points (61).

4. Cutting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface of the inside of the stator lug (20) is partially cylindrical.

5. Cutting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the stator cutting plate (24) has a recess (54) on its rear side facing the stator lug (20).

6. Cutting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting rotor (14) is formed in one piece.

7. Cutting system according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cutting rotor (14') is designed in multiple parts and comprises a hub (43), a tooth ring (46) with rotor cutting lugs (38), and a plurality of screws (44) for connecting the hub (43) to the tooth ring (46).

8. Cutting system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cutting rotor (14, 14') has cutting edges (36) which are each integrally formed with a rotor cutting lug (38).

9. Stator ring for a cutting system according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the stator ring (12) has a plurality of stator lugs (20) and slot-like openings (22), wherein a stator lug (20) is arranged between each two adjacent slot-like openings (22), wherein a stator cutting plate (24) associated with the stator lug (20) is provided on an inner side of the stator lug (20) facing the center axis (16) of the stator ring (12), wherein each stator cutting plate (24) has a front guide bar (50) and a rear guide bar (52), wherein the front guide bar (50) and the rear guide bar (52) enclose the stator lug (20) to which the stator cutting plate (24) is assigned, and wherein the inside of the stator lug (20) is free of protrusions and indentations.

10. Stator ring according to claim 9, wherein the front guide bar (50) and the rear guide bar (52) are arranged in the region of two longitudinal edges of the stator cutting plate, which are spaced apart and arranged parallel to a cutting edge (32) of the stator cutting plate (24).