Bread slicer and pusher for bread slicer

Abstract

Bread slicer and pusher for a bread slicer with a set of blades (4) comprising oblong blades (5) arranged substantially parallel to each other. The invention is characterized in that the pusher (6) has at least two elongated pushing zones (9, 10) for pushing the bread (11, 12) during its cutting towards the set of blades (4), the longitudinal direction of the pushing zones (9, 10) being substantially parallel and these zones (9, 10) extending one above the other, while an upper pushing zone (10), located above a lower pushing zone (9), is projecting from this lower pushing zone (9).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a bread slicer with a loading compartment for receiving a loaf of bread to be sliced. The slicer comprises a blade assembly comprising oblong blades arranged substantially parallel to each other and capable of being driven in a reciprocating motion in their longitudinal direction. This blade assembly is intended to cut a loaf of bread into slices and cooperates with a pusher which makes it possible to push the bread in a direction of movement from the loading compartment through the blade assembly towards an output table. The blade assembly extends along a plane which is arranged between the loading compartment and the output table in order to cut the bread into slices.

[0002] Document EP 3632635 describes a slicer with a blade assembly and a pusher for pushing a loaf to be cut from a loading compartment through the blade assembly to an outfeed table.

[0003] Slicers according to the prior art normally comprise a bread press which makes it possible to exert a pushing force on the upper side of the bread to be cut as it passes through the blade assembly. As a result of the back and forth movement of the blades, the bread tends to follow this movement, which generates poor quality bread slices, which are, for example, jagged or torn, and / or unevenly cut bread slices. By the presence of the bread press, the bread is pressed against the bottom of the loading compartment as it passes through the blade assembly by the action of the pusher. Therefore, the bread press ensures that the bread moves only in said direction of movement.

[0004] Indeed, the cutting quality of a loaf depends on the ratio between the height of the loaf and the height of the pusher. When a rather small loaf is cut whose height is lower than the height of the pusher, the bread press rests on the pusher instead of pressing on the upper side of the loaf as the loaf passes through the blade assembly. Therefore, the cutting quality of this loaf is not good since the loaf is not held against the bottom of the loading compartment by the bread press.

[0005] The invention aims to overcome this drawback by providing a bread pusher and slicer that allow loaves of different sizes to be cut. Thus, the bread slicer allows large loaves and small loaves to be cut into slices with a good quality cut.

[0006] For this purpose, the pusher has at least two pushing zones for pushing the bread, when it is cut, towards the blade assembly. These pushing zones extend one above the other and opposite the blade assembly. The distance between the blade assembly and a lower pushing zone is greater than the distance between this blade assembly and a pushing zone located above this lower pushing zone.

[0007] Advantageously, the aforementioned thrust zones extend substantially vertically.

[0008] According to an interesting embodiment of the slicer, according to the invention, the pusher thrust zones have successive slots extending substantially vertically to allow the blades to pass through these slots when the pusher is moved towards the output table and to allow the pusher thrust zones to be moved through the blade assembly.

[0009] According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the pusher comprises a clamping surface which extends between said pushing zones and which makes it possible to clamp a loaf to be cut, the height of which is less than the height of the pusher, against the bottom of the loading compartment when this loaf passes through the set of blades by the action of the pusher.

[0010] The invention also relates to a pusher for a bread slicer with a loading compartment for receiving a loaf of bread to be cut and with a blade assembly comprising elongated blades arranged substantially parallel to each other and capable of being driven in a reciprocating motion in their longitudinal direction. This pusher is characterized in that it has at least two elongated pushing zones for pushing the bread during its cutting towards the blade assembly. The longitudinal directions of the pushing zones are substantially parallel to each other and these zones extend one above the other. An upper pushing zone, which is located above a lower pushing zone, projects beyond this lower pushing zone.

[0011] Other details and particularities of the invention will emerge from the description given below, by way of non-limiting example, of some particular embodiments of the slicer and the pusher, according to the invention, with reference to the appended drawings. There figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a bread slicer according to an interesting embodiment of the invention. figure 2 is a schematic view of a pusher according to a particular embodiment of the invention. The figure 3 is a schematic view of a cross-section of the pusher of the figure 2 . There figure 4 is a very schematic side view of a loading compartment, a blade assembly and an output table of a slicer, according to one embodiment of the invention, after a large loaf to be cut has been introduced into the loading compartment. Figure 5 is a view analogous to that of the figure 4, when the bread is advanced towards the blade assembly by the action of the pusher. The figure 6 is a view analogous to that of the Figures 4 and 5 , when the bread passes through the blade assembly. The figure 7 is a very schematic side view of a loading compartment, a blade assembly and an output table of a slicer, according to one embodiment of the invention, after a roll to be cut has been introduced into the loading compartment. figure 8 is a view analogous to that of the figure 7 , when the bread is advanced towards the blade assembly by the action of the pusher. The figure 9 is a view analogous to that of the figures 7 and 8 , when the bread passes through the blade assembly. The figure 10is a very schematic side view of a loading compartment, a blade assembly and an output table of a slicer, according to yet another embodiment of the invention, when a roll is pushed towards the blade assembly by a pusher comprising three pushing zones. The figure 11 is a view analogous to that of the figure 10 , after the thrust zones and bread have passed through the blade assembly. The figure 12 is a very schematic side view of a loading compartment, a blade assembly and an output table of a slicer, according to yet another embodiment of the invention, when a large loaf is pushed towards the blade assembly by a pusher comprising three pushing zones. The figure 13 is a view analogous to that of the figure 12 , after the thrust zones and bread have passed through the blade assembly. The figure 14is a very schematic side view of a loading compartment, a blade assembly and an output table of a slicer, according to yet another embodiment of the invention, when another roll is pushed towards the blade assembly by a pusher comprising three pushing zones. The figure 15 is a view analogous to that of the figure 14 , after the thrust zones and bread have passed through the blade assembly.

[0012] In the various figures, the same reference numbers relate to similar or identical elements.

[0013] The invention generally relates to a bread slicer and a pusher for such a slicer. To cut a loaf into slices, the loaf is placed on the bottom of a loading compartment of the slicer. Then, the loaf is pushed by the pusher through a set of blades to an output table from which the cut loaf is collected by the consumer.

[0014] A first embodiment of the slicer and the pusher, according to the invention, is shown schematically in the figures 1 to 3 The slicer comprises a frame 1 having a loading compartment 2 for receiving a loaf of bread to be sliced. To cut a loaf into slices, the loaf is placed on the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2 of the slicer. A set of blades 4 extends directly next to this compartment 2 and allows the bread to be cut into slices.

[0015] The blade assembly 4 comprises a succession of oblong blades 5 arranged substantially parallel to one another and capable of being driven in a reciprocating motion in their longitudinal direction. Preferably, the blades 5 of the blade assembly 4 each extend in a vertical plane. The blade assembly 4 defines a plane which extends perpendicular to the blades 5 and parallel to the longitudinal direction of these blades 5.

[0016] In the loading compartment 2 a pusher 6 is arranged which is driven to enable the bread to be cut to be pushed from the loading compartment 2 through the blade assembly 4 to an output table 7. The blade assembly 4 is therefore arranged between the loading compartment 2 and the output table 7. A loaf of bread to be sliced ​​is placed on the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2 between the pusher 6 and the blade assembly 4.

[0017] The pusher 6 preferably extends across the entire width of the loading compartment 2 and parallel to the plane defined by the blade assembly 4. The pusher 6 can be driven in the direction of movement of the bread in order to push the bread through the blade assembly 4. Preferably, the front side of the pusher 6 directed towards the blade assembly 4 has elongated and parallel recesses or slots 8 in which the blades 5 of the blade assembly 4 can be accommodated. Thus, the front side of the pusher 6 can pass beyond the blade assembly 4, as illustrated, for example, in figures 6 and 9 , to push the cut bread through the blade assembly 4.

[0018] The direction of movement of the bread is generally parallel to the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2 and / or parallel to the side faces of the blades 5 which are part of the blade assembly 4.

[0019] According to the invention, the pusher has at least two pushing zones 9 and 10 for pushing the bread during its cutting towards the set of blades 4, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 . Each pushing zone 9 and 10 defines, for example, a surface of the pusher by which the pusher can push against a loaf in order to make it pass through the blade assembly 4. This surface can be substantially flat, but can also be curved in order to, for example, be adapted to the curvature of the loaf.

[0020] The thrust zones 9 and 10 extend one above the other and opposite the blade assembly 4. The distance between the blade assembly 4 and a lower thrust zone 9 is greater than the distance between this blade assembly 4 and the thrust zone 10 located above this lower thrust zone 9. Therefore, the upper thrust zone 10 projects relative to the lower thrust zone 9. The thrust zones 9 and 10 are elongated and the longitudinal directions of these thrust zones 9 and 10 are substantially parallel to each other.

[0021] In the bread slicer shown in the figure 1, the thrust zones 9 and 10 extend substantially parallel to the plane defined by the blade assembly 4. It is clear to those skilled in the art that it is also possible for the thrust zones 9 and 10 to be inclined relative to the plane of the blade assembly. Thus, the thrust zones 9 and 10 may, in general, be inclined relative to the vertical and / or relative to the horizontal.

[0022] According to a simple embodiment of the invention, as shown in the Figures 2 and 3 , thrust zones 9 and 10 extend substantially vertically.

[0023] As already indicated above, the thrust zones 9 and 10 of the pusher 6 have successive slots 8 extending substantially vertically to allow the blades 5 to pass through these slots 8 when the pusher 6 is moved towards the output table 7. Thus, it is possible to move the thrust zones 9 and 10 of the pusher 6 through the set of blades 4.

[0024] The presence of several pushing zones 9 and 10 on a single pusher 6 makes it possible to cut loaves of different sizes with this same pusher 6 in the same slicer. figure 3 schematically shows, in broken lines, a large loaf 11 and a small loaf 12. The large loaf 11 has a height which is greater than or equal to the height of the pusher 6, in particular greater than at the level of the upper pushing zone 10. The height of the small loaf 12 is less than the height of the pusher 6.

[0025] As illustrated by the figure 3, when a large loaf 11 is placed on the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2, this loaf 11 is pushed by the upper pushing zone 10 of the pusher 6 towards the blade assembly 4 in order to cut this loaf 11 into slices. When a small loaf 12 is placed in the loading compartment 2 to be cut into slices, when the pusher 6 moves, this loaf 12 is driven by the lower pushing zone 9 of the pusher 6.

[0026] A clamping surface 13 extends between the two successive thrust zones 9 and 10 of the pusher 6. This clamping surface 13 makes it possible to clamp the roll 12 against the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2 when this roll 12 is moved by the advancement of the pusher 6. The clamping surface 13 comes into contact with the upper side of the roll 12. Thus, the roll 12 is held between this surface 13 and the bottom 3 when it passes through the set of blades 4. This prevents the roll 12 from undergoing repetitive vertical displacement following the back-and-forth movement of the blades 5 when the roll 12 passes through the set of blades 4. Thus, it is ensured that slices are obtained with a cutting surface of good quality.

[0027] THE figures 4 to 6 schematically show successive steps during the cutting of a small loaf 12 into slices by the slicer.

[0028] There figure 4shows that a loaf 12 to be cut has been placed on the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2 between the blade assembly 4 and the pusher 6. This pusher 6 comprises two pushing zones 9 and 10 which are arranged one above the other. The distance between the blade assembly 4 and the upper pushing zone 10 is less than the distance between this blade assembly 4 and the lower pushing zone 9. The pushing zones 9 and 10 are connected to each other via a clamping surface 13. This clamping surface 13 is provided for clamping the loaf 12 to be cut against the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2.

[0029] After inserting the loaf 12 into the loading compartment 2, the pusher 6 is driven and moved towards the blade assembly as indicated by the arrow 14.

[0030] The slicer shown in the figures 4 to 6comprises a bread press 15 which is arranged to exert a vertical pushing force on the upper side of the bread when the latter is pushed through the blade assembly 4 by the pusher 6. Such a bread press 15 is known to those skilled in the art and comprises, for example, a metal plate which extends through the blade assembly above the bread to be cut 12. This plate has slots through which the blades 5 extend.

[0031] There Figure 5 shows that the presence of a bread press 15 is not useful when a bread roll 12 is to be cut whose height is less than the height of the pusher 6. In such a case, the bread press 15 comes into contact with the upper side of the pusher 6 and therefore cannot exert a vertical pushing force on the upper side of the bread roll 12.

[0032] In order to overcome this problem, which occurs when cutting a roll 12, the pusher 6, according to the invention, comprises said clamping surface 13. As illustrated by the Figure 5 , this clamping surface 13 makes it possible to exert a pushing force on the upper side of the bread roll 12 in order to clamp it against the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2. Therefore, when the pusher 6 pushes against the lateral side of the bread roll 12 by means of said lower pushing zone 9 in order to make the bread roll 12 pass through the blade assembly 4, the clamping surface 13 simultaneously exerts a pushing force on the upper side of the bread roll 12 to clamp it against the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2.

[0033] The pusher 6 is advanced until the bread 12 has completely passed through the blade assembly 4 and, thus, until the bread is cut into slices, as shown in the figure 6. For this purpose, the thrust zones 9 and 10 and the clamping surface 13 have successive slots 8 extending substantially vertically at positions corresponding to those of the blades 5 to allow the thrust zones 9 and 10 and the clamping surface 13 to pass through the set of blades 4.

[0034] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the clamping surface 13 extends substantially horizontally. It is clear that it is also possible for this clamping surface 13 to be inclined by a few degrees relative to the horizontal. This inclination may, for example, be between 0° and 35°.

[0035] THE figures 7 to 9 schematically show successive stages during the cutting into slices of a large loaf 11 by the slicer which is also shown in figures 4 to 6The height of the large loaf 11 is greater than the height of the pusher 6. Thus, the bread press exerts a pushing force on the upper side of the large loaf 11 and the loaf is therefore held against the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2 as it moves through the blade assembly 4, as shown in figure 8 The pusher 6, which is moved towards the blade assembly 4, pushes against the bread 11 by means of the upper pushing zone 10.

[0036] THE figures 10 to 15 show a bread slicer with a pusher 6 having three pushing zones 9, 10 and 16. Between the successive pushing zones, a clamping surface is provided. Thus, the pusher 6 of the figures 10 to 15 includes two clamping surfaces 13 and 17.

[0037] According to the invention, the distance between the upper thrust zone 16 of the pusher 6 and the blade assembly 4 is less than the distance between the blade assembly 4 and the two other thrust zones 9 and 10 which extend below the upper thrust zone 16. The intermediate thrust zone 10, which extends between the upper thrust zone 16 and the lower thrust zone 9, extends at a distance from the blade assembly 4 which is greater than that between the lower thrust zone 9 and the blade assembly 4.

[0038] Thus, the upper thrust zone 16 projects relative to the intermediate thrust zone 10, which itself projects relative to the lower thrust zone 9 which extends close to the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2.

[0039] The cutting of a small loaf 12 or 18, the height of which is less than the height of the pusher 6, is illustrated in the Figures 10 and 11 , respectively the figures 14 and 15. THE figures 12 and 13 show the cutting of the large loaf 11.

[0040] The embodiment of the slicer shown in the figures 10 to 15 , does not include a bread press, but it goes without saying that such a bread press can be provided.

[0041] Each thrust zone is elongated and has a longitudinal direction which extends, preferably, horizontally and, preferably, parallel to the plane defined by the set of blades 4.

[0042] It is understood that the invention is not limited to the different embodiments described above, but that other variants can still be envisaged without departing from the scope of the present invention, in particular with regard to, for example, the inclination of the clamping surfaces 13 or the thrust zones 9 and 10.

[0043] Thus, the clamping surface 13 can extend substantially horizontally, but it can also be inclined relative to the horizontal.

[0044] The longitudinal direction of the clamping surface 13 and the thrust zones 9 and 10 generally extends parallel to the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2.

[0045] The invention is characterized, in particular, by the presence of a pusher 6 which can exert a pushing force on a loaf to be cut in the direction of movement 14 and which can, in addition, exert a vertical pushing force on the upper side of rolls of a height lower than the height of the pusher.

[0046] In the figures, the bottom 3 of the loading compartment 2 and the output table 7 extend along a horizontal plane. It is also possible for the bottom 3 and the output table 7 to be inclined relative to the horizontal so that a loaf that is moved along said direction of movement 14 rises or falls. This direction of movement 14 extends parallel to the bottom 3 and is therefore also inclined relative to the horizontal. In such a case, the loaf is moved upwards or downwards when it is cut.

[0047] In general, the outfeed table can have any shape, for example, it can include an inclined or horizontally extending support surface. The outfeed table can also include a packaging system for automatically receiving and bagging the sliced ​​bread.

[0048] Furthermore, it is also possible that the bottom 3 and / or the output table 7 are inclined relative to a direction extending perpendicular to the direction of movement 14.

Claims

1. Bread slicer with a loading compartment (2) for receiving a loaf of bread (11,12) to be sliced and with a blade assembly (4) comprising oblong blades (5) arranged substantially parallel to each other and capable of being driven in a reciprocating motion along their longitudinal direction, said blade assembly (4) being designed to cut a loaf of bread (11,12) into slices and cooperating with a pusher (6) for pushing the loaf of bread (11,12) in a direction of movement (14) from the loading compartment (2) through the blade assembly (4) toward an output table (7), the blade assembly (4) defining a plane and being arranged between the loading compartment (2) and the output table (7) in order to cut the loaf of bread (11,12) into slices, characterized in that the pusher (6) has at least two pushing zones (9,10) for pushing the loaf of bread (11,12) during slicing towards the blade assembly (4), said pushing zones (9,10) extending one above the other and facing the blade assembly (4), the distance between the blade assembly (4) and a lower pushing zone (9) being greater than the distance between the blade assembly (4) and an upper pushing zone (10) located above said lower pushing zone (9).

2. Bread slicer according to claim 1, wherein the said pushing zones (9,10) extend substantially parallel to the plane defined by the blades (5) of the blade assembly (4).

3. Bread slicer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the said pushing zones (9,10) extend substantially vertically.

4. Bread slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the blades (5) of the blade assembly (4) each extend in a vertical plane.

5. Bread slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pushing zones (9,10) of the pusher (6) have successive slots (8) extending substantially vertically to allow the blades (5) to pass through these slots (8) when the pusher is moved towards the output table (7) and to allow the pushing zones (9,10) of the pusher (6) to move through the blade assembly (4).

6. Bread slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a bread press (15) for exerting a vertical pressing force on the upper side of the loaf of bread (11) when it is pushed through the blade assembly (4) by the pusher (6).

7. Bread slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pusher (6) comprises a clamping surface (13) extending between said pushing zones (9,10) for clamping a loaf of bread (12) to be sliced, whose height is less than the height of the pusher (6), against the bottom (3) of the loading compartment (2) when this loaf of bread (12) passes through the blade assembly (4) by the action of the pusher (6).

8. Bread slicer according to claim 7, wherein the clamping surface (13) of the pusher (6) has successive slots (8) extending substantially transversely with respect to the plane of the blade assembly (4) to allow the blades (5) to pass through these slots (8) when the pusher (6) is moved towards the output table (7) and to allow the pushing zones (9,10) of the pusher to move through the blade assembly (4).

9. Pusher for a bread slicer, this slicer having a loading compartment (2) for receiving a loaf of bread (11,12) to be sliced and a blade assembly (4) comprising oblong blades (5) arranged substantially parallel to each other and capable of being driven in a reciprocating motion along their longitudinal direction, this blade assembly (4) being designed to cut a loaf of bread (11,12) into slices and cooperating with the pusher (6) for pushing the loaf of bread (11,12) in a direction of movement (14) from the loading compartment (2) through the blade assembly (4) toward an output table (7), the blade assembly (4) being arranged between the loading compartment (2) and the output table (7) in order to cut the loaf of bread (11,12) into slices, characterized in that the pusher (6) has at least two elongated pushing zones (9,10) for pushing the loaf of bread (11,12) during slicing towards the blade assembly (4), the longitudinal direction of the pushing zones (9,10) being substantially parallel and said zones (9,10) extending one above the other, while an upper pushing zone (10), located above a lower pushing zone (9), projects relative to said lower pushing zone (9).

10. Pusher according to claim 9, wherein the pushing zones (9,10) have successive slots (8) extending substantially vertically to allow the blades (5) of the blade assembly (4) to pass through these slots (8) when the pusher (6) is moved towards the output table (7) from the loading compartment (2) and to allow the pushing zones (9,10) of the pusher (6) to move through the blade assembly (4).

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