Bread cutting machine with cutting process aid and preferential operating method

Abstract

The invention relates to a bread cutting machine (1) with a cutting blade (5), a feed shaft (6), a receiving shaft (7) which adjoins the feed shaft up to a blade gap (5'), and an advancing plate (12), having a gripper (13) provided with claws. The invention is characterized in that the connection axis (a) between the feed shaft and the receiving shaft is inclined relative to the vertical by at least 30°, and an electronic controller (14) allows the claws to extend and reach into an end-face fixing section of a bread loaf introduced into the feed shaft, said fixing section extending in the direction of the connection axis, and the still uncut bread loaf to be transported across the blade gap and into the receiving shaft. During the transport process, the controller automatically produces multiple movements of the cutting blade into the blade gap in order to cut a slice from the bread loaf each time, and the cutting blade is then completely moved out of the blade gap again in order to allow the cut slice to be further transported into the receiving shaft and the remaining bread loaf to be further transported across the blade gap. In this manner, a stable, time-saving cutting process is facilitated in a structurally simple and material-saving manner.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a bread slicing machine for slicing a loaf of bread, comprising a machine housing which houses a drive motor and a cutting blade which is driven by the motor and held on a blade arm and which can rotate and / or revolve in a cutting plane, with a feed chute for introducing the loaf of bread to be sliced ​​into the bread slicing machine, with a receiving chute which is adjacent to the feed chute except for a blade gap and which is for receiving all the slices of the sliced ​​loaf of bread, and with a feed plate on which the loaf of bread introduced into the feed chute rests on its front side and which has a gripper provided with claws for holding the loaf of bread, wherein the connecting axis of the feed chute to the receiving chute is arranged inclined by at least 30° to the vertical.

[0002] Such a bread slicer is described in DE 20 2008 003 603 U1 (= reference [0]). Background of the invention

[0003] Similar bread slicers are also known from the prior art, in particular from DE 44 31 808 C2 (= reference [1]).

[0004] In particular, bread slicers are known to have a gripper for moving the loaf of bread and a counter-holder located opposite the gripper on the loaf, which holds the sliced ​​bread slices in place. The counter-holder must be moved synchronously with the gripper. The gripper is usually located in a loading area where the user inserts the loaf of bread. Therefore, the gripper must always be removed from the loading area before the loaf is inserted, which is a time-consuming process.

[0005] DE 10 2010 036 721 B4 (= reference [2]) describes a bread slicer in which a loaf of bread is advanced by a feed device onto a cutting device of the bread slicer and sliced ​​into a stack of slices. The stack of slices is pushed from the cutting area through an opening in a wall of the machine housing of the bread slicer onto a holding device, usually automatically.

[0006] EP 3 102 376 B1 (= reference [3]) discloses a bread slicer whose shaft has two shaft sections separated by a slot. A circular blade moves through the slot and cuts a loaf at the level of the slot, forming slices of bread below the slot. An offset is formed between the shaft sections, which can be reduced by moving the shaft sections relative to each other.

[0007] EP 3 331 674 B1 (= reference [4]) describes a bread slicing machine with a first chamber for introducing a loaf of bread and a second chamber for receiving the bread, as well as a knife for slicing the bread between the chambers. The first chamber is arranged above the second chamber. A support surface supports the bread in the first chamber. A movable pusher in the first chamber conveys the bread towards the second chamber, wherein the displacement takes place essentially vertically. The pusher has hooking means for holding the bread against the effect of gravity. A detector detects the proximity of the bread to the pusher, at which point the hooking means can be extended. After slicing, the bread is conveyed back to the first chamber.

[0008] The disadvantage of this well-known bread slicer is that it requires a support to support the sliced ​​bread, making it comparatively complicated to construct. After the bread has been returned to the first chamber, the pusher is removed, which is a time-consuming process, to remove the bread from the first chamber.

[0009] EP 2 886 269 A1 (= reference [5]) discloses a food cutting machine comprising a cutting blade and a housing with an insertion area and a removal area for the food. A packaging device is provided in the removal area and / or the insertion area, onto which the food can be placed such that a packaging bag can be placed over the packaging device and the sliced ​​food. The packaging device is arranged within the housing.

[0010] EP 2 937 191 A1 (= reference [6]) describes a cutting machine for strand-shaped foodstuffs, in which a base element with an opening or with slots through which crumbs can fall is arranged above a first or second shaft area.

[0011] DE 10 2012 025385 A1 (= reference [7]) describes a device and a method for cutting bread in bread cutting machines with an automatic bread clamp, in which the bread cannot shift when clamped by a claw of the bread clamp.

[0012] DE 10 2014 110569 A1 (= reference [8]) shows a gripping device for gripping a strand-shaped food product for a cutting machine, which has two claw strips, one of which is movably mounted towards the other.

[0013] From US 2 242 935 A (= reference [9]) a slicing machine is known which comprises a chute for receiving cut slices from an infeed chute. A cutting blade is located between the chutes. An upright abutment is mounted on the cutting chute and supports cut slices of bread in a vertical position. A second abutment, fixedly mounted on the receiving chute, supports the last cut slice and moves the slices when manual movement means of the slicing machine are actuated to displace the receiving chute to remove the slices from the cutting chute.

[0014] DE 93 13 637 U1 (= reference

[10] ) discloses a cutting machine for slicing food. The food is conveyed in a slightly inclined chute from top to bottom, without being cut, past a cutting disc. The length of the food is determined. The food is then transported from bottom to top and cut into slices by the cutting disc. A holding plate, a support plate, and boundary walls secure the food in position.

[0015] The reference [1] cited at the beginning discloses a slicing machine in which a food loaf, usually a loaf of bread, is conveyed from top to bottom in a slightly inclined shaft in relation to the vertical, in an uncut state, past a cutting disc. The length of the food loaf is determined. The loaf is then conveyed from bottom to top in the shaft and cut into slices by the cutting disc. This design of a bread slicing machine is also structurally complex and comprises a closure plate and a holding plate, between which a loaf of bread to be sliced ​​is arranged.

[0016] Unfortunately, a holding plate is also required here to hold the loaf of bread—either fully or partially sliced—in its almost vertical position. The holding plate has to be time-consumingly moved back to its original position before removing a loaf from the slot and after inserting a new one to make room for the loaf.

[0017] Reference [0], also cited above, discloses a bread slicing machine with the features defined above, in which the receiving shaft is arranged vertically below the feed shaft. The end position of the transport slide is located in front of the slot into which the circular blade can be inserted, as seen in the conveying direction. The transport slide according to reference [0] is therefore not designed to be moved across the slot. Furthermore, reference [0] mentions claws on the transport slide that are intended to penetrate the end of the food strand sufficiently firmly, but does not provide any defined movement control for the same. Reference [0] also does not disclose a control that transports the unsliced ​​loaf of bread placed in the receiving shaft into the transport shaft. Object of the invention

[0018] In contrast, the present invention is based on the - in detail relatively demanding - task of designing a generic bread slicing machine with the features listed at the beginning in a structurally simple and material-saving manner in such a way that a stable slicing process can be carried out in a time-saving manner. Brief description of the invention

[0019] This object is achieved by the present invention in a surprisingly simple and effective manner in that the receiving shaft is arranged vertically above the feed shaft, that the feed plate can be moved from an end of the feed shaft facing away from the receiving shaft up to over the knife gap and back again, and that an electronic control device is provided which is designed to cause the claws of the gripper to extend and engage in a frontal fixing section of a loaf of bread introduced into the feed shaft, said fixing section being extended in the direction of the connecting axis, and subsequently to transport the still unsliced ​​loaf of bread over the knife gap into the receiving shaft,wherein the control device automatically causes the cutting knife to move into the knife gap several times during transport to cut off one slice at a time from the loaf of bread and then moves the cutting knife completely out of the knife gap again to enable further transport of the cut-off slice into the receiving shaft and of the remaining, still uncut, loaf of bread via the knife gap.

[0020] In particular, the electronic control device is specially designed to control the transport of the unsliced ​​loaf of bread from the receiving chute past the cutting blade, which is usually moved out of the knife gap, into the feed chute, and then the return transport of the loaf of bread to be sliced ​​from the feed chute to the receiving chute. During the return transport, the rotating cutting blade moves into and out of the knife gap in such a way that the loaf of bread is sliced ​​into parallel slices. The loaf of bread is first placed in the receiving chute, then transported into the feed chute, and finally transported back to the receiving chute, with the loaf being cut into slices during its return transport.

[0021] The receiving shaft is arranged vertically above the feed shaft. By inclining the connecting axis of the feed shaft to the receiving shaft by at least 30°, in particular by approximately 45°, but no more than 60° from the vertical, the loaf of bread is held in position during the slicing process from the receiving shaft into the feed shaft, preventing the sliced ​​loaf from falling over. Unlike previously, an additional counterholder is required, which is moved by the closure plate and the loaf of bread or is otherwise displaced synchronously parallel to the closure plate. This also eliminates the need for time-consuming movement of the counterholder after the slicing process.

[0022] Due to the inclination of the connecting axis of the feed chute with the receiving chute, the bread slicing machine according to the invention also has a comparatively small footprint compared to known arrangements.

[0023] The electronic control device can increase the stability of the cutting process, for example by setting and regulating a suitable transport speed of the loaf of bread during the cutting process. Preferred embodiments and developments of the invention

[0024] Preferably, the electronic control device is also configured to transport the unsliced ​​loaf of bread from the receiving chute to the feed chute past the extended cutting blade removed from the blade gap and then to return the loaf of bread to be sliced ​​from the feed chute to the receiving chute. During the return transport, the cutting blade is moved into and out of the blade gap in such a way that the loaf of bread is sliced ​​into parallel slices. In particular, the loaf of bread is placed in the receiving chute, conveyed into the feed chute, and then transported back to the receiving chute, with the loaf being cut during the return transport.

[0025] The bread slicing machine according to the invention is preferably designed such that the receiving chute, at its end facing the feed chute, is approximately the same width as the feed chute in this area, parallel to the cutting plane. This allows for better support of the loaf of bread during the transition from the feed chute to the receiving chute.

[0026] A further embodiment of the bread slicing machine according to the invention is characterized by a counter-holder that can be arranged on the loaf of bread opposite the feed plate. This counter-holder also prevents the already sliced ​​loaf from falling over.

[0027] The bread slicing machine is preferably designed such that a connecting axis of the feed chute to the receiving chute is inclined relative to the vertical, preferably by approximately 45°. This inclined orientation prevents the sliced ​​loaf of bread from tipping over. The bread slicing machine can be designed with a smaller footprint than with a horizontally oriented feed chute. Furthermore, with this type of loaf transport, no counterholder is required opposite the feed plate, which is intended to prevent the bread from tipping over and is moved by the feed plate and the bread or is otherwise displaced parallel to the feed plate. Such a counterholder would generally have to be removed first when inserting the bread.

[0028] Further advantages are provided by embodiments of the invention in which the knife arm is designed to move the cutting knife along a curve, preferably a circular curve. This allows the cutting knife to be periodically inserted into the loaf of bread, thereby reducing vibrations in the bread slicer.

[0029] Particularly preferred are embodiments of the bread slicer according to the invention which are characterized in that the receiving shaft is formed by two sheet metal sections that are adjacent at an angle and together have an L-shaped cross-section. The L-shape supports the loaf of bread on two sides. This ensures adequate support for transporting the loaf of bread with minimal material expenditure, while allowing for adequate control of the loaf.

[0030] One class of advantageous embodiments of the bread slicer according to the invention is characterized in that a cover of the machine housing can be moved in a rotary motion on a guide rail. This enables a space-saving, compact, and simple design of the opening mechanism for the bread slicer.

[0031] In further developments, these embodiments are preferably designed such that, in a non-activated state, the cutting blade is arranged in the bread slicer outside the blade gap, so that it cannot be touched from outside the cover of the machine housing. This provides the user with additional protection from the sharp cutting blade.

[0032] In particularly preferred embodiments, the receiving shaft is arranged such that an unsliced ​​loaf of bread can be placed by a user on a cantilevered portion of the receiving shaft designed as a bagging aid before the slicing process, and that the slices of the sliced ​​loaf of bread can be removed from the cantilevered portion by the user after the slicing process, preferably after slipping a bag-shaped packaging material over them. This enables a particularly space-saving design of the bread slicing machine.

[0033] Advantageously, the receiving shaft designed as a bagging aid with the cantilevered section is arranged within a cover of the machine housing, so that the bread slicing machine according to the invention can be made more compact and significantly less bulky in a structurally simple and material-saving manner. Furthermore, the sliced ​​loaf of bread does not have to be moved into the area of ​​the bagging aid after the slicing process by means of a sliding process. Furthermore, such a design offers increased protection for a user against accidental interference with the bread slicing machine. The bagging aid integrated into the machine housing does not protrude from the machine housing and thus, on the one hand, widens the space required by the machine, and on the other hand, there is no longer any risk of a person walking past the machine getting caught on it.With this design, the bagging aid is located within the machine housing, which ensures a space-saving design of the bread slicer. Access to the bagging aid from inside the bread slicer does not require separate protection, thus eliminating the need for additional components. Safety for the bread slicer user is significantly increased, as only one access point to the bread slicer needs to be secured. In particular, the bread slicer has only a single cover to close off the cutting area where the loaf of bread is sliced.

[0034] The outer dimensions of the feed chute in directions parallel to the cutting plane should be selected to be greater than or equal to the maximum outer dimensions of loaves of bread to be sliced ​​in these directions. Furthermore, the outer dimensions of the cantilever section in directions parallel to the cutting plane should be selected to be smaller than the outer dimensions of the feed chute in these directions, at least at one free end facing away from the feed chute.

[0035] In other words, a bread slicer according to the invention modified in this way, with the receiving shaft, has a section of the bread shaft into which a user of the bread slicer inserts the loaf of bread, wherein the bread shaft particularly comprises the receiving shaft and also the feed shaft. This section is also the section from which the user removes the sliced ​​loaf of bread. A support plate configured as part of the receiving shaft or as the entire receiving shaft thus simultaneously serves as a discharge plate from which the user can conveniently remove the sliced ​​loaf of bread.

[0036] In these embodiments of the invention, the area from which the user can remove the sliced ​​loaf of bread simultaneously serves as a bagging aid. A bagging aid can in particular be a holding plate for the loaf of bread, which generally does not extend far beyond the loaf of bread in width or is even less wide than the loaf of bread. This holding plate is open and accessible on one narrow side so that the user can put a packaging material, in particular a bag, over the loaf of bread as long as the loaf of bread is lying on the bagging aid. The user moves the bag lengthwise along the longitudinal axis of the loaf of bread. In the bread slicing machine according to the invention, the output plate in particular is designed as a bagging aid.

[0037] Other developments of the preferred class of embodiments described above are characterized in that the bread slicer has a shorter and a longer side, wherein an input device for the electronic control device and the cantilever section are accessible to a user from the shorter side of the bread slicer. This is particularly advantageous if the bread slicer is to be installed in a space-saving manner in the self-service area of ​​a supermarket. In particular, to save space, the bread slicer is aligned between shelves such that the shorter side of the bread slicer runs parallel to the direction along the shelves, while the longer side of the bread slicer is aligned in the direction of the depth of the shelves.To save space, the longer side of the bread slicer can be made shorter if the feed chute and receiving chute are aligned at an angle than with a bread slicer in which the feed chute and receiving chute are installed horizontally.

[0038] Particularly preferred embodiments of the invention include through-slots in the feed chute for breadcrumbs to fall through. This facilitates cleaning of the feed chute. In particular, the breadcrumbs fall out of the feed chute through the through-slots during the cutting process.

[0039] Further, particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in that a gap is formed between the feed plate, in its maximum retracted state from the receiving shaft, and the feed shaft. This serves to simplify cleaning of the feed shaft.

[0040] Particularly preferred are further developments of these embodiments in which a crumb box is arranged below the feed plate or the feed chute, which in particular has a deflector plate. The crumb box serves to collect the breadcrumbs generated during the cutting process. The deflector plate is oriented diagonally outwards, particularly starting from the edge of the crumb box, in order to catch as many falling breadcrumbs as possible and direct them into the crumb box. Due to the vibrations that always occur during the cutting process, the breadcrumbs fall primarily into the crumb box and do not remain in the feed chute or receiving chute. In this way, the feed chute and receiving chute are cleaned quasi-mechanically and automatically during the cutting process itself.

[0041] Also advantageous are embodiments of the bread slicing machine according to the invention in which the extendable claws of the gripper are geometrically designed in shape and extension such that the length of the front-end fixing section of the loaf of bread inserted into the feed chute and resting against the front side is at most twice the thickness of the slices to be cut later, preferably the same thickness as the slices. This ensures a uniform thickness of the fixing section and the slices for easy handling of the fixing section during use.

[0042] In alternative or supplementary embodiments of the bread slicer according to the invention, the engagement height of the gripper's claws, which corresponds to the length of the front-end fixing section in the direction of the connecting axis, is between 10 mm and 40 mm, preferably 20 mm to 30 mm. At this length, the fixing section can be easily handled during use.

[0043] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in that a detection device is provided which, in an operating state when the loaf of bread introduced into the feed chute is moved by means of the feed plate in the direction of the cutting knife retracted into the knife gap, can detect when the loaf of bread strikes the cutting knife, wherein the detection device comprises in particular a pressure sensor preferably attached to the feed plate or a light barrier or a device for measuring the current current through an electric drive unit moving the feed plate or a device for measuring the current electrical resistance between the feed plate and the cutting knife.

[0044] Detecting the loaf of bread at the cutting knife has the advantage that no empty cuts need to be made and the cutting process can begin much more quickly. In particular, an electrical connection is created between the feed plate and / or gripper and the cutting knife. The loaf of bread forms an electrical connection as soon as it touches the cutting knife. A current flow from the feed plate and / or gripper via the loaf of bread to the cutting knife can then be measured. Alternatively or additionally, the current of a motor that moves the gripper and / or the feed plate is measured. If the cutting knife creates mechanical resistance for the loaf of bread, this motor current increases. Alternatively or additionally, a transverse force triggered by the loaf of bread can be measured at the bearing of the knife arm using strain gauges or other sensors when the loaf of bread presses against the cutting knife.Alternatively or additionally, a transverse force caused by the loaf of bread can be measured on the gripper and / or the feed plate using strain gauges or other sensors when the bread presses against the knife.

[0045] A further preferred embodiment of the bread slicing machine according to the invention is characterized in that the electronic control device is designed to cause the claws of the gripper to extend from the feed plate and engage the claws in the securing section of the still unsliced ​​loaf of bread in the feed chute only when the detection device detects that the loaf of bread has struck the cutting blade. The loaf of bread is only secured when the slicing process begins. When the claws of the gripper move in, the cutting blade assumes the function of a holding plate, so that the loaf of bread is secured between the feed plate and the cutting blade as the claws move in.

[0046] A sensor can be provided on the bread slicer for emergency shutdown of the bread slicer, especially the cutting blade. This contributes to increased safety for the bread slicer's users. The sensor can be located, in particular, on the cover of the bread slicer. Alternatively or additionally, a locking device can also be provided that keeps the cover of the machine housing closed during slicing operation.

[0047] The bread slicer according to the invention is primarily designed for self-service operation by customers in a grocery or bakery store.

[0048] A bread slicing method for cutting slices from a loaf of bread using a bread slicing machine according to one of the embodiments described above is characterized by the following steps: a) Placing the loaf of bread into the receiving shaft; b) Moving the feed plate with the gripper claws retracted and the loaf of bread resting against the feed plate from a starting position in the receiving shaft to an intermediate position at the end of the feed shaft facing away from the receiving shaft; c) Moving the cutting knife into the knife gap; d) Moving the feed plate from the intermediate position to a stop position in which the loaf of bread touches the cutting knife; e) Extending the gripper claws and moving into the loaf of bread fixed in the stop position;f) Complete transport of the still unsliced ​​loaf of bread in several stages across the knife gap into the receiving shaft, whereby the electronic control device automatically causes the cutting knife to move into the knife gap several times during the step-by-step transport in order to cut off a slice from the loaf of bread at a time and then moves the cutting knife completely out of the knife gap again in order to enable further transport of the respective slice into the receiving shaft and of the remaining loaf of bread, which is still unsliced ​​at that time, across the knife gap; g) Moving the claws of the gripper out of the end piece of the otherwise sliced ​​loaf of bread.

[0049] In such a bread slicing process performed with a bread slicing machine according to the invention, the loaf of bread is held in position during the slicing process from the receiving chute into the feed chute, and the falling over of the sliced ​​loaf is prevented without the need for an additional holding plate. In step e), the cutting blade assumes the function of a holding plate as the claws of the gripper move in, so that the loaf of bread is fixed between the feed plate and the cutting blade as the claws move in. The electronic control device can increase the stability of the slicing process, for example, by setting a suitable transport speed for the loaf of bread during the slicing process.

[0050] A preferred embodiment of the method for operating a bread slicing machine is characterized in that the aforementioned step e) is only performed once the detection device has detected a loaf of bread striking the cutting blade during the execution of step d) and reported this to the electronic control device. This prevents empty cuts and allows the slicing process to begin much more quickly.

[0051] Another particularly preferred embodiment of the method for operating a bread slicer is characterized by the following steps: a. Inserting an unsliced ​​loaf of bread, preferably via the receiving chute, into the feed chute; b. Slicing the loaf of bread into slices; c. Transporting the slices to the cantilever section of the receiving chute; d. Placing a bag-shaped packaging material over the bagging aid of the cantilever section with the slices of the sliced ​​loaf of bread resting on it while the cover of the machine housing is open; e. Removing the bag-shaped packaging material with the slices of the cut loaf of bread contained therein from the cantilever section.

[0052] With such a bread slicing process, the removal of the sliced ​​loaf of bread can be carried out in a space-saving and particularly simple manner.

[0053] Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description and the drawings. Likewise, the above-mentioned and further-described features can be used individually or in combination in any desired manner. The embodiments shown and described are not intended to be exhaustive, but rather are exemplary in nature for describing the invention. Detailed description of the invention and drawing

[0054] The invention is illustrated in the drawing and is explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments.

[0055] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic vertical section through a bread slicer according to the invention with the cover open; Fig. 2 a section through the bread slicer according to Fig. 1 with a loaf of bread inserted and the cover closed; Fig. 3 a section through the bread slicer after Fig. 2, with the loaf of bread resting on the cutting blade; Fig. 4 a section through the bread slicer after Fig. 3 , with the loaf of bread resting against the feed plate; Fig. 5a a section through the bread slicer after Fig. 4 , whereby the loaf of bread is cut up to about half; Fig. 5b a section through the bread slicer after Fig. 5a, wherein the loaf of bread is cut up to a remaining portion; Fig. 6 a three-dimensional schematic view of a feed chute, a receiving chute, a cutting blade and a crumb box of the bread slicing machine according to the invention; Fig. 7 a schematic sectional view from above of an embodiment of the bread slicing machine according to the invention; Fig. 8 a possible movement path of the cutting blade; Fig. 9a a three-dimensional schematic view of the feed chute and the receiving chute as well as the feed plate with toothed gripper; and Fig. 9b a three-dimensional view of the feed chute and the receiving chute according to Fig. 9a with the cutting blade retracted into the blade gap; and Fig. 10 is a flow chart schematically illustrating the bread slicing method according to the invention.

[0056] The present invention relates to a bread slicing machine for slicing a loaf of bread with a space-saving integrated bagging aid.

[0057] The Figure 1 shows a section through a bread slicer according to the invention with the cover open. Figures 2 to 5b show the cutting process steps with the cover closed. Figure 6 shows a three-dimensional view of a feed chute, a receiving chute, a cutting blade and a crumb tray of the bread slicer. The Figure 7 shows a sectional view of the bread slicer from above (without cover). Figure 8 shows a possible path of movement of the cutting blade. Figures 9a and 9b show a three-dimensional view of the feed chute and the receiving chute without and with the cutting blade retracted. Figure 10shows a flow chart for the schematic representation of the bread slicing method according to the invention.

[0058] The Fig. 1 shown Bread slicer 1 has a Machine housing 2 This contains a Drive motor 3 to drive a Knife arm 4 (see Fig. 8 ) held in a Cutting plane E rotating Cutting blade 5 The knife arm 4 is driven by a Drive motor 3' for the knife arm 4. A 3" bearing block holds the knife arm 4.

[0059] The bread slicer 1 also has a Feed chute 6 for inserting a cut-open Loaf of bread B (see Fig. 2 ) by a Insertion area EB into the bread slicer 1. The feed chute 6 is bordered by a Knife gap 5' a Slot 7 to accommodate all Discs S (see Fig. 5b ) of the sliced ​​loaf of bread. The receiving slot 7 is equipped with a Cantilever section 8The receiving shaft 7 is still within a Cover 2' of the machine housing 2.

[0060] The receiving shaft 7 is formed by two angled adjacent Sheet metal sections 9', 9" which together are L-shaped in cross-section (cf. Figures 9a and 9b ). One Connecting axis a The feed chute 6 and the receiving chute 7 are arranged at an angle to the vertical, preferably by about 45°. In the feed chute 6, Passage slots 6' designed for breadcrumbs to fall through. Below the through slots 6' of the feed chute 6 is a Crumb Box 10 arranged, above which in particular one or more Deflector plates 11 As a rule, four such deflector plates 11 will protrude funnel-like from above into the crumb box.

[0061] One Feed plate 12 with Gripper 13For holding the loaf of bread B, it can be moved from an end of the feed chute 6 facing away from the receiving chute 7 to over the knife gap 5' and back again. The loaf of bread B introduced into the feed chute 6 can rest on its front side on the feed plate 12.

[0062] An electronic Control device 14 is designed to effect a transport of the unsliced ​​loaf of bread B from the receiving shaft 7 into the feed shaft 6 past the cutting blade 5 moved out of the blade gap 5' and then a return transport of the loaf of bread B to be sliced ​​from the feed shaft 6 into the receiving shaft 7, wherein during the return transport the cutting blade 5 is moved into and out of the blade gap 5' in such a way that the loaf of bread B is cut into parallel slices S (see Figures 5a , 5b ).

[0063] The cover 2' of the machine housing 2 is in a rotary movement on a Guide rail 15 movable to open and close the machine housing 2. A Sensor 16 serves for emergency shutdown of the bread slicer 1, in particular the cutting blade 5.

[0064] The -initially uncut- loaf of bread B is placed in the receiving slot 7, as in Fig. 2 can be seen.

[0065] Then the -still uncut- loaf of bread B slides against the cutting blade 5 in the blade gap 5', see Fig. 3 Alternatively, the cutting blade 5 can be moved out of the blade gap 5' and the feed plate 12 can be moved over the blade gap 5' into the receiving shaft 7, whereby the loaf of bread B slides against the feed plate 12. The feed plate 12 covers the blade gap 5' and protects a user of the bread slicer 1 from the cutting blade 5, especially when the cover 2' of the bread slicer is still open.

[0066] The feed plate 12 with the gripper 13 is moved in the direction of the cutting blade 5, in particular over the blade gap 5', with the claws of the gripper 13 retracted, whereby the cutting blade 5 is moved out of the blade gap 5'. The loaf of bread B slides against the gripper 13. The feed plate 12 is moved with the claws of the gripper 13 retracted, with the loaf of bread B resting on the front side of the feed plate 12, from a starting position in the receiving shaft 7 to an intermediate position at the end of the feed shaft 6 facing away from the receiving shaft 7, see Fig. 4 .

[0067] The cutting blade 5 is then moved into the blade gap 5'. The feed plate 12 with the adjacent loaf of bread B is moved towards the cutting blade 5 into a stop position until the loaf of bread B rests against the cutting blade 5. The feed plate 12 and the cutting blade 5 fix the loaf of bread B. Subsequently, the claws of the gripper 13 are moved into a position indicated by a dashed line. Fixing section A of the loaf of bread B for fixing during the slicing process. The claws of the gripper 13 can be made comparatively small, which allows the end piece of the sliced ​​bread to be kept particularly thin.

[0068] The still unsliced ​​loaf of bread B is conveyed in several stages via the knife gap 5' into the receiving shaft 7. During the step-by-step transport, the electronic control device 14 automatically causes the cutting blade 5 to move several times into the knife gap 5' to cut off a slice S from the loaf of bread B. Subsequently, the cutting blade 5 is moved completely out of the knife gap 5' to allow further transport of the respective slice S into the receiving shaft 7 as well as the remaining, still unsliced, loaf of bread B via the knife gap 5', see Fig. 5a .

[0069] Finally, the loaf of bread, which has been cut open except for one end piece, in particular the fixing section A, is again in the receiving shaft 7 designed as a bagging aid with a cantilever section 8 and can be removed from it comfortably and safely, see Fig. 5b. In particular, the cutting blade 5 is extended from the blade gap 5'. The feed plate 12 is moved over the blade gap 5' into the receiving shaft 7 and covers the blade gap 5'. This prevents a user of the bread slicing machine 1 from accidentally reaching into the blade gap 5' and injuring themselves on the sharp cutting blade 5. The claws of the gripper 13 are moved out of the loaf of bread B.

[0070] The deflector plate 11 is arranged at an angle to the horizontal on the crumb box 10 in order to direct crumbs into the crumb box 10, see Fig. 6 .

[0071] In Fig. 7 In particular, the drive motor 3 for the cutting blade 5, the drive motor 3' for the blade arm 4 and the bearing block 3", which holds the blade arm 4, are shown. The cutting blade 5 can be inserted into the blade gap 5' from the side.

[0072] The knife arm 4 is designed to support the cutting knife 5 on a Curve KU, preferably a circular curve.

[0073] The rotating cutting blade 5 is periodically moved into and out of the blade gap 5' to cut the slices S, in particular in a permanent circular movement caused by the drive motor 3' for the blade arm 4, see Fig. 8 .

[0074] The L-profile of the receiving shaft 7, which is formed by the two sheet metal sections 9', 9" which are adjacent to each other at an angle, is in the Figures 9a and 9b presented in detail. Fig. 9b the cutting blade 5 is retracted into the blade gap 5'. The feed plate 12 can be moved so far that a gap is formed between the feed plate 12 and the feed shaft 6. Distance d trained, see Fig. 9a .

[0075] Fig. 10 shows a flow chart for the schematic representation of the bread slicing method according to the invention 100: In a first step 101the loaf of bread B is placed in the receiving shaft 7. The loaf of bread B can slide down directly against the feed plate 12 in the feed shaft 6. Alternatively, the inserted loaf of bread B can also be initially caught in the receiving shaft 7 by the cutting blade 5 when the latter has moved into the blade gap 5' and only slide further into the feed shaft 6 after the cutting blade 5 has moved out of the blade gap 5'. This corresponds to the situation as it occurs between the Figures 3 and 4is not specifically shown in the drawing. Another possibility is that when the loaf of bread B is inserted, the cutting knife 5 is located outside the knife gap 5'. Instead of the cutting knife 5, the feed plate 12 is then raised to the knife gap 5' or beyond into the lower area of ​​the receiving shaft 7 and covers the knife gap 5' against unwanted access from the outside in order to avoid any risk of injury. In this position, the feed plate 12 gently catches the inserted loaf of bread B and then moves back with the loaf of bread B to its starting position at the bottom of the feed shaft 6.

[0076] In a second step 102 the feed plate 12 is moved, with the claws of the gripper 13 retracted, with the loaf of bread B resting against the front of the feed plate 12, from its starting position in the receiving shaft 7 into an intermediate position at the end of the feed shaft 6 facing away from the receiving shaft 7.

[0077] In a third step 103 the cutting knife 5 is moved into the knife gap 5'.

[0078] In a fourth step 104 the feed plate 12 is moved from the intermediate position into a stop position in which the loaf of bread B touches the cutting knife 5 and presses with its second end face facing away from the feed plate 12 against the cutting knife 5 moved into the knife gap 5'.

[0079] In a fifth step 105 the claws of the gripper 13 are extended and moved into the loaf of bread B fixed in the stop position.

[0080] In a sixth step 106the -still unsliced- loaf of bread B is transported in several stages completely over the knife gap 5' into the receiving shaft 7, wherein the electronic control device 14 during the step-by-step transport automatically causes a multiple movement of the cutting blade 5 into the knife gap 5' to cut off a slice S from the loaf of bread B and then moves the cutting blade 5 completely out of the knife gap 5' in order to enable further transport of the respective slice S into the receiving shaft 7 as well as the remaining loaf of bread B, which is still unsliced ​​at this time, over the knife gap 5'. This operating situation is described in the Figures 5a and 5b illustrated.

[0081] In a seventh step 107 Finally, the claws of the gripper 13 are moved out of the end piece of the otherwise sliced ​​loaf of bread.

[0082] The slices S can then be removed from the receiving slot 7 with the remaining uncut loaf of bread B. List of reference symbols:

[0083] 1 Bread slicer 2 Machine housing 2 Cover 3 Drive motor for the cutting blade 3 Drive motor for the blade arm 3 Bearing block for the blade motor 4 Blade arm 5 Cutting blade 5 Blade gap 6 Feed chute 6 Through slots 7 Receiving chute 8 Cantilever section 8 Free end of the cantilever section 8 End of the receiving chute facing the feed chute 9 Sheet sections 10 Crumb box 11 Deflector plates 12 Feed plate 13 Gripper 14 Electronic control device 15 Guide rail 16 Sensor 100 Bread slicing process 101 First step of the bread slicing process 102 Second step of the bread slicing process 103 Third step of the bread slicing process 104 Fourth step of the bread slicing process 105 Fifth step of the bread slicing process 106 Sixth step of the bread slicing process 107 Seventh step of the bread slicing process aConnecting axis of the feed chute and the receiving chute BBread loaf dDistance from gripper to feed chute ESlicing plane SSlices KUcurve Reference list

[0084] Publications considered for the assessment of patentability: [0] DE 20 2008 003 603 U1 [1] DE 44 31 808 C2 [2] DE 10 2010 036 721 B4 [3] EP 3 102 376 B1 [4] EP 3 331 674 B1 [5] EP 2 886 269 A1 [6] EP 2 937 191 A1 [7] DE 102012 025385 A1 [8] DE 10 2014 110569 A1 [9] US 2 242 935 A

[10] DE 93 13 637 U1

Claims

1. Bread cutting machine (1) for cutting a loaf of bread (B) into slices, comprising a machine housing (2) which accommodates a drive motor (3) and a cutting blade (5) which is driven by the drive motor, held on a blade arm (4), and is rotatable and / or circumferentially movable in a cutting plane (E), and comprising a feed shaft (6) for introducing the loaf of bread (B) to be cut into the bread cutting machine (1), a receiving shaft (7) which adjoins the feed shaft (6), except for a blade gap (5'), for receiving all slices (S) of the cut loaf of bread, and an advancement plate (12) on which the loaf of bread (B) introduced into the feed shaft (6) rests on the end face thereof, and which has a gripper (13) provided with claws for holding the loaf of bread (B), the connecting axis (a) of the feed shaft (6) to the receiving shaft (7) being tilted by at least 30° relative to the vertical, characterized in that the receiving shaft (7) is arranged in the vertical direction above the feed shaft (6), in that the advancement plate (12) can be moved from an end of the feed shaft (6) facing away from the receiving shaft (7) to above the blade gap (5') and back again, and in that an electronic control device (14) is provided, which is designed to cause the claws of the gripper (13) to extend and reach into an end-face fixing portion (A) of a loaf of bread (B) introduced into the feed shaft (6), which fixing portion extends in the direction of the connecting axis (a), and to subsequently transport the not-yet cut loaf of bread (B) across the blade gap (5') into the receiving shaft (7), the control device (14) automatically causing the cutting blade (5) to move into the blade gap (5') a plurality of times during the transportation, in order to cut off one slice (S) from the loaf of bread (B) each time, and subsequently moving the cutting blade (5) completely out of the blade gap (5') again in order to allow the relevant cut slice (S) to be transported further into the receiving shaft (7) and to allow the remaining, not-yet cut loaf of bread (B) to be transported across the blade gap (5').

2. Bread cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the receiving shaft (7) is formed by two sheet metal portions (9', 9") which adjoin one another at an angle and together have an L-shaped cross section.

3. Bread cutting machine according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cover (2') of the machine housing (2) is movable in a rotational movement on a guide rail (15).

4. Bread cutting machine according to claim 3, characterized in that, in a non-activated state, the cutting blade (5) is arranged in the bread cutting machine (1) outside the blade gap (5') and cannot be touched from outside the cover (2') of the machine housing (2).

5. Bread cutting machine according to either of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the receiving shaft (7) is arranged in such a way that, before the cutting process, an uncut loaf of bread (B) can be placed by a user on a cantilever portion (8) of the receiving shaft (7), which is designed as a bagging aid, and in that after the cutting process, the slices (S) of the cut loaf of bread can be removed by the user from the cantilever portion (8), preferably after putting a bag-shaped packaging material over them.

6. Bread cutting machine according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the bread cutting machine (1) has a shorter side and a longer side, an input device for the electronic control device (14) and the cantilever portion (8) being accessible to a user from the shorter side of the bread cutting machine (1).

7. Bread cutting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that through-slots (6') for bread crumbs to fall through are formed in the feed shaft (6).

8. Bread cutting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a distance (d) is formed between the advancement plate (12), in its state in which it is moved away from the receiving shaft (7) to the maximum extent, and the feed shaft (6).

9. Bread cutting machine according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterized in that a crumb box (10) is arranged below the advancement plate (12) or the feed shaft (6), which crumb box in particular has a deflector sheet (11).

10. Bread cutting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the extendable claws of the gripper (13) are geometrically designed in shape and extension in such a way that the length of the end-face fixing portion (A) of the loaf of bread (B) which has been introduced into the feed shaft (6) and rests on the end face thereof is at most double the thickness of the slices (S) to be cut later, and preferably is the same thickness as the slices (S).

11. Bread cutting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the engagement height of the claws of the gripper (13), which corresponds to the length of the end-face fixing portion (A) in the direction of the connecting axis (a), is between 10mm and 40mm, preferably 20mm to 30mm.

12. Bread cutting machine according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a detection apparatus is provided which, in an operating state, when the loaf of bread (B) introduced into the feed shaft (6) is moved by means of the advancement plate (12) in the direction of the cutting blade (5) retracted into the blade gap (5'), can detect when the loaf of bread (B) abuts the cutting blade (5), the detection apparatus in particular comprising a pressure sensor, which is preferably attached to the advancement plate (12), or a light barrier, or a device for measuring the current electrical current through an electrical drive unit moving the advancement plate (12), or a device for measuring the current electrical resistance between the advancement plate (12) and the cutting blade (5).

13. Bread cutting machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the electronic control device (14) is designed to cause the claws of the gripper (13) to extend from the advancement plate (12) and reach into the fixing portion (A) of the not-yet cut loaf of bread (B) in the feed shaft (6), only when the detection apparatus detects an abutment of the loaf of bread (B) against the cutting blade (5).

14. Bread slicing method for cutting slices (S) from a loaf of bread (B), using a bread cutting machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by the following steps: a) introducing the loaf of bread (B) into the receiving shaft (7); b) moving the advancement plate, (12) when the claws of the gripper (13) are retracted, with the loaf of bread (B) resting against the advancement plate (12) on the end face thereof, from a starting position in the receiving shaft (7) into an intermediate position at the end of the feed shaft (6), facing away from the receiving shaft (7); c) moving the cutting blade (5) into the blade gap (5'); d) moving the advancement plate (12) from the intermediate position into an abutment position in which the loaf of bread (B) touches the cutting blade (5); e) extending the claws of the gripper (13) and moving them into the loaf of bread (B) fixed in the abutment position; f) completely transporting the not-yet cut loaf of bread (B) across the blade gap (5') into the receiving shaft (7) in a plurality of stages, the electronic control device (14) automatically causing the cutting blade (5) to move into the blade gap (5') a plurality of times during the step-by-step transportation, in order to cut off one slice (S) from the loaf of bread (B) each time, and subsequently moving the cutting blade (5) completely out of the blade gap (5') again, in order to allow further transport of the relevant slice (S) into the receiving shaft (7) and of the remaining loaf of bread (B), which has not yet been cut at this point in time, across the blade gap (5'); g) moving the claws of the gripper (13) out of the end piece of the otherwise cut loaf of bread.

15. Method according to claim 14 for operating a bread cutting machine according to claim 13, characterized in that step e) is only carried out if the detection apparatus has detected an abutment of the loaf of bread (B) against the cutting blade (5) during the execution of step d) and has reported this to the electronic control device (14).

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