Food slicer

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive unit (1) for a product hold-down element (51) of a food cutting machine (73) for driving a transport means (55) of a product hold-down element (51). The drive unit (1) comprises a driveshaft (3), a gearbox (5) having a gear housing (7) with a first and a second side (13, 15), a motor (9), and a torque support (11). The drive shaft (3) is connected to the gearbox (5) and is designed to drive a transport means (55). The motor (9) is connected to the gearbox (5) so that a rotation of the motor (9) is transmitted to the drive shaft (3) by means of the gearbox (5). The drive shaft (3) and the motor (9) are connected to the gearbox (5) on the first side (13) of the gearbox housing (7). The gearbox housing (7) is mounted on the torque support (11) on the second side (15).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive unit for a product hold-down device, a product hold-down device comprising the drive unit, a food slicing machine comprising the product hold-down device, a food processing line and a method for manufacturing a drive unit.

[0002] Food slicing machines typically have a product feeder that feeds a food product, such as an oblong cheese wheel or a sausage, to a cutting blade. The food product is usually guided on a product platform in the form of a conveyor belt, with a product hold-down device pressing down on the product from above to ensure precise feeding. The product hold-down device also conveniently includes a driven conveyor belt that is in contact with the food product.

[0003] Product hold-down devices are known from US 9,950,869 B1 and WO 2010 / 011237 A1, which have driven conveyor belts. An electric motor is used for this purpose, and its rotation is transmitted to a drive shaft of the respective conveyor belt by means of a toothed belt. For this purpose, the electric motor is arranged laterally outside the extent of the drive shaft.

[0004] From US patent 2013 / 0008133 A1, a packaging machine with conveyor belts for a product display is known, in which the power transmission from the electric motor to the drive shaft is carried out by means of a gearbox, wherein the electric motor and the drive shaft are located on the same side of the gearbox.

[0005] Another example of a food cutting machine is included in US 2008 / 016999 A1.

[0006] The known variants for driving a conveyor belt, especially a product hold-down device, are technically complex, take up a relatively large amount of space, or have disadvantages with regard to mechanical bearing and force transmission.

[0007] The object of the invention is to provide a drive unit for a product hold-down device that has been improved in terms of dimensions and operating characteristics, as well as a method for manufacturing such a device.

[0008] This problem is solved by a food cutting machine with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0009] The transport means is, in particular, a circulating transport device, for example, a conveyor belt or chain, or a conveyor roller. Arranging the motor and drive shaft on the same side of the gearbox housing is particularly space-saving. This arrangement makes it possible to redirect the rotation of the drive, i.e., the motor, in particular by between 150° and 210°, advantageously by essentially 180°. Advantageously, all components of the drive train, i.e., in particular the motor, gearbox, and drive shaft, are mounted together on the torque arm via the outer, opposite side of the gearbox housing. Consequently, the desired strength, especially torsional strength, can be achieved.Advantageously, this allows for greater elasticity with respect to tilting of the gearbox housing relative to the normal direction of extension of the drive shaft than with respect to rotation of the gearbox housing around the drive shaft, in order to avoid stressing the gearbox. The second side of the gearbox housing can be opposite the first side of the gearbox housing.

[0010] The gearbox can have a gear ratio of i=1 to i=16, particularly i=8, whereby the input speed is reduced to a slower speed on the output side. The gearbox can be two-stage or multi-stage. An odd number of stages is particularly common. This allows the input and output torques to be compensated, thus minimizing the bearing torques at the torque arm. However, an even number of stages is also possible. In this case, the torque arm can be advantageously used to transmit higher bearing torques.

[0011] The gearbox can have a moment of inertia relative to the gearbox drive of Jges ranging from 0.05 kgcm2 to 0.5 kgcm2, and in particular from 0.113 kgcm2. The gearbox exhibits backlash, i.e., reversal play, which is smaller than the play between the drive shaft and the conveying element, and can thus make a significant contribution to improved cutting quality through more precise product feeding. Rapid reversals of the conveying direction and changes in speed during the feed and / or retraction of products in the infeed area of ​​a food slicer can therefore be accomplished more precisely. To protect against water ingress, the gearbox housing can be made watertight. The gearbox can be lubricated with a food-grade lubricant, in particular silicone oil, polyalphaolefin (PAO), or white oil.The gearbox shafts can be supported by ball bearings, particularly deep groove ball bearings. The gearbox housing can be made of aluminum. The gearbox housing can have a length of 100 mm to 250 mm, particularly approximately 166 mm, a width of 50 mm to 100 mm, particularly approximately 70 mm, and a height of 50 mm to 100 mm, particularly approximately 87 mm. The gearbox housing can have chamfered corners, thus providing more installation clearance. The motor can be a servo motor.

[0012] Preferably, the torque support is more elastic in the axial direction of the drive shaft than in the radial direction. This ensures, on the one hand, sufficiently stable positioning of the gearbox with torsional rigidity. On the other hand, it also ensures a certain degree of elasticity in the axial direction of the drive shaft to prevent stress on the gearbox. The elasticity of the torque support in the axial direction of the drive shaft is, in particular, at least twice as high, and advantageously at least four times as high, as in the radial direction of the drive shaft.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment, the torque support is planar, in particular essentially X-shaped, Y-shaped, or T-shaped. The main area of ​​the torque support can extend perpendicular to the axial direction of the drive shaft and parallel to the other side of the transmission. The stiffness of the torque support can be adjusted by its thickness or its shape. The length and width of the torque support's surface can also be determined by the position of the drive unit. As described in more detail below with reference to the figures, the torque support can be axially symmetrical.The torque arm can also be asymmetrical, in particular extending to different lengths in different directions, in order to achieve a desired arrangement of the drive unit, especially a particularly space-saving arrangement, an arrangement along a circular arc, or according to predetermined housing dimensions. For example, the individual legs of an X-shaped, Y-shaped, or T-shaped torque arm can be of different lengths.

[0014] Preferably, the torque support is made of metal, in particular metal with a thickness in the range of 0.8 to 2.0 mm. The torque support can be a metal sheet, meaning that, compared to its thickness, it can have a significantly greater width and length, for example, on the order of several centimeters. In particular, the metal sheet can have a thickness of 1.5 mm. Such dimensions and materials result in advantageous mechanical properties, especially higher elasticity in the axial direction of the drive shaft than in its radial direction.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the gearbox housing has two or more spaced-apart fastening means for connecting to the torque arm, such that the gearbox housing can be positioned in at least two different relative positions to the torque arm. The fastening means can, for example, be a screw receptacle or a group of screw receptacles with internal threads for attaching the torque arm to the gearbox housing by means of a screw connection. Different positions of the gearbox housing relative to the torque arm, and thus also of the drive shaft and the motor relative to the torque arm, can be achieved by connecting a torque arm of a specific shape to one of the two or more fastening means.Furthermore, different types of torque arms can be used to achieve different positioning of the gearbox housing relative to the torque arm using one or more fasteners. Similarly, an asymmetrical torque arm can be reversed or rotated to provide another positioning option for the gearbox housing. The fasteners are typically located on the second side of the gearbox housing, but they can also be positioned elsewhere on the gearbox housing.

[0016] The gearbox housing can be positioned according to spatial constraints, such as those imposed by an enclosure. In particular, a standardized drive unit can be designed for use in different machine types, with varying spatial requirements due to the machine types being taken into account in the shape and arrangement of the torque arms. This enables simple, standardized production of drive units, requiring only different torque arm shapes to be manufactured to accommodate different machine types. The torque arms themselves can be easily and cost-effectively produced from sheet metal, for example, by punching or laser cutting.

[0017] In another advantageous variant, the drive shaft can be connected to the gearbox via a plug-in connection. This allows for particularly easy assembly. Furthermore, pre-assembled units consisting of a motor and gearbox, so-called motor-gearbox units, can be connected to the drive shaft very easily.

[0018] Preferably, a toothed sleeve is arranged on the drive shaft, which is slidable and can be clamped to the drive shaft by means of a ring clamping element. The sleeve rotates with the rotation of the drive shaft and is designed to engage with a circulating transport element, which can be a toothed belt in particular, to drive it. The sleeve can thus be freely positioned on the drive shaft, and the drive unit can be adapted to the requirements of different machine types. In particular, multi-track product hold-down devices with correspondingly multiple drive units can be manufactured, whereby the sleeve only needs to be moved to the respective track position to drive the corresponding transport element. Instead of toothed belts, other transport belts, such as flat belts or V-belts, can also be used, and the sleeve can have a suitable surface structure.

[0019] In another variant, the torque support is attached to a frame element. This frame element can be part of the drive unit and, for example, serve as a support for installing the drive unit in the product clamp. Alternatively, the frame element can be part of a product clamp or the frame of a food slicer. The frame element dissipates the forces acting on the torque support, particularly the torque or weight of the gearbox, motor, and drive shaft. The torque support and frame element can be connected by a bolted joint.

[0020] In a practical design, the motor, gearbox, and torque arm are enclosed within a housing. This protects the components from contamination and splashes of water during cleaning of the food slicer. The housing can have an opening, providing access to the interior for maintenance or replacement of the components. Thanks to the opening and the compact design of the components, the electrical motor connectors, in particular, are easily accessible. A seal is advantageously provided at the contact point between the cover and the rest of the housing.

[0021] Preferably, the housing has a sealed through-opening through which the drive shaft passes. This allows the drive shaft to drive a transport mechanism of the product hold-down device outside the housing, while protecting the components inside the housing, i.e., the gearbox and motor, from dirt and splashing water.

[0022] Preferably, the drive unit has two or more drive shafts, each of which is connected to a gearbox, and each gearbox being connected to a motor, so that rotation of the motor is transmitted to the respective gearbox and the respective drive shaft, the drive shafts being arranged essentially along a circular arc. The product hold-down can thus be multi-track, and due to this arrangement, the drive units and the other components of the product hold-down can be identical in construction. In particular, all circulating transport elements can be of the same length. For this purpose, a deflection roller of a support frame, which can be provided for each track in a product hold-down and serves to guide the circulating transport element, can be aligned with those of the other support frames along an axis.This allows several food products to be conveyed side by side, or allows for multiple carrier racks and thus transport means to be provided for one food product.

[0023] The torque mounts on which the respective gearbox housings are supported can expediently have a different shape than the other torque mounts. This allows for the individual positioning of the gearbox, for example along a circular arc. Additionally or alternatively, the torque mounts can each be connected to differently positioned fasteners on the gearbox housing.

[0024] In one embodiment, the drive unit has a second frame element to which the drive shaft is mounted. The drive shaft can be connected to the second frame element at its end axially opposite the gearbox. This ensures stable mounting of the drive shaft at both ends. The drive unit can also have a crossmember that connects the first frame element, to which the torque arm is attached, and the second frame element. This provides additional mechanical stabilization to the drive unit. The crossmember can be in the form of a round tube, a square tube, a square profile, a flat brace, or the like. The crossmember can be designed to anchor a support frame for the product hold-down device. The crossmember can have a scale that serves as a positioning aid for the support frames and the drive shaft sleeves.In addition, a strut may be provided which is connected to the first and second frame elements and serves as further support for the support frames.

[0025] A product hold-down device according to the invention comprises a drive unit according to one of the embodiments described above, a support frame, and a transport means, wherein the transport means is mounted in the support frame, and wherein the support frame is mounted to the drive unit by means of a strut. During operation, the product hold-down device is lowered to such an extent that the transport means presses down on the food product with a desired force. The transport means is, in particular, a circulating transport means, for example, a conveyor belt or a conveyor chain, or a conveyor roller. The driven transport means assists in conveying the food product towards the cutting blade. The circulating transport means can be guided over deflection rollers of the support frame and over the sleeve of the drive shaft of the drive unit in order to be driven by the drive shaft.

[0026] A food slicing machine according to the invention comprises a product hold-down and a cutting blade for slicing a food product.

[0027] A food processing line according to the invention comprises a food slicing machine and at least one upstream food product conveying device and / or at least one downstream food portioning device.

[0028] A method according to the invention for manufacturing a drive unit comprises the method steps disclosed in claim 13.

[0029] This allows pre-assembled motor-gearbox units to be kept on hand and installed particularly easily on site. The motor-gearbox units are standardized and usable for different machine types. The specific geometry of the machine types can then be taken into account, for example, by selecting appropriately shaped torque arms.

[0030] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more detail with reference to the figures. These figures show Figure 1 : a perspective view of a first embodiment of a drive unit, Figure 2 : a schematic view of torque supports in different shapes, Figure 3 : a perspective view of a second embodiment of a drive unit with housing, Figure 4 : another perspective view of the second embodiment of the drive unit, Figure 5 : a side view of the second embodiment of the drive unit, Figure 6 : another side view of the second embodiment of the drive unit, Figure 7 : a perspective view of a product clamp, Figure 8 : a schematic view of a food processing line comprising a food slicing machine with product clamp.

[0031] Corresponding components are each provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

[0032] Figure 1Figure 1 shows a drive unit 1 with a drive shaft 3, a gearbox 5 encapsulated in a gearbox housing 7, a motor 9, and a torque arm 11. The drive shaft 3 and the motor 9 are connected to the gearbox 5 at a first side 13 of the gearbox housing 7. The torque arm 11 is connected to a second side 15 of the gearbox housing 7. In this view, the second side 15 of the gearbox housing faces away from the viewer, so the torque arm 11 is hidden by the gearbox housing 7 and is shown here with a dashed line. The torque arm 11 is X-shaped and connected at its lower end to a first frame element 17. On the side of the drive shaft 3 opposite the gearbox housing 7, it is rotatably mounted on a second frame element 19 in this illustration.A sleeve 21, which can be, for example, a toothed sleeve 21, is arranged on the drive shaft 3 and is designed to drive a transport element in the form of a conveyor belt of a product hold-down device due to the rotation of the drive shaft 3. The first frame element 17 can be part of the drive unit, a product hold-down device, or another frame component of a food slicing machine. The drive shaft 3 is connected to the gearbox 5 by means of a plug connection 23. The drive shaft 3 defines its axial direction A along its longest extent. Its radial direction R is defined perpendicular to the axial direction A.

[0033] Figure 2Figure 1 shows a schematic view of torque supports 11 in different shapes. The torque supports 11 are essentially all planar, meaning their length and width, which lie in the plane of the drawing, are significantly greater than their thickness, which is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing. Variants a), b), and c) are essentially X-shaped, with different areas of material removed. Variant d) is Y-shaped, and variant e) is T-shaped, with the upper beam angled. The torque supports 11 may have holes 25 for connection to fasteners of the gearbox housing 7 via a screw connection.

[0034] Figure 3Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of a drive unit 1, which comprises four drive shafts 3. Each drive shaft is powered by its own motor 9 via a separate gearbox 5, in turn driving a conveyor belt. The sleeves 21 are all initially positioned to the right but can be moved to drive the conveyor belt of the corresponding track. Ring clamping elements 27 are used to fix the sleeves 21 in their respective positions on the drive shaft 3. The motors 9, gearbox 5 or gearbox housing 7, and a section of the drive shafts 3 are enclosed by a housing 29. The housing 29 has through-openings 31 through which the drive shafts 3 pass. The through-openings 31 are watertight. A cross member 33 connects the first frame element 17 and the second frame element 19, thus providing the drive unit 1 with additional stability.It serves for the further assembly of support frames and for mounting the drive unit 1 in a product hold-down device. The beam 33, in the form of a tubular support, has a scale 35 to facilitate the positioning of support frames or sleeves 21. A strut 37 serves for the further support of support frames.

[0035] Figure 4Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the second embodiment of the drive unit 1 with four drive shafts 3, looking at the second sides 15 of the gearbox housings 7, i.e., from the right side. To make the arrangement, and in particular the housing 29, as space-saving as possible, the gearbox housings 7 are arranged in partially different orientations. This allows for a particularly advantageous use of the smallest possible housing 29. The torque supports 11 are designed in different sizes and shapes and are partially connected to the gearbox housings 7 via different fastening means 39. The torque supports 11 are attached to the first frame element 17. In this example, the housing 29 has an access opening 41 to allow access to the components located within the housing 29. A cover 43, shown here with dashed lines, seals the access opening 41 in a watertight and reversible manner.It can be designed in the form of a door, flap, or a completely removable cover with appropriate connecting or retaining elements. A motor 9 and a gearbox 5 each form a motor-gearbox unit 45.

[0036] Figure 5 shows a side view of the second embodiment according to Figure 3 View from the left of the second frame element 19. In this perspective it is particularly easy to see how the drive shafts 3 are arranged around the axis of the strut 37, how the housing 29 essentially follows this arrangement with its shape, and how the motors 9 and gearbox housing 7 are arranged in the housing 29 in a space-saving manner.

[0037] Figure 6 shows a side view of the second embodiment according to Figure 3View from the right, looking at the housing 29, the torque supports 11, and the gearbox housing 7. It can be seen that each torque support 11 has a unique size and shape. This allows for adjustments to the respective positions of the drive shafts 3, and the torque supports 11 can be attached to a common, straight first frame element 17. It can be seen that the position of the gearbox housing 7 is determined by the size and shape of the torque supports 11 themselves, as well as by their attachment to different fastening elements 39 on the second side 15 of the gearbox housing 7.

[0038] Figure 7Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a product hold-down device 51 with a drive unit 1 comprising four drive shafts 3. Four support frames 53 are mounted on the strut 37 and the frame 33, each of which guides a transport element 55 in the form of a transport belt. Only the transport belt 55 of the rearmost support frame 53 (as viewed from the front) is shown. The transport belts 55 are guided over deflection pulleys 57 of the support frames 53 and the sleeve 21 of the drive shaft 3. For this purpose, the sleeves 21 are pushed into the respective track position and fixed there by means of a ring clamping element 27. For example, toothed sleeves 21 can be used, which engage with a transport belt 55 in the form of a toothed belt. The product hold-down device 51 can also be mounted in a food slicing machine via the frame 33.

[0039] Figure 8Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a food processing line 71 comprising a food slicing machine 73. The food slicing machine 73 includes a product hold-down device 51 to feed a food product 75, for example, an elongated sausage or cheese loaf, in a controlled manner to a cutting blade 77. Stacks 79 of slices 81 of the food product are conveyed to a food portioning device 83 and placed, for example, into packaging trays. A loading robot or a suitably arranged conveyor belt can be used for this purpose. In a sealing machine 85, the filled packaging trays are hermetically sealed. A food product conveying device 87 is located upstream of the food slicing machine 73 and feeds it the food product 75.

Claims

1. Food cutting machine (73) comprising a product hold-down element (51), and a slicing blade (77) for cutting a food product (75), characterized in that the product hold-down element (51) comprises a drive unit (1), a carrier frame (53), and a transport means (55), wherein the transport means (55) is supported in the carrier frame (53), and wherein the carrier frame (53) is supported on the drive unit (1) by means of a strut (37), wherein the drive unit (1) is provided for driving the transport means (55) of the product hold-down element (51), wherein the drive unit (1) comprises a drive shaft (3), a motor (9), a torque support (11), and a gearbox (5) having a gearbox housing (7) with a first side and a second side (13, 15), wherein the second side (15) of the gearbox housing (7) is opposite to the first side (13) of the gearbox housing (7), wherein the drive shaft (3) is connected to the gearbox (5) and is adapted to drive a transport means (55), wherein the motor (9) is connected to the gearbox (5) so as to transmit a rotation of the motor (9) to the drive shaft (3) by means of the gearbox (5), wherein the drive shaft (3) and the motor (9) are connected to the gearbox (5) at the first side (13) of the gearbox housing (7), and wherein the gearbox housing (7) is supported at the second side (15) on the torque support (11).

2. Food cutting machine according to claim 1, wherein the torque support (11) is more elastic in the axial direction (A) of the drive shaft (3) than in the radial direction (R) of the drive shaft (3).

3. Food cutting machine according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the torque support (11) is flat, in particular substantially X-shaped, Y-shaped or T-shaped.

4. Food cutting machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the torque support (11) is formed of metal, in particular metal of a thickness in the range of 0.8 to 2.0 mm.

5. Food cutting machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the gearbox housing (7) comprises two or more spaced apart fastening means (39) for connecting to the torque support (11) such that the gearbox housing (7) is positionable in at least two different relative positions to the torque support (11).

6. Food cutting machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive shaft (3) is connectable to the gearbox (5) by means of a plug-in connection (23).

7. Food cutting machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a toothed sleeve (21) is arranged on the drive shaft (3), said sleeve being displaceable and configured to be clamped to the drive shaft (3) by means of an annular clamping element (27).

8. Food cutting machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the torque support (11) is attached to a frame element (17).

9. Food cutting machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the motor (9), the gearbox (5), and the torque support (11) are enclosed by means of a housing (29).

10. Food cutting machine according to claim 9, wherein the housing (29) has a sealed feedthrough opening (31), through which the drive shaft (3) is passed.

11. Food cutting machine according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising two or more drive shafts (3), each of which is connected to a respective gearbox (5), each gearbox (5) being connected to a respective motor (9) such that rotation of the motor (9) is transmitted to the respective gearbox (5) and the respective drive shaft (3), wherein the drive shafts (3) are arranged substantially along an arc of a circle.

12. Food processing line (71) comprising a food cutting machine (73) according to any one of the preceding claims, and at least one upstream food product conveying device (87) and / or at least one downstream food portioning device (83).

13. Method of manufacturing a drive unit (1) for a product hold-down element (51) of a a food cutting machine (73) for driving a transport means (55) of the product hold-down element (51), wherein the drive unit (1) comprises a drive shaft (3), a gearbox (5) with a gearbox housing (7) having a first side and a second side (13, 15), a motor (9), and a torque support (11), wherein the drive shaft (3) is connected to the gearbox (5) and adapted to drive a transport means (55), wherein the motor (9) is connected to the gearbox (5) so as to transmit a rotation of the motor (9) to the drive shaft (3) by means of the gearbox (5), wherein the drive shaft (3) and the motor (9) are connected to the gearbox (5) at the first side (13) of the gearbox housing (7), and wherein the gearbox housing (7) is supported at the second side (15) on the torque support (11), wherein the second side (15) of the gearbox housing (7) is opposite to the first side (13) of the gearbox housing (7), wherein the method for manufacturing said drive unit (1) comprises the following method steps: connecting the motor (9) to the gearbox (5) at the first side (13) of the gearbox housing (7) to form a motor gearbox unit (45); connecting the motor gearbox unit (45) to the drive shaft (3) at the first side (13) of the gearbox housing (7); and connecting the second side (15) of the gearbox housing (7) to the torque support (11).

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the torque support (11) is more elastic in the axial direction (A) of the drive shaft (3) than in the radial direction (R) of the drive shaft (3).

15. The method of claims 13 or 14, wherein the drive unit (1) comprises two or more drive shafts (3), each of which is connected to a respective gearbox (5), each gearbox (5) being connected to a respective motor (9) so as to transmit rotation of the motor (9) to the respective gearbox (5) and the respective drive shaft (3), wherein the drive shafts (3) are arranged substantially along an arc of a circle.

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