Providing sheet-like intermediate sheet material at a cutting area

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for the single-lane or multi-lane supply of web-shaped interlayer material at a cutting area in which single-lane or multi-lane fed products are cut into slices and interlayers are inserted, which are separated from the supplied interlayer material in the cutting area, with a take-off device designed to take the material web from a material supply, and with a loop storage unit in which the material web forms a loop with an inlet-side loop part and an outlet-side loop part, wherein the loop storage unit provides a receiving space for the loop, one side of which forms a support for one loop part and the side opposite the support forming a boundary for the other loop part.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for providing web-shaped interlayer material at a cutting area in which supplied products are cut into slices and interlayer sheets are introduced, which are separated from the provided interlayer material in the cutting area.

[0002] In the cutting area, slices separated from the products can therefore be fitted with the interleaves inserted into the cutting area. For example, interleaves can be placed either between two immediately adjacent slices or under each slice, and thus between that slice and a support surface. When forming portions from several slices, for instance, an interleaver is then always located under the bottom slice of each portion. This function, also known as an underleaver function, does not preclude the possibility that, when forming portions, an interleaver is not only located under the bottom slice, but that one or more interleaves are also placed within the portion itself, between two consecutive slices.Regardless of whether an underleaver function is provided or not, in general, within a portion, an intermediate sheet can be inserted either between each pair of immediately consecutive slices or only between one or more pairs of immediately consecutive slices, e.g., between every nth pair, where n > 1.

[0003] Such devices are generally known in the field of food product slicing and are also referred to as interleavers or underleavers. As mentioned above, an interleaver can also function as an underleaver, and vice versa. The present disclosure therefore applies not only to the interleavers primarily described here, or the provision of interleaving sheets or interleaving material between two immediately successive slices, but also to so-called "underleavers" that serve to place a sheet underneath products. Such an underleaf feed ensures that the products do not rest directly on a support surface, such as a conveyor, with their entire underside.Where the term "interleaver" is used below, the respective statements and disclosures also apply—where relevant—to an "underleaver." As already mentioned, one and the same device for providing interleaver material or interleavers can perform both an interleaver and an underleaver function, depending on the specific application; that is, within the scope of this disclosure, an interleaver is simultaneously an underleaver, and vice versa.

[0004] The invention also relates to a device for slicing food products with a product feed that feeds products to be sliced ​​to a cutting area in which a cutting blade rotates and / or moves in a circular motion to slice the fed products, and with an interleaver or underleaver according to the invention.

[0005] Such cutting devices are also called slicers or high-speed slicers, the latter referring to the fact that these machines can slice, for example, stick- or loaf-shaped food products at high cutting speeds of several hundred to several thousand slices per minute. In many applications, the slices, which fall onto a platform formed, for example, by a portioning belt, are used to create stacked or shingled portions. An interleaver, for example, is used to insert sheets between consecutive slices of a portion so that the slices can be separated more easily later. These sheets are made of materials such as paper or plastic film.

[0006] As cutting machines have advanced, particularly in terms of speed, accuracy, and versatility, the demands placed on interleaver and underleaver cutters are constantly increasing. Existing interleaver and underleaver designs that generally deliver satisfactory results often no longer meet these heightened requirements.

[0007] Consequently, there is a need for improved interleaver and underleaver technology, particularly in the field of high-speed food product slicing. Multi-lane and lane-specific interleaver and underleaver operation is becoming increasingly important.

[0008] One problem with known interleavers and underleavers is that ejecting the material web into the cutting area is a highly dynamic process, which becomes increasingly difficult to control as the cutting speed increases. Therefore, this highly dynamic ejection must be decoupled as much as possible from the removal of the material web from the relatively inert material supply, ensuring that a sufficiently long length of material web is always available outside the material supply and that the material to be ejected does not have to be taken directly from the material supply, such as a material roll.

[0009] It is known to address this problem by providing a section in the interleaver where the material web forms a loop. While this can decouple the ejection of the material web into the cutting area from the removal of the material web from the inert material supply, the loop formation, which is difficult to control, often impairs interleaver operation in conventional designs.

[0010] The object of the invention is to improve an interleaver in such a way as to guarantee a trouble-free supply of web-shaped interleaver material at a cutting area, and in particular to ensure controlled loop formation.

[0011] The problem is solved by the characteristics of independent claims.

[0012] The device according to the invention enables the single-track or multi-track provision of web-shaped intermediate sheet material at a cutting area and comprises a take-off device designed for taking the material web from a material supply, as well as a loop storage unit in which the material web forms a loop with an inlet-side loop part and an outlet-side loop part, wherein the loop storage unit provides a receiving space for the loop, one side of which forms a support for one loop part and the side opposite the support forming a boundary for the other loop part.

[0013] Depending on the orientation of the recording space, either the outgoing or the incoming loop section can run over the support. Furthermore, the recording space can be either open or closed at the sides.

[0014] As mentioned above, loop formation allows the highly dynamic ejection of the intermediate sheet material into the cutting area to be decoupled from the removal of the material web from the relatively sluggish material supply. This ensures that the required web length in the cutting area can be removed almost without delay, thus preventing any tension and uncontrolled force transmission in the material web during acceleration. The at least partially supported guide of the loop further simplifies loop formation control, and the double-sided limitation of the loop within the loop reservoir prevents web fluttering in the machine area.This is particularly advantageous in multi-lane interleaver operation, as it prevents adjacent material webs from touching, interfering with each other, or even becoming knotted due to web flutter. Furthermore, in the device according to the invention, the web guidance in the loop buffer can be designed in such a way that the space required for the interleaver on or in the slicer can be minimized.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment, the receiving space has an opening at least for the exit of the outlet-side loop part and an end located lower than the opening, wherein a plane running through the opening and the end is inclined relative to the horizontal, in particular forming an angle with the horizontal in the range of 15° to 75°, preferably 30° to 60° and particularly preferably 40° to 50°.

[0016] Such an inclined arrangement of the receiving chamber according to this embodiment allows for a particularly space-saving integration of an interleaver into a slicer or a separate interleaver module associated with the slicer. The end of the receiving chamber is defined, in particular, by determining the effective length of the receiving chamber for loop formation. The surface and / or boundary of the receiving chamber between the opening and the end can be either flat or curved. Furthermore, the inlet-side loop portion can enter the receiving chamber either through the opening or through an opening offset downwards or upwards relative to the opening.

[0017] According to a further embodiment, both the support and the boundary each have an opening area at the mouth and an end area at the end, wherein both a plane running through the opening area and the end area of ​​the support and a plane running through the opening area and the end area of ​​the boundary are inclined relative to the horizontal, in particular forming an angle with the horizontal in the range of 15° to 75°, preferably 30° to 60° and particularly preferably 40° to 50°.

[0018] Furthermore, it may be provided that the support provides a flat surface for the loop part and / or that the boundary provides a flat contact surface for the loop part.

[0019] According to another embodiment, the support and the boundary can run at least approximately parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction of the recording space.

[0020] According to a further embodiment, at a given position in the longitudinal direction of the receiving space, the distance between the support and the boundary can define a clear width of the receiving space, wherein the ratio between the smallest clear width of the receiving space and the largest clear width of the receiving space, particularly when disregarding an opening of the receiving space, is greater than 0.8. It can be provided that the opening is significantly narrower than the rest of the receiving space, i.e., has a significantly smaller clear width, which enables particularly controlled insertion of the loop into the receiving space and reduces fluttering of the material web, especially in the opening area, to a minimum.According to a particularly preferred embodiment, at a given position in the longitudinal direction of the receiving space, the distance between the support and the boundary can define a clear width of the receiving space, wherein the ratio between the largest clear width of the receiving space and the length of the receiving space effective for loop formation is less than 0.5, less than 0.3, or less than 0.1. Such a flat design of the receiving space ensures optimal loop formation and control while simultaneously minimizing the required installation space.

[0021] Furthermore, the clear width of the recording space can be at least essentially constant in the longitudinal direction.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the clear width of the recording space can be at least substantially constant in the longitudinal direction, or the largest clear width of the recording space can be in the range of 10 mm to 60 mm and preferably in the range of 25 mm to 45 mm.

[0023] The receiving area can include lateral guides for the loop. These guides can be designed, for example, as walls, but also as grids or other structures that allow the loop to be guided.

[0024] Furthermore, the receiving chamber can be designed to be closed on at least one side, preferably on both sides. This increases the robustness of the receiving chamber and allows for a particularly organized web path. This design also permits the use of negative pressure to form the loop or at least to assist loop formation.

[0025] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the receiving area can be configured with multiple lanes. This allows the interleaver according to the invention to be used in conjunction with multi-lane slicing of food products.

[0026] Preferably, the receiving space includes at least one separating element extending in the longitudinal direction of the receiving space in order to separate loops of multi-track material webs from each other.

[0027] This allows the receiving area to be divided into several sub-areas, each representing a separate receiving space for the loop of the material web of the respective track. The loop formation of each track is thus controlled, and disruptions to a multi-track interleaver caused by disordered web guidance in the loop storage area can be avoided. Furthermore, this enables particularly space-saving operation of a multi-track interleaver, as the separating elements prevent the individual material webs from interacting with each other in the loop storage area, allowing the material webs to be guided as close to each other as possible.

[0028] Furthermore, the separating element can be adjusted laterally. This makes it possible to guide material webs of varying widths through the loop storage and thus meet the requirements of different products cut in the cutting area with regard to the size of the interleaver material provided.

[0029] Furthermore, the divider can be attached to the support of the recording chamber. This allows the divider to be positioned with the boundary removed, which speeds up and simplifies both adjusting to the required widths and inserting the loops into the recording chamber, as the loops do not have to be awkwardly threaded through a relatively small opening of the recording chamber. Alternatively, the dividers can also be attached to the boundary, or part of the divider can be attached to the support and the other part to the boundary.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the boundary can be formed by a removable cover. With this design, the receiving space is particularly easily accessible, and quick and simple cleaning of the components is possible. Furthermore, with the cover removed, a loop can simply be inserted into the receiving space and does not need to be threaded through a comparatively small opening.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the boundary can be displaceable relative to the support. Thus, by moving the boundary, the length of the receiving space can be varied, and in particular, a maximum possible loop size can be selected and set.

[0032] Furthermore, the boundary may be closed.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment, the boundary can be transparent. This allows for efficient monitoring of loop formation at any time, even during operation, so that any malfunctions can be detected and rectified particularly quickly. The boundary can be made of antistatic Plexiglas, for example, although other materials are also possible.

[0034] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the receiving chamber can have a suction area for the loop, which is connected to a vacuum source to apply pressure to the outer surface of the loop, thereby increasing its size. This active loop formation allows for better control of the loop formation process compared to passive, e.g., gravitational, loop formation, and enables the loop size to be selected and adjusted. This allows the loop size, as the non-inert material reserve used to supply the material web for highly dynamic ejection into the cutting area, to be adapted to the specific requirements arising, for example, from the product size and cutting frequency. This can be particularly relevant in multi-lane interleaver operation, as the requirements regarding the material to be ejected, or its quantity, may differ in different lanes.

[0035] At least one side of the receiving space, particularly in the area of ​​one end of the receiving space, may have one or more suction openings leading into the suction area, through which the vacuum source is or are connected to the suction area.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, the receiving chamber can be configured with multiple lanes, wherein at least two lanes, preferably all lanes, have a suction area for the respective loop and are connected to a common vacuum source to apply pressure to the outer surface of the respective loop, thereby increasing the loop size. Therefore, it is not necessary to install lane-specific suction devices in multi-lane interleavers. Furthermore, it has been shown that lane-specific operation of a single suction device is also unnecessary; the desired lane-specific control over loop formation can be achieved with a single suction device that exerts the same nominal suction effect on each lane. This allows the suction device to be designed particularly simply, minimizing the number of components and the space required for the suction device.

[0037] According to one embodiment, a braking device for the material web is integrated into the loop storage unit. This ensures that the material web is kept under controlled tension at all times. Preferably, the braking device acts on the exit-side loop portion.

[0038] The braking device preferably comprises an outlet-side surface of the receiving chamber. Depending on the orientation of the receiving chamber, the outlet-side surface can be part of the support or the boundary of the receiving chamber. By exerting the braking effect on the loop at an outlet-side surface, it is ensured that the forces occurring during the feed of the interleaving material into the cutting area are transferred in a controlled manner to the material web, in particular to the inlet-side part of the loop and the part of the material web entering the loop storage area, and, especially in conjunction with a suction effect for loop formation generated by a vacuum source, fluttering of the material web is prevented.

[0039] According to one embodiment, the outlet-side surface can be designed to be permeable to air and preferably provided with one or more intake openings.

[0040] Furthermore, the outlet-side surface can be connected to a vacuum source. This can, but does not necessarily have to, be connected to or identical with a vacuum source, as described above, for drawing the loop into the receiving chamber.

[0041] According to another embodiment, a device for determining a measure for the size of the loop can be integrated into the loop memory.

[0042] The device can include at least one sensor that is effective in an outlet-side or inlet-side area of ​​the receiving space.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the sensor can be a contact sensor or a vacuum sensor. A contact sensor reacts to contact with the material web and can, for example, be capacitive, inductive, electromechanical, and / or electrostatic, while a vacuum sensor responds to the fact that the presence of the material web at the sensor location creates a vacuum.

[0044] Preferably, the device comprises a plurality of sensors distributed along the longitudinal direction of the discharge-side surface. This makes it possible to obtain the most accurate and high-resolution information possible about the current loop size and to adjust the loop size as needed. For example, it may be possible to set the loop size to a specific desired size before the interleaver material is fed into the cutting device, or to change the loop size if it reaches a predetermined minimum or maximum during operation.

[0045] According to a preferred embodiment, a control device can be provided which is configured to provide a predetermined target loop size in the receiving area before the products are cut by activating the take-up device, taking into account the actual loop size determined by the device. This target loop size is preferably determined from one or more parameters of a respective cutting program. The target loop size can be calculated automatically from, for example, the cutting speed and the sheet length.

[0046] The control device can be designed to change the loop size individually for each lane in a multi-lane operation and to realize lane-specific target loop sizes.

[0047] The control unit can be advantageously configured to initiate the winding of the material web onto the material spool upon machine start-up by activating the take-up device. This winding process stops when the loop size reaches a predetermined minimum, which can be detected by one or more sensors in the opening area. The control unit can then instruct the take-up device to remove the material web and feed it into the loop storage area, ensuring the loop reaches the application-specific target size, also detected by one or more sensors. Following this, the control unit can initiate the feeding of the interleaver material into the cutting area via a conveyor. This allows for controlled preparation of the interleaver for the highly dynamic material feed and guarantees a smooth operating sequence right from the start of the cutting process.Furthermore, it is ensured that the loop length is known to the system at all times and that the defined target loop length has actually been reached before the cutting process begins.

[0048] Protection is also claimed independently for this procedure when starting the machine, i.e., when preparing the interleaver for the actual cutting operation.

[0049] The control unit can be designed to perform this preparation of the interleaver individually for each lane in a multi-lane operation.

[0050] The invention further relates to a device for the single-lane or multi-lane supply of web-shaped interlayer material at a cutting area, in which products fed in a single-lane or multi-lane manner are cut into slices and interlayers are inserted, which are separated from the supplied interlayer material in the cutting area, with a take-off device designed for taking the material web from a material supply, and a loop storage unit in which the material web forms a loop with an inlet-side loop part and an outlet-side loop part, wherein the loop storage unit has a boundary for one loop part and a boundary for the other loop part, wherein the two boundaries are arranged at a distance from each other to form a receiving space for the loop.and wherein at each position in the longitudinal direction of the recording space the distance between the two boundaries defines a clear width of the recording space, and wherein the ratio between the largest clear width of the recording space and the length of the recording space effective for loop formation is less than 0.5 or less than 0.3 or less than 0.1.

[0051] Such a flat design of the loop's receiving area makes it possible to ensure the desired control of loop formation in a particularly effective way and to design the receiving area in a particularly space-saving manner. In principle, both boundaries can be oriented at any angle to the horizontal, adapted to the respective requirements, and can, for example, run parallel to each other in the vertical direction.

[0052] This device constitutes an independent subject matter of the present disclosure, for which independent protection is also claimed.

[0053] The invention further relates to a device for single-lane or multi-lane slicing of food products, in particular high-speed slicers, with a product feed that feeds products to be sliced ​​in a single-lane or multi-lane manner to a cutting area in which a cutting blade rotates and / or moves in a circular motion to slice the fed products, and with a device for providing web-shaped interleaved material according to one of the embodiments described above, wherein preferably a common control device is provided which is designed to coordinate the slicing of the products and the provision of the interleaved material.

[0054] This device also constitutes an independent subject matter of the present disclosure, for which independent protection is also claimed.

[0055] The invention is described below by way of example with reference to the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 schematically shows a side view of a slicer with an interleaver according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 a schematic side view of a loop storage device of an interleaver according to the invention, Fig. 3 a top view of an embodiment of a loop storage device with a receiving space for a multi-lane operated interleaver according to the invention, Figs. 4 and 5 each schematically show an exemplary embodiment of a loop storage device with a receiving space of an interleaver according to the invention.

[0056] Fig. 1 This shows a schematic, not-to-scale, side view of a high-speed slicer, i.e., a device for slicing food products such as sausage, meat, or cheese, in conjunction with an interleaver. Both the high-speed slicer and the interleaver can be operated in single or multiple lanes.

[0057] In a cutting area 59 of the high-speed slicer, products (not shown) supplied in one or more lanes are sliced ​​by a cutting blade 47, which is driven by a drive 49. The cutting blade 47 can be, for example, a so-called sickle or spiral blade with a sickle- or spiral-shaped cutting edge, which rotates only about a blade axis (not shown). Furthermore, the cutting blade 47 can be, for example, a so-called circular blade, which has a circular cutting edge and rotates about its own blade axis, as well as additionally orbiting planetarily about an axis running parallel to and offset from the blade axis.

[0058] The schematic embodiment of an interleaver according to the invention shown here has a take-off device 11, which serves to take a web of material 13 from a material supply 15 and which is operated by a drive 45. The web of material 13 is guided through an opening 27 into a loop storage unit 17 via one or more, here by way of example two, deflection rollers 57. This insertion of the web of material 13 into the loop storage unit 17 via a deflection roller 57 prevents any damage to the web of material 13 upon entry into the loop storage unit 17. As an alternative to guidance via a deflection roller 57, the web of material 13 can also be inserted over a rounded edge in order to keep the stress on the web of material 13 as low as possible.

[0059] The material web 13 forms a loop 19 in the receiving space 18, which is formed by the support 23 and the boundary 25 and runs longitudinally from the mouth 27 to the end 29. An inlet-side loop part 20 (cf. Fig. 2 ) runs along the boundary 25 in the illustrated embodiment, while an outlet-side loop part 21 (cf. Fig. 2 ) is carried on the support 23. Different loop sizes of the loop 19 in the recording space 18 are possible, whereby two possible loop sizes are shown here as examples by a loop 19 shown with a solid line and a loop 19 shown with a dashed line.

[0060] In the illustrated embodiment, several intake openings 35 are provided in the lower part of the support 23, through which the receiving chamber 18 is connected to a vacuum source 33. Alternatively, the intake openings 35 can also be provided in a rear wall forming the end 29 of the receiving chamber 18. By means of the vacuum source 33, a suction area 31 is created in the lower part of the receiving chamber 18, through which the loop formation can be controlled and, in particular, a desired size of the loop 19 can be achieved.

[0061] As already mentioned in the introduction, it may also be possible, in multi-lane operation of the interleaver, to generate the suction area 31 of each lane using a common vacuum source 33, which preferably has the same suction effect for each suction area 31 of the respective lanes (see also Fig. 3 ).

[0062] In the upper part of the support 23 are one or more sensors 41, shown here as an example of two, which can be designed, for example, as contact or vacuum sensors. These sensors 41 allow a measurement of the size of the loop 19 to be determined. Sensors 41 designed as contact sensors react to contact with the outlet-side loop part 21 and can be, for example, capacitive, inductive, electromechanical, and / or electrostatic. Sensors 41 designed as vacuum sensors register a vacuum that arises when the outlet-side loop part 21 of the loop 19 lies over the area covered by the sensor 41. Such a vacuum measurement can be carried out particularly advantageously if the support 23 is designed to be air-permeable, for example, provided with intake openings 35, and is connected to a vacuum source 33, or in particular the one shown here, which generates the suction area 31.

[0063] The information about the size of the loop 19 obtained by the sensors 41 is sent to a control unit 43, which allows the drive 45 of the take-off device 11, the motor 55 of the conveyor 61, and the drive 49 of the cutting blade 47 to be coordinated. The conveyor 61, into which the web is guided here via a further deflection roller 57, but can also be guided via several deflection rollers 57, consists in the illustrated embodiment of a feed roller 51 and a pressure roller 53 and serves for the highly dynamic feeding of the material web 13 into the cutting area 59.

[0064] The size of the loop 19 in the loop storage 17, which functions as a non-inert material supply, can be adjusted to the respective requirement for intermediate sheet material in the cutting area 59 by means of the control device 43. For example, the drive 45 of the take-off device 11 can be actuated as soon as the size of the loop 19 falls below a defined minimum value and stopped when a defined maximum size of the loop 19 is registered. Furthermore, the loop 19 can be formed in the loop storage 17 with a predefined desired size before the material web 19 is fed into the cutting area 59. This desired size can be calculated, for example, from the cutting speed and the sheet length and is preferably calculated automatically by the control device 43.

[0065] In Fig. 2 A possible embodiment of a loop storage unit 17 of an interleaver according to the invention is shown schematically, wherein the loop storage unit 17 is box-shaped in this example. This box-shaped loop storage unit 17 provides a receiving space 18, which is formed by the support 23, which here forms a base, and the boundary 25, which is designed as a lid, and is closed at its end 29 by a rear wall. The boundary 25 is provided at its free end with a rounded deflecting edge 26 for the material web 13. Side walls, not shown here (see Figure 1), provide additional space. Fig. 3 The recording room 18 is also enclosed on the sides. How Fig. 2 As shown, edition 23 and limit 25 do not have to be of the same length, although this is nevertheless possible (cf. Fig. 1 The boundary 25 can be set back from the outlet end of the support 23. In this embodiment, the inner surfaces of the receiving space 18 provided by the support 23 and the boundary 25 are flat surfaces.

[0066] The material web 13 is guided into the receiving chamber 18 and forms a loop 19, whereby the inlet-side loop part 20 is free here and the outlet-side loop part 21 rests on the support 23.

[0067] In this embodiment, the boundary 25 is advantageously transparent and, for example, made of antistatic Plexiglas. This allows for easy visual monitoring of the loop formation during operation of the interleaver.

[0068] In the lower part of the support 23 are one or more, here by way of example four, intake openings 35, through which the support 23 is connected to a vacuum source 33. This vacuum source 33 creates a suction zone 31 in the receiving chamber 18 and allows the formation of the loop 19 to be monitored and controlled. It is advantageous for the formation of the suction zone 31 if the receiving chamber 18 is closed by the support 23, the end 29, the boundary 25, and the side walls (not shown here), whereby absolute gas tightness of the receiving chamber 18 is not required.

[0069] Several sensors 41 are integrated into the support 23. These sensors are configured here as vacuum sensors and are connected to a vacuum source 33, but can also function differently in principle. These sensors 41 register a vacuum that arises when the outlet-side loop part 21 of the loop 19 rests on the area of ​​the support 23 covered by the sensor 41.

[0070] Sensors 41 determine the size of the loop 19 in the receiving area 18 and send this measurement to the control unit 43, which coordinates the removal of the material web 13, its feed, and the cutting of the products. This allows the material web removal device (not shown) to, for example, feed the material web 13 more quickly into the loop storage area 17 if the loop 19 falls below a defined minimum size, or to stop the removal of the material web 13 if the loop 19 reaches a defined maximum size. Furthermore, the size of the loop 19 can, for example, be adjusted to a specific desired size before the material web 13 is fed into the cutting area (not shown). This desired size can be determined, for example, by the cutting speed and the sheet length, and is preferably calculated automatically by the control unit 43.

[0071] In the upper or outlet-side part of the support 23, further suction openings 35 are formed in an outlet-side surface 39 of the support 23, via which the outlet-side surface 39 is connected to a vacuum source 33. By means of these suction openings 35 and the vacuum source 33, the outlet-side loop part 21 can be drawn against the outlet-side surface 39, thus creating a braking effect on the material web 13. The vacuum source 33, together with the outlet-side surface 39 and the suction openings 35, therefore form a braking device 37, which ensures that the material web 13 is always under tension during feeding into the cutting area and that forces generated during feeding are transmitted to the material web 13 in a controlled manner.

[0072] It can be particularly advantageous not to arrange the vacuum sources 33 for forming the intake area 31, for operating the vacuum sensors 41, and for providing the brake device 37 as separate vacuum sources 33, as shown here, but rather to generate these effects through a single common vacuum source 33. This allows for simple and space-saving installation and can further reduce manufacturing costs by minimizing the number of components required.

[0073] Fig. 3 Figure 1 shows a top view of a multi-track loop storage unit 17 through its advantageously transparent boundary 25. The loop storage unit 17 is divided into four separate receiving chambers 18 by three rib-like separating elements 30, with each material web 13 of a multi-track, individually operated interleaver forming a loop 19 in one of the four receiving chambers 18. The material webs 13 enter the receiving chambers 18 through the opening 27, with the maximum loop length defined by the end 29 of the loop storage unit.

[0074] The separating elements 30 are each movable in the transverse direction, i.e., in the direction of the double arrows, so that the loop storage 17 can be adapted to material webs 13 of different widths and / or special track positions or track arrangements and can be quickly changed for a new application. Different tracks could also be supplied with material webs 13 of different widths. This allows the width of the provided interleaver material to be adapted to the requirements of the product processed in the respective track, in particular its disc size, and products of different sizes and shapes can be supplied simultaneously with suitable interleaver material.

[0075] The separating elements 30 also make it possible to easily convert the loop storage unit 17 to the required number of tracks, for example by simply sliding an outer separating element 30 outwards against the respective side wall 32 and thus bringing it into a kind of "parked position". The remaining separating elements 30 can then be positioned according to the respective application.

[0076] In the lower part of the receiving chambers 18 are intake openings 35, through which the receiving chambers are connected to a negative pressure source (not shown), which generates a suction zone 31 in each receiving chamber 18. The formation of the loops 19 in the receiving chambers 18 can be controlled and regulated by means of this negative pressure source, whereby it may be sufficient to form the respective suction zones 31 by means of a single negative pressure source that generates the same nominal suction effect in each suction zone 31.

[0077] The in Fig. 2 The loop storage device 17 shown here can be used in conjunction with Fig. 3 be designed as described, with multiple lanes.

[0078] The Fig. 4 and 5 Figure 1 shows further possible embodiments of a loop storage unit 17 of an interleaver according to the invention. These can be used depending on the requirements, particularly with regard to the available space. The exemplary embodiments shown here are intended only to illustrate possible configurations and orientations of the loop storage units, whereby other configurations are also conceivable and are not thereby excluded.

[0079] In Fig. 4 The loop storage unit 17 is oriented such that the incoming material web 13, which forms a loop 19 in the loop storage unit 17, rests on the support 23 with the incoming loop portion 20, and the outgoing loop portion 21 only rests against the boundary 25. The solid line and the dashed line indicate two possible paths for the material web 13 into and out of the loop storage unit 17, which can vary, particularly considering the available space, the relative arrangement of the interleaver and slicer, and the resulting path of the material web 13.

[0080] Fig. 5 Figure 1 shows an embodiment in which the material web 13 is guided through a slot 63 in the boundary 25 into the receiving chamber 18 to form a loop 19. The exit-side loop part 21, which here rests on the support 23, leaves the receiving chamber 18 through the opening 27, which is arranged at a different height than that of the slot 63.

[0081] These different heights of the entry point of the material conveyor 13 into the loop storage unit 17 and its exit point may, in turn, be preferred depending on the available space. Different ratios between the entry and exit heights of the material conveyor 13 can be provided; in particular, the entry point of the material conveyor 13 into the loop storage unit 17 can be higher than the outlet 27 through which the material conveyor 13 exits. Furthermore, different orientations of the loop storage unit 17 and different routings of the material conveyor 13 are possible, as exemplified in Fig. 4 shown, intended. Bezugszeichenliste

[0082] 11 Pick-up device 13 Material web 15 Material supply 17 Loop storage 18 Receiving chamber 19 Loop 20 Inlet-side loop section 21 Outlet-side loop section 23 Support 25 Limit 26 Deflection edge 27 Mouth 29 End 30 Separating element 31 Suction area 32 Side wall 33 Vacuum source 35 Suction opening 37 Braking device 39 Outlet-side surface 40 Device for determining a dimension for loop size 41 Sensor 43 Control device 45 Drive of the pick-up device 47 Cutting blade 49 Drive of the cutting blade 51 Feed roller 53 Pressure roller 55 Motor 57 Deflection roller 59 Cutting area 61 Conveyor device 63 Slot

Claims

1. Device for single-track or multi-track provision of web-shaped interleaf material to a cutting area (59), in which products fed in single-track or multi-track are cut into slices and interleaf sheets are introduced, which are separated from the provided interleaf material in the cutting area (59), with a removal device (11) which is designed to remove the material web (13) from a material supply (15), and with a loop storage (17) in which the material web (13) forms a loop (19) with an inlet-side loop part (20) and an outlet-side loop part (21), wherein the loop storage (17) provides a receiving space (18) for the loop (19), one side of which forms a support (23) for one loop part and the side of which opposite the support (23) forms a boundary (25) for the other loop part.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the receiving space (18) has an opening (27) at least for the exit of the outlet-side loop part (21) and an end (29) located lower than the opening (27), and wherein a plane running through the opening (27) and the end (29) is inclined relative to the horizontal, in particular enclosing an angle with the horizontal in the range of 15° to 75°, preferably of 30° to 60° and particularly preferably of 40° to 50°.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the support (23) provides a flat support surface for the loop part, and / or wherein the boundary (25) provides a flat contact surface for the loop part, and / or wherein the support (23) and the boundary (25) run at least approximately parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction of the receiving space (18).

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at a respective position in the longitudinal direction of the receiving space (18), the distance between the support (23) and the boundary (25) defines a clear width of the receiving space (18), and wherein the ratio between the smallest clear width of the receiving space (18) and the largest clear width of the receiving space (18), in particular when disregarding an opening (27) of the receiving space (18), is greater than 0.8; and / or wherein at a respective position in the longitudinal direction of the receiving space (18), the distance between the support (23) and the boundary (25) defines a clear width of the receiving space (18), and wherein the ratio between the largest clear width of the receiving space (18) and the length of the receiving space (18) effective for loop formation is less than 0.5, less than 0.3, or less than 0.

1.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving space (18) comprises lateral guides for the loop (19) and / or wherein the receiving space (18) is closed at least on one side, preferably on both sides.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving space (18) is designed to have multiple tracks, wherein the receiving space (18) preferably includes at least one separating element (30) running in the longitudinal direction of the receiving space (18) in order to separate loops (19) of material webs (13) introduced in multiple tracks from one another, in particular wherein the separating element (30) is adjustable in the transverse direction.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the boundary (25) is formed by a removable cover.

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving space (18) has a suction area (31) for the loop (19), which is connected to a vacuum source (33) in order to act on an outer side of the loop (19) in the sense of a loop enlargement, in particular wherein in at least one side of the receiving space (18), in particular in the region of an end (29) of the receiving space (18), one or more suction openings (35) opening into the suction area (31) are provided, via which the vacuum source (33) is or are connected to the suction area (31).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving space (18) is designed to have multiple tracks, and wherein at least two tracks, preferably all tracks, have a suction area (31) for the respective loop (19) and are connected to a common vacuum source (33) in order to act on an outer side of a respective loop (19) in the sense of a loop enlargement.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a braking device (37) for the material web (13) is integrated into the loop storage (17), in particular for the outlet-side loop part (21).

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the braking device (37) comprises an outlet-side surface (39) of the receiving space (18).

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet-side surface (39) is designed to be permeable to air, preferably provided with one or more suction openings (35), in particular wherein the outlet-side surface (39) is connected to a vacuum source (33).

13. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a device (40) for determining a measure of the size of the loop (19) is integrated into the loop storage (17), in particular wherein the device (40) comprises at least one sensor (41) which is effective on an outlet-side or inlet-side surface of the receiving space (18).

14. Device for single-track or multi-track provision of web-shaped interleaf material to a cutting area (59), in which products fed in single-track or multi-track are cut into slices and interleaf sheets are introduced, which are separated from the provided interleaf material in the cutting area (59), with a removal device (11) designed to remove the material web (13) from a material supply (15), and with a loop storage (17), in which the material web (13) forms a loop (19) with an inlet-side loop part (20) and an outlet-side loop part (21), wherein the loop storage (17) has a boundary (23) for one loop part (20) and a boundary (25) for the other loop part (21), wherein the two boundaries (23, 25) are arranged at a distance from one another to form a receiving space (18) for the loop (19). are,and wherein at a respective position in the longitudinal direction of the receiving space (18), the distance between the two boundaries (23, 25) defines a clear width of the receiving space (18), and wherein the ratio between the largest clear width of the receiving space (18) and the length of the receiving space (18) effective for loop formation is less than 0.5 or less than 0.3 or less than 0.1, preferably with the further features of at least one of claims 2 to 13.

15. A device for single-track or multi-track slicing of food products, in particular a high-speed slicer, comprising a product feed that feeds products to be sliced ​​in single-track or multi-track fashion to a cutting area (59) in which a cutting blade (47) rotates and / or circulates to slice the supplied products, and comprising a device for providing web-shaped interleaving sheet material according to one of the preceding claims; wherein preferably a common control device (43) is provided that is designed to coordinate the slicing of the products and the provision of the interleaving sheet material.

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