Device for processing food products

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for processing food products (2), having a conveying unit (3) for transporting food products (2) along a main conveying direction (100) and a packaging and / or food processing unit (4), downstream of the conveying unit (3) in the main conveying direction (100), the device (1) further having a position detection sensor (5) for capturing the position of a food product (2) located on the conveying unit (3), wherein the position detection sensor (5) is fastened in a rotationally fixed manner to a support element (6) extending perpendicularly to the main conveying direction (100), wherein the position detection sensor (5) can also be displaced along the support element (6) and can be locked in a desired position on the support element (6) by means of a locking means (7).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] title

[0003] Device for processing food products

[0004] State of the art

[0005] The invention is based on a device for processing food products, comprising a conveyor unit for transporting food products along a main conveying direction and a packaging and / or food processing unit arranged downstream of the conveyor unit in the main conveying direction, wherein the device further comprises a position detection sensor for detecting the position of a food product located on the conveyor unit.

[0006] Such devices are generally known from the prior art. For example, EP 2 799 191 A1 discloses a gripper unit for picking up multiple food portions from a conveyor belt and subsequently feeding them to a packaging machine. A camera is provided on the gripper or gripper frame to detect the position and orientation of the food portions on the conveyor belt.

[0007] Furthermore, the document WO 2010 / 062 609 A1 discloses a

[0008] A food processing machine in which food bars are cut into portions using a cutting machine, which then groups these portions into food portions and packages them using a packaging machine. A camera is positioned above a conveyor belt for transporting the portions in an area between the cutting machine and the packaging machine to detect and, if necessary, fill in any empty spaces.

[0009] Such cameras and optical image sensors are typically located directly above the food transport unit in food processing machines, and thus in the product flow. This presents the problem that such sensors are subject to stringent hygiene requirements and require regular cleaning. Furthermore, the position of the sensors must be regularly adjusted to the number of lanes and / or the products being processed, for example, when the machine is being retooled. For this reason, such sensors or their sensor holders are often implemented using screw or screw-clamp connections with exposed threaded areas in the state of the art. Such exposed threaded areas above the food being processed pose a significant hygiene risk because they can harbor increased levels of contaminants and germs, and are inherently difficult to clean.

[0010] Disclosure of the invention

[0011] It is the object of the present invention to avoid the disadvantages mentioned in connection with the prior art and to provide a device of the type mentioned at the outset in which a higher hygiene standard can be achieved despite the simple adjustment of the sensor position.

[0012] The object of the present invention is achieved by a device for processing food products, comprising a conveyor unit for transporting food products along a main conveying direction and a packaging and / or food processing unit arranged downstream of the conveyor unit in the main conveying direction, wherein the device further comprises a position detection sensor for detecting the position of a food product located on the conveyor unit, wherein the position detection sensor is fastened in a rotationally fixed manner to a support element running perpendicular to the main conveying direction, wherein the position detection sensor is also displaceable along the support element and can be locked in a desired position on the support element by means of a locking means.

[0013] The device according to the invention differs from the prior art in that the sensor is directly or indirectly attached to the support element in a rotationally fixed manner. During an adjustment movement transverse to the transport direction along the support element, locking is therefore only required in one spatial direction, thus simplifying both adjustment and locking. In particular, due to the rotationally fixed alignment, locking by means of a screw connection or screw clamp connection with exposed threaded areas for locking the orientation of the sensor about a rotation axis parallel to the support element is not necessary. This advantageously reduces the number of germs and improves hygiene standards. The sensor according to the present invention comprises, in particular, a light sensor, preferably an LED or laser light sensor or an optical camera (CCD).The support element preferably runs not only perpendicular to the main conveying direction, but also essentially horizontally. The support element is then arranged, in particular, above the conveying unit. The conveying unit can be, for example, a conveyor belt (single- or multi-track), a roller conveyor, a shuttle transport device, or a pick-and-place robot.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the position detection sensor is attached to a sensor holder, wherein the sensor holder is rotationally fixed to the support element and is displaceable along the support element and can be locked in the desired position on the support element by means of the locking means. Advantageously, therefore, only the sensor holder needs to be functionally matched to the support element and can accommodate various types of sensors.

[0015] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the position detection sensor is rigidly attached to the sensor holder, in particular by means of a screw connection without exposed threads. The screw connection between the position detection sensor and the sensor holder is preferably not a connection that must be used during adjustment of the position detection sensor or during conversion of the device, since the position detection sensor is intended to be permanently attached to the sensor holder. Thus, a screw connection without an external thread, thus avoiding any hygiene risks, can preferably be used here. Alternatively, a snap-in, adhesive, or clamp connection between the position detection sensor and the sensor holder would also be conceivable.

[0016] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sensor holder has a receiving opening through which the support element extends. Preferably, the edge of the receiving opening has at least one corner and / or at least one straight section as an anti-twist device, which corresponds to a corresponding section on the circumference of the support element. In this way, a stable anti-twist device can be implemented in a comparatively simple and cost-effective manner, which does not impair the mobility of the sensor holder along the support element for adjusting the position detection sensor.

[0017] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locking means comprises a force-locking and / or form-locking element which locks the support element in the receiving opening in a force-locking and form-locking manner. Preferably, the force-locking and / or form-locking element comprises a clamping element which is eccentrically mounted on a rotational axis, which preferably runs parallel to the support element. Advantageously, a screw or screw-clamping connection for locking can thus be dispensed with in order to minimize the hygiene risk. The force-locking and / or form-locking element is thus designed, in particular, to be screwless or at least without an exposed threaded area.

[0018] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sensor holder comprises a protective element for protecting the position detection sensor, which is arranged in particular above the position detection sensor. The protective element advantageously serves as a roof for the position detection sensor, thereby protecting the position detection sensor during cleaning processes of the device, for example, with a high-pressure cleaner. This also allows the hygiene standard for the entire device to be improved.

[0019] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sensor holder comprises a cable fixing device for securing electrical cables of the position detection sensor. This cable fixing device preferably shortens setup times and ensures that no cable holders need to be screwed in place.

[0020] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the conveyor unit comprises a single- or multi-track conveyor belt and / or wherein the packaging and / or food processing unit has a thermoforming machine for producing thermoformed packaging, an inserter for inserting food products into packaging, a cutting machine for slicing food products into portion slices and / or a portioner for producing portions from a stream of food products.

[0021] Further details, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the drawings, as well as from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings merely illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, which do not limit the essential inventive concept. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] Figure 1 shows an apparatus for processing food products according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figures 2 and 3 show detailed views of the device illustrated in Figure 1 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Embodiments of the invention

[0025] In the various figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference symbols and are therefore usually named or mentioned only once.

[0026] Figure 1 shows a schematic overall view of a device 1 for processing food products 2. In this device 1, food products 2 in the form of food bars, for example, are cut into food slices by means of a cutting machine 20. The food bars are loaded into the cutting machine 20 (also referred to as a slicing device), here a so-called high-performance slicer, by means of a feed conveyor belt. The cutting machine 20 is generally designed with multiple lanes, i.e., several food products 2 can be sliced ​​simultaneously. It is conceivable that the food products 2 are previously passed through a transmission scanner 21 for analysis of the food product 2, for example to detect any defects in the food product or its density and to control the cutting machine 20 accordingly.

[0027] After slicing, the food products 2 are transferred in the form of slices to a weighing device 22, for example, to check whether a desired target weight has been maintained. The weighing device 22 is, in particular, designed with multiple tracks, with the number of tracks of the cutting machine 20 corresponding to the number of tracks of the weighing device 22.

[0028] The food products 2 are then transported by means of a conveyor unit 3 along the main conveying direction 100 to a portioner 23, which is constructed from several conveyor belts arranged one behind the other, one above the other, and / or next to one another. With the aid of the portioner 23, portions of stacked and / or shingled food slices are produced from the stream of food slices. The food products 2, assembled into portions, are then transported to a downstream packaging machine 24. The packaging machine 24 comprises, for example, a thermoforming station in which packaging trays are formed from a film web by thermoforming the same, and a loading device which places the food products 2 into the formed packaging trays. In a subsequent sealing station, the packaging trays are then sealed with a sealed film and subsequently separated.

[0029] The packaging machine 24, the cutting machine 20, the weighing device 22, the X-ray scanner 21 can each be generally understood as a packaging and / or food processing unit 4.

[0030] To ensure that the individual work steps can be fully automated and run smoothly, the device 1 has at least one position detection sensor 5, which is designed to detect the position and / or orientation of a food product 2 located below the position detection sensor 5. For this purpose, the position detection sensor 5 comprises, for example, a light sensor or an optical camera. In the present case, the position detection sensor 5 is arranged above the conveyor unit 3, which is designed here as a multi-track conveyor belt.

[0031] The device 1 has a support element 6, which extends horizontally across the tracks of the conveyor unit 3, transverse to the main conveying direction 100. The position detection sensor 5 is connected to the support element 6 via a sensor holder 8.

[0032] Figures 2 and 3 illustrate detailed views of the device 1 shown in Figure 1 (without position detection sensor 5), showing, among other things, the sensor holder 8, the support element 6, and the position detection sensor 5. Figure 2 shows a side view as in Figure 1, while Figure 3 shows a top view.

[0033] Depending on the food product 2 and packaging type, the food products 2 are arranged differently on the conveyor unit 3 and / or the conveyor unit 3 is equipped with a different number of tracks. When converting the device 1 to other food products 2 or packaging types, the position of the position detection sensor 5 must be adjusted accordingly transversely to the main conveying direction 100. For this purpose, the sensor holder 8 and thus also the position detection sensor 5 are designed to be displaceable along the support element 6. The sensor holder 8 can then be locked in the desired position by means of a locking means 7. To ensure that the orientation of the position detection sensor 5 remains in its correct position, the sensor holder 8 is always connected to the support element 6 in a rotationally fixed manner, even during the adjustment and displacement movements.This is achieved by guiding the support element 6 through a receiving opening 9 of the sensor holder 8. The wall or edge of the receiving opening 9 has at least one edge 12 and / or a straight peripheral section 13 to prevent rotation about the longitudinal axis of the support element 6.

[0034] The support element 6 is designed as a longitudinally extending, horizontal support with a cross-section which has at least one edge corresponding to the wall of the receiving opening 9 or a rectilinear peripheral section corresponding to the wall of the receiving opening 9.

[0035] In particular, the profile of the support element 6 is not round or cylindrical. It is conceivable that the profile is triangular, square, or star-shaped, for example. In the present embodiment, the profile of the support element 6 is octagonal or diamond-shaped.

[0036] The sensor holder 8 is locked in the desired position on the support element 6 by means of the locking means 7. In this example, the locking means 7 comprises a clamping element 16 designed as a frictional connection element. The lever-like clamping element 16 is rotatably attached to the sensor holder 8 about a rotation axis 101 that runs parallel to the support element 6. The rotation axis 101 runs eccentrically through the end of the clamping element 16 connected to the sensor holder 8, so that when the lever is moved, a clamping connection is created between the eccentric part of the lever and the surface of the support element 6. The lever protrudes through a through-opening in the wall of the receiving opening 9.The clamping element 16 designed in the form of a lever preferably enables a simple manual adjustment of the sensor holder 8 along the support element 6 by the lever being manually used by a user to release the locking and to create the locking at a desired position along the support element 6.

[0037] The position detection sensor 5 is firmly connected to the sensor holder 8, for example, by means of a screw connection without exposed threads. Figure 2 illustrates the corresponding screw-in opening on the sensor holder. To accommodate electrical cables for the position detection sensor 5, i.e., in particular for electrical supply and data lines, the sensor holder 8 optionally has cable fixings 11. The cable fixings 11 are designed as grooves open on one side, into which the cables can be clamped.

[0038] Furthermore, the sensor holder 8 has a protective element 10, which covers and shields the position detection sensor 5 on its upper side. The protective element 10 serves to protect the position detection sensor 5 when the device 1 is cleaned from above with water, for example, under pressure.

[0039] In the example according to Figure 1, the support element 5, sensor holder 8, and position detection sensor 5 are arranged above the conveyor unit 3 between the portioner 23 and the cutting machine 20. As shown in Figure 1, this arrangement of support element 5', sensor holder 8', and position detection sensor 5' can also be arranged, additionally or alone, in all other areas of the device 1 in which the food products 2 are transported along the transport direction 100, such as in front of the transmission scanner 21 and / or in front of the packaging machine 24.

[0040] List of reference symbols

[0041] 1 device

[0042] 2 Food product

[0043] 3 conveyor unit

[0044] 4 Packaging and / or food processing unit

[0045] 5 Position detection sensor

[0046] 6 supporting element

[0047] 7 locking devices

[0048] 8 sensor holders

[0049] 9 Receiving opening

[0050] 10 protective element

[0051] 11 Cable fixation

[0052] 12 Corner

[0053] 13 Straight section

[0054] 14, 15 Corresponding section

[0055] 16 clamping element

[0056] 20 cutting machine

[0057] 21 X-ray scanners

[0058] 22 Weighing device

[0059] 23 portioners

[0060] 24 packaging machines

[0061] 100 Main conveying direction

[0062] 101 axis of rotation

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Device (1) for processing food products (2), comprising a conveyor unit (3) for transporting food products (2) along a main conveying direction (100) and a packaging and / or food processing unit (4) arranged downstream of the conveyor unit (3) in the main conveying direction (100), wherein the device (1) further comprises a position detection sensor (5) for detecting the position and / or orientation of a food product (2) located on the conveyor unit (3), characterized in that the position detection sensor (5) is fastened in a rotationally fixed manner to a support element (6) running perpendicular to the main conveying direction (100), wherein the position detection sensor (5) is also displaceable along the support element (6) and can be locked in a desired position on the support element (6) by means of a locking means (7).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the position detection sensor (5) is fastened to a sensor holder (8), wherein the sensor holder (8) is fastened to the support element (6) in a rotationally fixed manner and is displaceable along the support element (6) and can be locked in the desired position on the support element (6) by means of the locking means (7).

3. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the position detection sensor (5) is rigidly attached to the sensor holder (8), in particular by means of a screw connection without exposed thread.

4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor holder (8) has a receiving opening (9) through which the support element (6) extends.

5. Device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the edge of the receiving opening (9) has at least one corner (12) and / or at least one straight section (13) as an anti-twist device, which corresponds to a corresponding section (14, 15) on the circumference of the support element (6).

6. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the locking means (7) has a force-locking and / or form-locking element which locks the support element (6) in the receiving opening (9) in a force-locking and / or form-locking manner.

7. Device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the force and / or form-locking element is a clamping element which is mounted eccentrically on a rotation axis (101) which preferably runs parallel to the carrier element (6).

8. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor holder (8) has a protective element (10) for protecting the position detection sensor (5), which is arranged in particular above the position detection sensor (5).

9. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor holder (8) has a cable fixing (11) for fixing electrical lines of the position detection sensor (5).

10. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveyor unit (3) comprises a single- or multi-track conveyor belt and / or wherein the packaging and / or food processing unit (4) has a thermoforming machine for producing thermoformed packaging, an inserter for inserting food products (2) into packaging, a cutting machine for slicing food products (2) into portion slices and / or a portioner for producing portions from a stream of food products (2).

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