Method, system, cutting head and centrifugal cutter for cutting an electroporized process material

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method, a system (1), a cutting head (35) and a centrifugal cutter (27) for cutting an electroporated process material (2a) into pieces (2b) of a specific target thickness.To enable the cutting of an electroporated material (2a) into cut pieces (2b) of consistent quality, the system (1) comprises an electroporator (3), a cutting device (4) whose cutting gap (40) is adjustable to a defined gap width (41), a measuring device (5) for detecting a measured thickness (dMess) of the cut pieces (2b) of the material, and a control unit (6) in which the target thickness and / or the set gap width is stored as a target value (dSoll), wherein the control unit (6) is configured to compare the detected measured thickness (dMess) of the cut pieces (2b) with the target value (dSoll), and wherein the control unit (6) is further configured to send a control signal (17) to the electroporator (3) and / or the cutting device to compensate for any deviation in the measured thickness (dMess) of the cut material (2b) from the target value (dSoll). (4) to spend.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for cutting an electroporated process material, in particular a biological process material such as fruit or vegetables, into pieces of a specific target thickness, comprising the steps: electroporating the process material, and cutting the electroporated process material with a cutting device that has a cutting gap of defined gap width.

[0002] The present invention further relates to a system for cutting an electroporated process material into cut pieces of a specific target thickness, comprising an electroporator and a cutting device with a cutting gap that is adjustable to a defined gap width.

[0003] Another aspect of the present invention is a cutting head, in particular for a centrifugal cutter, for cutting an electroporated process material, with an annular side wall on which at least one cutting knife is mounted, wherein the at least one cutting knife extends inwards from the side wall in such a way that a cutting opening with a cutting gap is formed between the side wall and the at least one cutting knife, wherein a gap width of the cutting gap corresponds to the radial distance between the side wall and a distal cutting edge of the at least one cutting knife.

[0004] Finally, the present invention relates to a centrifugal cutter for cutting an electroporated process material, comprising a stationary cutting head and an impeller for rotating the process material in a direction of rotation against the side wall of the cutting head.

[0005] The cutting of a material, for example, the slicing of potatoes or other plant roots or tubers for the production of chips, is a known process and is carried out using slicers. Typically, such slicers for chip production comprise a stationary, ring-shaped cutting head with one or more cutting blades mounted on it, which surrounds / encloses a rotating impeller with guide elements. As the impeller rotates, potatoes picked up by the ring-shaped cutting head are pressed against the ring-shaped side wall of the cutting head by the centrifugal force generated by the impeller, optionally assisted by guide elements of the impeller, and moved along the cutting blades mounted thereon. In this process, the potatoes are sliced ​​at the cutting edge and exit the cutting head through the gap between the cutting edge and the side wall with a thickness corresponding to the width of the gap.Such centrifugal cutters are known, for example, from DE 11 87 846 A, EP 695 31 201 T2 or EP 2 012 982 B1.

[0006] To improve the cutting of a process material, especially a biological process material such as potatoes, the process material can be electroporated before cutting, which facilitates the cutting process, produces a lower proportion of rejects and requires less energy.

[0007] However, electroporation of the product can negatively affect cutting and subsequent processing steps, such as frying the cut pieces, or the properties of the final product, for example, a fried food like potato chips, leading to undesirable changes in the final product. For instance, it has been found that fried potato chips can have excessively high residual moisture if the frying time is not extended when using slices made from electroporated potatoes.

[0008] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a method and a system for cutting an electroporated process material which enables a consistent quality of the cut pieces and food products made from them.

[0009] The invention solves this problem by a method for cutting an electroporous process material into pieces of a specific target thickness, comprising the following steps: Electroporation of the material being processed; cutting of the electroporated material with a cutting device that has a cutting gap of defined width; determination of the thickness of the cut pieces of the material being processed; comparison of the thickness being measured with the defined gap width and / or with the target thickness as the target value; and if the thickness being measured deviates from the target value, compensation for the deviation by changing an electroporation parameter and / or a cutting parameter.

[0010] The invention further solves this problem by means of a system for cutting an electroporated material into pieces of a specific target thickness. The system according to the invention comprises an electroporator, a cutting device whose cutting gap is adjustable to a defined gap width, a measuring device for detecting the thickness of the cut pieces of the material, and a control unit in which the target thickness and / or the set gap width is stored as a target value, wherein the control unit is configured to compare the detected thickness of the cut pieces with the target value, and wherein the control unit is further configured to output a control signal to the electroporator and / or the cutting device to compensate for any deviation in the detected thickness.

[0011] In such a system, a cutting head according to the invention can be used, in particular, for cutting an electroporous material. The cutting head according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises an actuable adjustment mechanism for adjusting the gap width, wherein the adjustment mechanism has a movable actuating element connected to the cutting blade in a force-transmitting manner and a force transmitter for moving the actuating element.

[0012] The cutting head according to the invention can be part of a centrifugal cutter according to the invention for cutting an electroporated process material, which further comprises an impeller for rotating the process material in a direction of rotation against the side wall of the cutting head.

[0013] While electroporation can facilitate cutting the product into pieces, it was surprisingly discovered that frying cut pieces of electroporated material requires a longer frying time or results in excessive residual moisture. This is due to the unexpected fact that the thickness of the cut pieces is greater than the gap width set on the cutting device. The increased compressibility of the product after electroporation surprisingly increases the thickness of the cut piece, for example, the thickness of potato slices by approximately one-tenth of a millimeter, which is relevant in the production of fried chips. Slice thickness influences properties of the final product, such as its crispness.The unforeseen increase in the thickness of electroporated cut process materials also changes the surface-to-volume ratio, which in turn affects the required frying time, oil absorption, the content of thermally induced reaction products, and the product yield.

[0014] To produce a finished product with the desired product properties and consistent quality from the cut pieces of an electroporated material, the invention provides for determining the thickness of the cut pieces as a measured variable. This measurement is then compared to a target value, the gap width, and / or the desired target thickness. Any undesirably increased thickness is compensated for if the measured thickness deviates from the target value. According to the invention, this compensation is achieved by changing an electroporation parameter and / or a cutting parameter to ensure that the electroporated material is actually cut into pieces with the target thickness and that thicker pieces are avoided.In this way, the present invention compensates for a surprising change in the thickness of cut pieces caused by electroporation and ensures that pieces of the specified target thickness are actually cut.

[0015] The invention can be further improved by the following embodiments, each of which is advantageous in itself and can be combined with each other as desired.

[0016] According to a first possible embodiment, the thickness of the cut pieces can be measured inline, i.e., during operation. The thickness can be measured optically, acoustically, and / or electromagnetically. In an exemplary embodiment, the measuring device can comprise an optical, an acoustic, and / or an electromagnetic measuring device. Thickness measurement using ultrasound, X-rays, or other non-contact measuring principles is also conceivable.

[0017] The system's measuring device can be aligned with the cutting device. Surprisingly, the effect of an unintended increase in slice thickness occurs immediately after cutting. Therefore, the thickness of the cut pieces can be measured immediately after or even during cutting. Of course, the thickness can also be determined elsewhere, and measuring devices can be located at other points in the system. Possible alternative measuring points include a stage downstream of the cutting device, such as a conveyor belt on which the cut pieces are transported away from the cutting device. Using the example of chip production, the thickness can also be determined after a washing or blanching step.

[0018] Of course, the thickness of the cut pieces can also be determined offline. The measuring principles and devices described above can generally be used for this purpose. Alternatives, such as a micrometer screw or calipers, can also be used.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the thickness of the cut pieces is determined optically. Optical measurement can be achieved, for example, by capturing images of the cut pieces and electronically or digitally evaluating the captured images. For this purpose, the measuring device can include, for example, a camera or an ultrasonic measuring device aligned with the cutting gap. In this embodiment, the piece of the cut material emerging through the cutting gap can be captured with a camera, and the thickness determined from this image. This embodiment is easy to implement, flexible enough for virtually any thickness, and delivers good inline measurement results during operation.

[0020] For optical measurement or digital image acquisition, a CCD array sensor or a CMOS sensor can optically detect the cut pieces. The images can be evaluated electronically using an algorithm that, for example, determines the circumferential width of a slice as the cut piece or the strip thickness of a diagonal cross-section of a piece cut into strips. According to one embodiment, the measuring device can include an evaluation unit that assigns a specific thickness of the cut piece to a measurement signal from the measuring device.

[0021] Electroporation is a method for making cell membranes temporarily or permanently permeable. This technique is used, among other things, in microbiology to introduce DNA into cells. Electroporation is also used in food and bioprocess engineering to improve mass transport processes or to inactivate microorganisms. One advantage of electroporation is that it is a non-thermal process.

[0022] According to one embodiment, the electroporator can have at least two electrodes connected to a pulse generator. The electrodes, even if they do not need to be in direct contact with the medium being treated, are preferably made of stainless steel or titanium. The two electrodes form a capacitor, and the space between them forms the treatment chamber of the electroporator, in which the pulsed electric field is generated. The electrodes can be arranged coaxially, collinearly, conically, or parallel to each other and generate a homogeneous electric field for uniform treatment of the medium. The pulse generator, serving as the voltage source, can be, for example, a high-voltage pulse generator with a pulse transformer or a Marx generator, capable of generating electrical pulses of high voltage in the kilovolt range and short duration in the nanosecond to microsecond range.Various electrode shapes can be used in capacitors. Plate, ring, grid, hollow, conical, or flow electrodes are possible.

[0023] According to another embodiment, the energy input introduced into the material during electroporation can be adjusted as a compensation parameter. If, according to this embodiment, the target thickness of the cut pieces is used as the target value, and the measured thickness is greater than the specified target thickness, then a compensating control signal can be output to the electroporator, whereupon the energy input is reduced. For example, the number of pulses or the strength of the electric field can be decreased. The reduced energy input diminishes the effect of electroporation and lowers the compressibility of the electroporated material. Due to the reduced compressibility, the measured thickness of the cut pieces does not increase as much during cutting and passage through the cutting gap of a defined width.As a result, a reduced energy input can reduce an undesirable difference between the defined gap width of the cutting gap at the cutting device and the actual thickness of the cut pieces, i.e., the determined measured thickness. In one embodiment of the system according to the invention, the control unit can be connected to the electroporator via signal transmission.

[0024] According to the invention, the conveying speed of a transported process material can be changed by the electroporator and / or an operating parameter of the electroporator can be changed as an electroporation parameter.

[0025] By selecting the electroporation parameters, a defined energy input of, for example, 1 kJ / kg can be applied to the biological material during electroporation. With an electroporator, parameters such as the electric field strength, pulse shape, number of pulses, energy input, pulse duration, pulse frequency, pulse voltage, polarity, current, specific energy, and / or treatment time can be adjusted to compensate for deviations between the measured thickness and the target value.

[0026] According to one embodiment, the electroporator includes a conveying system for transporting the material through its treatment chamber. The conveying system can comprise a pipeline, a conveyor belt, a drive chain, and / or a screw conveyor. The electroporator can further include a drive for transporting the medium, for example, a pump or a motor.

[0027] According to one embodiment, the conveying speed of the material being processed is determined during transport through the electroporator. For this purpose, a speedometer can be provided to determine the conveying speed, or, for example, a frequency converter can be used to achieve a defined conveying speed. The conveying speed can be changed as an electroporation parameter.

[0028] The control unit can, for example, change the drive speed to alter the conveying speed. The control unit can be connected to the conveying section or the drive and / or the pulse generator of the electroporator via a control line. In the present invention, the control signals can be transmitted both wired and wirelessly, for example, via signal lines or using radio technology.

[0029] In another embodiment, the system includes an energy measurement unit for determining the specific energy input into the material being processed during treatment with the pulsed electric field, i.e., during electroporation. For example, an oscilloscope or a device measuring the pulsed current and voltage can be used as the energy measurement unit. The energy measurement unit can determine the specific energy input as a function of the measured conveying speed and the operating parameters of the electroporator. If the energy measurement unit is coupled to the control system, it can be ensured that either the conveying speed and / or the operating parameters of the electroporator are modified as electroporation parameters according to the control signal.

[0030] According to a further embodiment, the gap width and / or the contact pressure of the material being cut can be varied as cutting parameters. For example, if the measured thickness is greater than the target thickness, the gap width can be changed, usually by reducing it. In this embodiment, the invention also compensates for unintentionally thicker pieces, which can unexpectedly be larger than the cutting gap width when cutting electroporous materials. In this embodiment, the cutting gap can be set to a width smaller than the target thickness of the cut piece to compensate for the undesirable increase in thickness when cutting electroporous materials and to cut the material into pieces of the desired, specified thickness.

[0031] In another embodiment, the contact pressure of the electroporated material during cutting can be varied as a cutting parameter, for example, by reducing the rotational speed of a centrifugal cutter or the feed rate in linear cutting devices. Reducing the contact pressure results in less compression of the electroporated material during cutting and consequently less expansion after cutting to compensate for the compression. This means that the actual thickness of the cut pieces increases less the lower the contact pressure of the electroporated material during cutting. Therefore, if the measured thickness is greater than the specified target thickness, the contact pressure can be reduced in this embodiment, thus compressing the deviation, i.e., the undesired increase in the thickness of the cut piece.

[0032] In another exemplary embodiment, the defined gap width set on the cutting device can be compared to the measured thickness of the cut pieces as a target value. If the measured thickness is greater than the gap width, then thicker pieces than expected are cut. According to the invention, this can be compensated for, for example, as described above, by changing an electroporation parameter and / or a cutting parameter, or, in the system according to the invention, by outputting a control signal to the electroporator and / or the cutting device that compresses the deviation.

[0033] Of course, it is also possible to consider both the gap width and the specified target thickness as target values ​​in the inventive method or system. In one embodiment, both the target thickness and the gap width are stored as target values, whereby by default (i.e., at the beginning of the method or when starting up the system) the target thickness is equal to the gap width, meaning that the size of the cutting gap can be set to the specified target thickness in the control system by default.

[0034] Likewise, in one embodiment of the present invention, it is conceivable to use a compensation algorithm that generates the control signal according to which the electroporation parameters and / or cutting parameters, in particular the gap width, the energy input and the contact pressure, are changed.

[0035] According to a further embodiment of the system according to the invention, the cutting device can include an actuator connected to the control signal transmission for adjusting the gap width and / or the contact pressure of the material being processed at the cutting gap. This design makes it possible to perform the compensation according to the invention inline during the ongoing operation of the system. An actuator is understood to be a device that converts the control signal output by the control system into a mechanical movement (e.g., a change in the position of a cutting blade), force (e.g., the torque of a motor), or pressure (e.g., a pressure generator or a contact device of the cutting device).

[0036] In the system described here, the control unit can be connected to the measuring device, the electroporator, for example its control unit, pulse generator or conveying device, and / or to the actuator via signal transmission in order to perform the compensation according to the invention.

[0037] The cutting device can have fixed or movable cutting edges or blades. The movable cutting edges can be driven by a motor. In one embodiment, the system can include a centrifugal cutter and / or a linear cutter as the cutting device. Based on a received control signal, the actuator can, for example, change the position or orientation of a cutting blade, the rotational speed of the impeller of a centrifugal cutter, and / or the feed rate or ram pressure of a linear cutter.

[0038] The invention thus allows, in principle, an adaptation of the cutting device when cutting the electroporated process material, and / or of the electroporator when electroporating the process material, also inline, in order to compensate for the surprisingly occurring change in shape when cutting electroporated process materials.

[0039] In another embodiment, in addition to the thickness of the cut pieces, further process parameters (as measured variables) can be measured and taken into account during the compensation step. In one embodiment, an impulse and / or force acting on the material during cutting can be recorded as a further process parameter. Other possible process parameters can be determined by means of sound and / or force measurement during cutting. The content of substances released from the cut piece, such as reducing sugars, and / or the moisture, color, and fat content of the end product, for example, fried chips, can also be further process parameters. All these additional process parameters can, for example, be considered in a compensation algorithm.For example, if the color of the final product is too dark, this may indicate that an undesirable Maillard reaction is occurring during the frying of starchy process materials. This suggests that the raw material contains a high proportion of reducing sugars. The release of these sugars can be regulated by adjusting the electroporation parameter. Reducing the energy input decreases the release of reducing sugars, while increasing the energy input, in combination with a subsequent washing step, can lead to their leaching from the slices or pieces. In this example scenario, the compensation algorithm could send a control signal to the electroporator to adjust the energy input not only to prevent undesirable browning of the final product but also to compensate for the undesirable increase in the slice thickness.

[0040] To capture an additional process parameter, the measuring device can include a force and / or an impulse meter. A speedometer and / or an acoustic measuring device, such as a sound level meter, can be used or incorporated into a system of an exemplary configuration to determine a force or impulse as a further process parameter. The force meter can, for example, capture the torque of a cutting device with moving cutting edges or the torque of the impeller of a centrifugal cutter. Using such measuring devices, another process parameter, such as cutting resistance and / or applied cutting force, can be determined. This cutting resistance reflects a specific impulse or force generated during cutting and can, for example, be determined as a torque.

[0041] Possible configurations include a cutting device with fixed cutting edges. In such cases, an impulse or force acting on the fixed cutting edges can be determined as an additional process parameter. This impulse or force can be measured using a load cell. Alternatively or additionally, an acoustic signal can be recorded that characterizes the impulse with which the biological material impacts the fixed cutting edge. For example, structure-borne sound measurement can be performed within the fixed cutting edges, such as in the cutting head of a centrifugal cutter.

[0042] For example, a torque can be determined for a cutting device with moving blades. The torque can be measured at a drive that moves the blades. Alternatively or additionally, a force acting on the moving blades can be recorded as a further process parameter. It is also possible to record structure-borne sound measurements in the moving blades as a comminution parameter.

[0043] A process material, particularly a biological process material, is understood to be any type of biological cells or organic material, i.e., biomass in the broadest sense. The process according to the invention can be used, for example, in the production of food or food components. Food is understood to consist essentially of micronutrients that are consumed to nourish the human body. Macronutrients, i.e., carbohydrates, lipids / fats, and proteins, provide the human body with chemically bound energy. According to one embodiment, the process material to be processed can be a plant-based raw material. A raw material within the meaning of the present invention is understood to be a substantially unprocessed foodstuff. The raw material can be, for example, a plant tuber, potato, root, vegetable, or fruit.The raw material can be selected from the group consisting of a tuber, a root vegetable, a legume, a pome fruit, a stone fruit, and a nut. According to one embodiment, the raw material can be selected from the group consisting of potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, parsnip, celery, carrots, and beetroot.

[0044] According to one embodiment, plant tubers, preferably potatoes, can be cut into slices or strips. The slice thickness then corresponds to the width of the circumferential edge of smoothly cut slices, or, in the case of a wavy cut, to the width at the edge in the trough / peak of the wave or at mid-height. In the case of cut strips, the strip thickness corresponds to the diagonal cross-section.

[0045] In the inventive method and system, a cutting head according to the invention for a centrifugal cutter or a centrifugal cutter according to the invention for cutting an electroporated material can be used, which will be discussed in more detail below. The cutting head of the invention has the advantage that the cutting gap in a centrifugal cutter can be adjusted inline, i.e., during operation, because it includes an actuable, i.e., machine-operated, adjustment mechanism that can be controlled and with which the gap width can be variably adjusted.

[0046] According to a further embodiment of the cutting head, the at least one cutting blade can be movably mounted, and the adjustment mechanism can be designed to change the radial distance or the angle of the at least one cutting blade to the side wall. The at least one cutting blade can be fixed in a holder, the holder being movable relative to the side wall, e.g., sliding or pivoting.

[0047] In one embodiment, the cutting head comprises several cutting blades, each of which is connected to an actuating element with which the associated cutting blade can be moved and the gap width at this cutting opening can be changed.

[0048] The force transmitter can be designed to move at least two, or even each, of the actuating elements, which synchronizes the adjustment and reduces the number of parts required.

[0049] According to one embodiment of the cutting head, the force transmitter can extend at least partially along the annular side wall, enabling a compact design. Furthermore, a force transmitter extending at least partially along the side wall can move more than one actuating element and thus change the gap widths of several cutting openings simultaneously.

[0050] In another embodiment, the force transmitter can be ring-shaped. Such a force transmitter can be arranged coaxially to the side wall and move all the actuating elements, thus changing the gap widths of all cutting openings simultaneously and, if necessary, identically. Identical means that identical gap widths are set at all cutting openings.

[0051] According to a further embodiment, the force transmitter can be a pressure channel filled with air (in the case of pneumatic operation) or a fluid (in the case of hydraulic operation). The pressure channel can originate from an inlet opening and extend to at least one or all of the actuating elements. The pressure channel can be integrated into or attached to the annular side wall of the cutting head. In this pressure-actuated, pneumatic or hydraulic adjustment mechanism, the actuating element can be a movable pin, slide, lever, or bolt. The actuating element can be movably mounted relative to the side wall, for example, pivoting relative to the side wall or sliding linearly.

[0052] Alternatively, the force transmitter can be an adjusting ring that can be movable relative to the adjusting element, for example, rotatable to the side wall. One or more adjusting elements can be arranged on the adjusting ring. The adjusting ring can have teeth, with each adjusting element being formed by a tooth with a steep and a flat flank. In this embodiment, the cutting blade can be force-transmittingly connected to the flat flank.

[0053] The cutting head of the present invention can be part of a centrifugal cutter according to the invention, which further comprises a wheel for rotating the material being processed in a direction of rotation against the side wall of the cutting head.

[0054] The impeller can be arranged within the cutting head, e.g., coaxially with the annular side wall of the cutting head. The impeller can incorporate guide elements for transporting the electroporated material to the side wall as the impeller rotates. These guide elements can be formed by baffles or blades.

[0055] In a further embodiment, the cutting head and / or the centrifugal cutter can include the actuator already described above in connection with the system according to the invention.

[0056] The cutting head and / or the centrifugal cutter can also include the control and / or measuring device for detecting the measuring thickness of the cut pieces of the process material, as already described above in connection with the system according to the invention.

[0057] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to advantageous embodiments and the drawings. The advantageous developments and embodiments shown are independent of each other and can be combined as required in any application.

[0058] They show: Fig. 1 an exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention for cutting an electroporated material; Fig. 2 a side view of a known centrifugal cutter with a known cutting head design; Fig. 3 a partial perspective view showing the known cutting of a material; Fig. 4 a perspective schematic view of a cutting head of the present invention; Fig. 5 a partial schematic side view of a cutting head of the present invention; Fig. 6A a partial schematic side view of a cutting head of the present invention with an adjustment mechanism of a first embodiment in a first position; Fig. 6B a partial schematic side view of a cutting head of the present invention with the adjustment mechanism of the first embodiment in a second position; Fig.Fig. 7 a schematic side view of the cutting head of the present invention with the adjustment mechanism of the first embodiment; and Fig. 8 a partial schematic side view of a cutting head of the present invention with an adjustment mechanism of a second embodiment.

[0059] The following is an exemplary system 1 for cutting an electroporous process material 2a with reference to the schematic representation of the Fig. 1 The following example schematically illustrates the system in the context of manufacturing fried chips. Within this presentation, the inventive method for cutting the electroporated process material 2a, which can be carried out, for example, with the inventive system 1, is also explained.

[0060] The in Fig. 1The system 1 shown comprises an electroporator 3 for electroporating the process material 2, for example, a biological process material (schematically represented by small rectangles), with a pulsed electric field. The system 1 further comprises a cutting device 4 for cutting the electroporated process material 2a (schematically represented by small rectangles with dots). The cut pieces 2b of the process material, e.g., strips or slices, are schematically represented by black lines.

[0061] The system 1 further comprises at least one measuring device 5 for detecting a measuring thickness d of the cut pieces 2b, and a control 6 for changing an electroporation parameter and / or a cutting parameter and for compensating for an undesired change in the spatial dimension, in particular the thickness of the cut pieces 2b, if the determined measuring thickness deviates from a target value d.

[0062] In the illustrated embodiment, the electroporator 3 comprises a conveying section 7 for transporting the process material 2, e.g., peeled fruit or vegetables. The process material 2 is metered onto the conveying section 7 at one end via a feed device 8 and moved along the transport directions indicated by black arrows. In the illustrated embodiment, the conveying section 7 comprises a conveyor belt 9 driven by a drive 10. Alternatively, the conveying section 7 could also include a screw conveyor or a pipeline. In the illustrated embodiment, the drive 10 could be a motor that moves the conveyor belt 9 at a defined conveying speed F.

[0063] The conveying section 7 runs through an electroporation unit 11, or in other words, the electroporation unit 11 is arranged such that a process material 2 transported on the conveying section 7 can be treated with a pulsed electric field and thus electroporated. The electroporation unit 11 comprises at least two electrodes 12, which form a capacitor 13 for generating an electric field in a treatment section of the conveying section 7. The electrodes 12 of the capacitor 13 are connected to a voltage source 15 via power lines 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the two electrodes 12 of the capacitor 13 are arranged on opposite sides of the conveying section 7 and parallel to each other. With such an electrode arrangement, a homogeneous electric field can be generated for the uniform treatment of the process material 2.However, other electrode arrangements are also conceivable, for example a coaxial, collinear or conical arrangement.

[0064] A pulse generator 16, such as a high-voltage pulse generator or a Marx generator, can be used as the voltage source 15. This generator can produce electrical pulses of high voltage in the kilovolt range and short duration in the nano- to microsecond range. The electrodes 12 can be made of, for example, stainless steel or a titanium alloy.

[0065] The exemplary system 1 of the Fig. 1The system comprises a control unit 6 configured to output a compensating control signal 17 to the electroporator 3 and / or the cutting device 4. The control signal 17 can be a signal, e.g., a hydraulic, pneumatic, optical, or electrical signal, or a data packet containing a command, which results in a change to an electroporation parameter EP (if the control signal is output to the electroporator 3) and / or a cutting parameter SP (if the control signal is output to the cutting device 4).

[0066] The electroporation parameter EP can be a conveying velocity F of the transported process material 2 and / or at least one operating parameter of the electroporation unit 11. The electroporation parameter EP can be set so that a defined energy input [kJ / kg] occurs from the electroporator 3 into the process material 2. If the energy input is to be increased, the conveying velocity F could, for example, be reduced and / or the number of pulses or the strength of the electric field increased.

[0067] The control unit 6 can be connected to the drive 10 via a control line 18 (not shown; wireless in the exemplary illustration) and thus adjust the conveying speed F of the transported material 2 on the conveyor belt 9 by controlling the drive 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the control unit 6 is also wirelessly connected to the electroporation unit 11 and can thus, for example, adjust the field strength, pulse duration, pulse frequency, pulse shape, pulse voltage, and current, and thereby control the specific energy input as the electroporation parameter EP of the electroporator 3.

[0068] The (white, black-bordered) arrows pointing towards the drive 10 or the electroporation unit 11 indicate that a control signal 17 can be transmitted wirelessly, for example via a radio link, from the controller 6 to the drive 10 or the electroporation unit 11. Of course, wired control lines (not shown) can also be used. Even if this is in Fig. 1 Not shown, data transmission can also be bidirectional, meaning that signals from the drive 10 or the electroporation unit 11 can also be transmitted back to the controller 6. For example, the drive 10 can send a conveying signal back to the controller 6, which is characteristic of the operation of the drive 10, for example, the speed of a motor.

[0069] All lines presented within the scope of this invention can be designed to be either wired or wireless, and signals or data can be transmitted via these lines not only in the direction indicated by arrows, but also in the opposite direction.

[0070] In the case of exemplary device 1 of the Fig. 1 Thus, by changing an electroporation parameter EP - for example, the conveying speed of the drive 10 or an operating parameter of the electroporation unit 11 - it is possible to control and regulate which specific energy is introduced by the electroporator 3 into the process material 2 conveyed on the conveying path 7 by the electroporation unit 11 during its electroporation.

[0071] In the embodiment shown, the device 1 comprises a second transport section 19 for moving the electroporated process material 2a to and through the cutting device 4. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 1 As shown, there are two devices for moving the material being processed: a conveying section 7 of the electroporator 3, and a transport section 19 along which the cutting device 4 is arranged. The transport section 19 itself comprises a conveyor belt 20, which can be moved by means of a drive 21 to transport the material being processed 2 to and through the cutting device 4. However, a single, continuous conveyor (not shown) could also be used instead of the separate conveying section 7 and transport section 19.

[0072] The transport section 19 runs through the cutting device 4, so that a portion of the cut material 2b is located behind the cutting device 4 in the transport direction T. In the exemplary embodiment, the cutting device 4 comprises a linear cutter 22. The exemplary linear cutter 22, shown schematically, includes movable cutting edges 23. The movable cutting edges 23 can be arranged on a rotating cutting disc 24, which is rotated by a motor 25. The contact pressure of the electroporated material 2a during cutting can be adjusted by means of a pressure device 26. For example, the transport section 19 (or alternatively a punch (not shown), which can be part of the linear cutter 22) can be used as the pressure device 26.

[0073] Alternatively, another cutting device 4 with stationary cutting edges, e.g., a centrifugal cutter 27, can also be part of the system. The basic principle of such a centrifugal cutter 27, according to an example known from DE 695 31 201 T2, is described below with reference to the Figures 2 and 3 An exemplary embodiment of a centrifugal cutter 27 according to the invention and exemplary embodiments of cutting heads 35 according to the invention are described below with reference to the Figures 4 to 8 This will be discussed in more detail. Both the drive 21 of the transport section 19 and the motor 25 of the cutting device 4 can be connected to the control unit 6 via control lines 18, as indicated by the arrows.

[0074] The cut pieces 2b are transferred from the transport line 19 to a fryer 28 (for simplicity, further process steps, e.g., washing or blanching, are omitted). In the fryer 28, the cut pieces are fried, producing the end product 2c, e.g., potato chips (again, for simplicity, further process steps, e.g., seasoning, weighing, packaging, are omitted). An end-product measuring device 34 can determine a product property of the end product 2c. The end-product measuring device 40 can, for example, use infrared spectroscopy to determine the product color, oil content, or product moisture of the end product 2c and output a corresponding further process parameter to the controller 17. The exemplary embodiment of system 1, which is described in Fig. 1The embodiment shown comprises several optional cutting measuring devices 29 for recording a process parameter and / or a cutting parameter SP. In the exemplary embodiment, a speedometer 30 is initially provided with which the transport speed at which the electroporated process material 2a is moved through the cutting device 4 can be recorded.

[0075] A speed measuring device 30 can be used to measure the speed at which electroporated material 2a passes through the cutting device 4. The speed can be a cutting parameter SP and another process parameter that also allows conclusions to be drawn about the effectiveness of the electroporation and thus whether the intensity of the electroporation is within a desired operating range or outside of it. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the speed measuring device 30 is integrated into the conveyor belt 20.

[0076] In Fig. 1 A further cutting measuring device 29, namely a force meter 31, is provided. This can determine the force exerted by the electroporated material 2a on the cutting edges 23, which can represent a further process parameter and / or a cutting parameter SP. It would also be conceivable for the cutting measuring device 29 to be an impulse meter 32. In the embodiment shown, this impulse meter 32 could, for example, determine the torque of the motor 25 that drives the rotating cutting edges 23.

[0077] In the illustrated embodiment, the controller 6 comprises a comparator 33 for comparing the measured thickness dmeasure of the cut pieces 2b of the process material, as detected by the measuring device 5, with a target value dtarget stored in the comparator 33. If the measured thickness dmeasure of the cut pieces 2b deviates from the target value dtarget, the comparator 33 generates a control command, whereupon the controller 6 outputs a control signal 17 to the electroporator 3 and / or the cutting device 4 to compensate for the deviation by changing an electroporation parameter EP and / or a cutting parameter SP.

[0078] The operating mode of system 1, which is in Fig. 1The process, as illustrated, could proceed as follows: Process material 2 is fed via the feed device 4 onto the conveyor 7 and electroporated along the conveyor 7 by the electroporator 3. The electroporated process material 2a is transferred to the transport section 19 and cut into pieces 2b, e.g., slices, in the cutting device 4 along the transport section 19. The cut pieces 2b are transferred to the fryer 28, where they are processed into the final product 2c.

[0079] However, electroporation can undesirably alter the thickness of the cut piece 2b. The extent of this change in thickness is difficult to predict and depends on the variety, storage duration, and / or the intensity of the electroporation treatment.

[0080] To ensure that the cut pieces of an electroporated material actually have the specified target thickness, the measured thickness dmeasured of the cut pieces 2b of the material is determined as a measured value and compared with a target value dmeasured, the gap width, and / or the desired target thickness. Any deviations are compensated for by comparing the measured thickness dmeasured with the target value dtarget. For this purpose, a measuring device 5, aligned with the cutting device 4, determines the measured thickness dmeasured of the piece 2b exiting the cutting device 4. The measuring device 5 sends a measurement signal, representative of the measured thickness dmeasured, to the controller 6. A target value dtarget is stored in the controller 6, for example, the gap width to which the cutting gap is currently set. By default, when the system is started up, the gap width can be set to the specified target thickness with which the electroporated material 2a is to be cut.A comparator 33 of the controller compares the measured thickness dmeasured with the target thickness dtarget and issues a control command if the measured thickness dmeasured of the cut pieces 2b deviates from the target thickness dtarget. Based on the control command, the controller 6 generates a control signal 17, which is then output by the controller 6 via a signal line 18 to the electroporator 3 and / or the cutting device 4. The output control signal 17 causes the electroporator 3 to change an electroporation parameter EP or the cutting device 4 to change a cutting parameter SP in order to actually cut the electroporated material 2a into pieces with the target thickness.

[0081] The control signal 17 can, for example, instruct the electroporator 4 to reduce the energy input into the material during electroporation. This can be achieved by changing, for example, the strength of the electric field, the number of pulses, the pulse duration, the pulse frequency, or the treatment time, i.e., the conveying speed. Alternatively or additionally, a control signal 17 can be transmitted to the cutting device 4 and instruct it to change the gap width and / or the contact pressure of the material during cutting as cutting parameters, e.g., to reduce it. If, for example, the measured thickness is greater than the specified target thickness, the gap width can be changed as a cutting parameter, usually by decreasing it.This can result in the cutting gap being set to a gap width that is smaller than the target thickness of the cut piece, in order to compensate for the undesirable increase in disc thickness when cutting electroporous process materials and to cut the electroporous process material into pieces of the desired, specified target thickness.

[0082] The controller 6 can use a compensation algorithm that generates the control signal 17 from the measurement signal representative of the measurement thickness d, as well as optionally from additional measurement signals from other measuring devices (e.g., a cutting measuring device 29 and / or the end-product measuring device 34). According to this algorithm, the electroporation parameters and / or cutting parameters, in particular the gap width, energy input, and contact pressure, are modified. The compensation algorithm not only ensures that the electroporated material is cut into pieces of the desired, specified target thickness, but also allows the compensation measures initiated by the control signals to be implemented within the context of the entire system, ensuring that no other disadvantages arise.an insufficient cutting pattern with more product rejects (if the energy input is reduced too much) or a lower throughput (if the conveying speed is reduced too much).

[0083] At this point, the basic principle of a centrifugal cutter 27 and its cutting head will first be explained using an example known from DE 695 31 201 T2 with reference to the Figs. 2 and 3 explained.

[0084] A well-known centrifugal cutter 27 is in Fig. 2The system is shown and comprises a main frame 110 on which a drive motor 112 and a food feed hopper 114 are mounted. The motor drives an impeller 116 via a gearbox 118, so that food falling from the hopper 114 onto the impeller 116 is directed radially outwards by centrifugal forces and set into rotation by contact with the impeller blades 120. A stationary cutting head 122 is attached to a cutting head support ring 124, which in turn is mounted on the housing of the gearbox 118.

[0085] As in Fig. 2As shown, the rotation of the impeller 116 forces the food pieces 126 around the interior of the cutting head 122 in the direction of rotation 128. The cutting head 122 comprises a plurality of cutting head support segments 130, each of which has a blade 132 attached to it. The cutting blades 132 are positioned such that they extend radially inward at a small distance from the adjacent section of the adjacent cutting support segment, so that movement of food 126 in the direction of arrow 128 results in the cutting of slices 126a from the food. The outlet 134, which surrounds the cutting head 122, directs the food slices downward into a receiving container (not shown).

[0086] Finally, exemplary embodiments of cutting heads 35 according to the invention, which can be parts of exemplary embodiments of a centrifugal cutter 27 according to the invention, are described with reference to the Figs. 4 to 8presented.

[0087] Fig. 4 Figure 1 shows a perspective schematic view of an exemplary cutting head 35 of the present invention. The cutting head 35 for cutting an electroporated material 2 comprises an annular side wall 36. Cutting blades 37 are mounted on the side wall. In the example shown, five cutting blades 37 are depicted as cutting edges 23. Commercially available cutting heads 35 for the production of potato chips have 8 or 14 cutting blades 37.

[0088] As in Fig. 5 , a partial schematic side view of a cutting head 35, shows that the cutting blades 37 extend inwards from the side wall 36, i.e. in the direction of rotation (indicated by a cross in a circle in Fig. 5(indicated) of the side wall 36. The cutting blades 37 project inwards such that a cutting opening 39 with a cutting gap 40 is formed between the side wall 36 and the at least one cutting blade 37. The gap width 41 of the cutting gap 40 corresponds to the radial distance between the side wall 36 and a distal cutting edge 42 of the at least one cutting blade 37. The radial direction extends from the axis of rotation towards the side wall 36.

[0089] The cutting head 35 includes an actuable adjustment mechanism 38 for adjusting the gap width 41, which is located in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 merely schematically represented and in the Figs. 6 to 8This will be explained in more detail using examples. The adjusting mechanism 38 has a movable adjusting element 43 connected to the cutting blade 37 in a force-transmitting manner and a force transmitter 44 for moving the adjusting element 43. The cutting head 35 according to the invention has the advantage over known cutting heads 122 that, in a centrifugal cutter 27, the cutting gap is adjusted inline because it includes an actuable, i.e., machine-operated, adjusting mechanism 38, which can be controlled with a control signal 17 and with which the gap width 41 can be set and changed during operation.

[0090] At least one or all of the cutting blades 37 can be movably mounted. The adjusting mechanism 38 acts on the cutting blade 37 to adjust the radial distance or the angle (α, see Fig. 8) of at least one cutting blade 37 to the side wall 36. The cutting blade 37 can be mounted in a holder 48, the holder 48 being movable relative to the side wall, e.g., sliding or pivoting. To cut an electroporated material 2a into pieces 2b of equal thickness, each of the cutting blades 37 is connected to an adjusting element 43. The adjusting element 43 can move the associated cutting blade 37 and selectively change the gap width 41 at this cutting opening 39.

[0091] The thickness d of the cut pieces 2b can be determined optically, for example by capturing images of the cut pieces 2b with a measuring device 46, whereby the captured images are evaluated electronically or digitally. For this purpose, the measuring device 5 can have a camera 47 which is aligned with the cutting gap 40.

[0092] The force transmitter 44 can be designed to move at least two, or even each, of the actuating elements 43 with the adjusting mechanism 38, which synchronizes the adjustment and reduces the number of parts required. In the Figs. 6 to 8 The power transmitter 44 extends along the ring-shaped side wall 36, which allows for a compact design.

[0093] A first example of an adjustment mechanism will now be presented with reference to the Fig. 6 and 7 presented.

[0094] In this embodiment, the force transmitter 44 is annular and arranged coaxially on the outside of the side wall 36. The annular force transmitter 44 is rotatable relative to the side wall 36 and has teeth serving as adjusting elements 43, each adjusting element 43 being formed by a tooth 49 with a steep flank 50 and a flat flank 51. The teeth 49, like the cutting blades 37 on the side wall 36, are distributed at uniform intervals along the circumference of the annular force transmitter 44. In this embodiment, the cutting blade 37, or rather its holder 48, is force-transmittingly connected to the flat flank 51. The holder 48 is pressed against the flat flank 51 by a hold-down device 52. The hold-down device can be secured by a screw 53 which fixes a spring 54, which spring 54 exerts a contact pressure on the holder 48 directed towards the actuating element 43.

[0095] When the annular force transmitter 44 is rotated in the direction of rotation 128 relative to the side wall 36, the bracket 48 slides along the flat flank 51. When the annular force transmitter 44 is rotated from a first position, which is in Fig. 6A As shown, e.g., to the right, the holder 44 slides down the flat flank 51 under the contact pressure of the hold-down device 52, whereby the holder 48 and the associated cutting blade 37 move radially outwards towards the side wall 36. This reduces the gap width 41 between the cutting edge 42 of the cutting blade 37 and the side wall 36, as shown in Fig. 6B The figure shows the ring-shaped force transmitter 44 in a second position.

[0096] To enable the cutting blades to move evenly relative to the side wall 36, as in Fig. 7As shown, two ring-shaped force transmitters 44 are used, one of which is assigned to the upper and the other to the lower area of ​​the side wall 36.

[0097] With such a ring-shaped force transmitter 44, all actuating elements 43 can be moved and thus the gap widths 41 of all cutting openings 39 can be changed simultaneously and in the same way, which means that identical gap widths 41 are set at all cutting openings 39.

[0098] According to another embodiment, which is in Fig. 8As shown, the force transmitter 44 can be a pressure channel 55 filled with air (in the case of pneumatic operation) or a fluid (in the case of hydraulic operation). The pressure channel 55 can originate from an inlet opening 56 and extend to at least one or to all of the actuating elements 43. The pressure channel 55 can be integrated into the annular side wall 36 of the cutting head 35 (not shown) or, as in the example of the Fig. 8 is appropriate. In the pressure-actuated adjusting mechanism 38 shown, the adjusting element 43 is designed as a movable bolt 57. The bolt 57 is mounted so as to be displaceable in a linear direction in a sliding bearing 58, as indicated by the double arrow.

[0099] The bolt 57 acts from below, i.e., in a radial direction, on the distal, free end of the cutting blade 37 just in front of its cutting edge 42. From above, i.e., from the axis of rotation towards the side wall 36, the cutting blade is pressed against the bolt 57 by a retainer 52. The other, proximal end of the cutting blade 37, opposite the cutting edge 42, is fixed in place.

[0100] In this embodiment, compressed air or hydraulic fluid is pressurized in the pressure channel 55. The pressure is transmitted to the bolt 57 and moves it radially towards the axis of rotation until the pressure on the bolt is in equilibrium with the counter-pressure of the hold-down device 52. If the pressure in the pressure channel 55 is increased, for example by a compressor 59 of the actuator 45 connected to the inlet opening 56, the bolt 57 moves radially towards the axis of rotation, the cutting blade 37 pivots inwards towards the axis of rotation, and the angle α between the cutting blade 37 and the side wall 36, and thus the gap width 41, increases. If the pressure in the pressure channel 55 is decreased, the force of the spring 54 of the hold-down device 52 exceeds the pressure in the pressure channel 55, and the spring 54 pushes the bolt 57 radially away from the axis of rotation.In this process, the cutting blade 37 pivots towards the side wall 36 and the angle α between the cutting blade 37 and the side wall 36, and thus the gap width 41, decreases.

[0101] The cutting head 35 of the present invention can be part of a centrifugal cutter 27 according to the invention, which further comprises an impeller 116 for rotating the process material in a direction of rotation 128 against the side wall 36 of the cutting head 35. The impeller 116 can be arranged in the cutting head 35, e.g., coaxially with the annular side wall 36 of the cutting head 35. The impeller can have guide elements, e.g., blades 120, for transporting the electroporated process material 2a to the side wall 36 when the impeller rotates. The centrifugal cutter can be of a known type, such as that found, for example, in [reference to a specific product or service]. Fig. 2 shown, however, a cutting head 35 according to the invention is installed.

[0102] The cutting head 35 and / or the centrifugal cutter 27 can include the actuator 45 already described above in connection with the system 1 according to the invention.

[0103] The cutting head 35 and / or the centrifugal cutter 27 can also include the control 6 and / or measuring device 5 for detecting the measuring thickness d of the cut pieces 2b of the process material already described above in connection with the system 1 according to the invention. Reference sign

[0104] 1 System 2 Process material 2a Electroporated process material 2b Cut pieces 2c End product 3 Electroporator 4 Cutting device 5 Measuring device 6 Control unit 7 Conveyor section 8 Feed device 9 Conveyor belt 10 Drive 11 Electroporation unit 12 Electrodes 13 Capacitor 14 Power line 15 Voltage source 16 Pulse generator 17 Control signal 18 Control line 19 Conveyor section 20 Conveyor belt 21 Drive 22 Linear cutter 23 Cutting 24 Cutting disc 25 Motor 26 Pressure device 27 Centrifugal cutter 28 Fryer 29 Cutting measuring device 30 Speedometer 31 Force meter 32 Pulse meter 33 Comparator 34 End product measuring device 35 Cutting head 36 Side wall 37 Cutting blade 38 Adjustment mechanism 39 Cutting opening 40 Cutting gap 41 Gap width 42 Cutting edge 43 Actuator 44 Power transmitter 45 Actuator 46 Measuring device 47 Camera 48 Mount 49 Tooth 50 Steep flank 51 Flat flank 52 Hold-down device 53 Screw 54 Spring 55 Pressure channel 56 Inlet opening 57 Bolt 58 Plain bearing 59 Compressor 110 Main frame 112 Drive motor114 Food feed hopper 116 Impeller 118 Gearbox 120 Blades 122 Cutting head 124 Cutting head support ring 126 Food piece 126a Discs 128 Direction of rotation 130 Cutting head support segments 132 Cutting blades 134 Discharge α Angle EP Electroporation parameter F Conveyor speed T Conveyor direction SP Cutting parameter d Measuring thickness d Target Target size

Claims

1. Method for cutting an electroporous process material (2a) into pieces (2b) of a specific target thickness, comprising the steps of: - electroporizing a process material (2); - cutting the electroporous process material (2a) with a cutting device (4) having a cutting gap (40) of defined gap width (41); - determining a measuring thickness (d Mess ) of the cut pieces (2b) of the process material; - comparing the measured thickness (d Mess ) with the defined gap width (41) and / or with the target thickness as the target value (d) Soll ); and - if the measuring thickness (d Mess ) of the cut pieces (2b) from the target size (d Soll ) deviates, compensate for the deviation by changing an electroporation parameter (EP) and / or a cutting parameter (SP).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring thickness (d) Mess ) of the cut process material (2b) is measured inline.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the piece (2b) of the cut material exiting through the cutting gap (40) is recorded with a camera (47) and the measuring thickness (d) is determined from the recording. Mess ) is determined.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the energy input during electroporation is changed as an electroporation parameter (EP) to compensate.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the gap width (41) and / or the contact pressure of the electroporated process material (2a) is changed as cutting parameters (SP) during cutting.

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein further process parameters are measured and taken into account in the compensation step.

7. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the process material (2) is plant tubers cut into slices or strips.

8. System (1) for cutting an electroporated process material (2a) into pieces (2b) of a specific target thickness, comprising an electroporator (3), a cutting device (4) whose cutting gap (40) is adjustable to a defined gap width (41), a measuring device (5) for detecting a measuring thickness (d) Mess ) of the cut pieces (2b) of the process material, and a control (6) in which the target thickness and / or the set gap width is defined as a target value (d Soll ) is stored, wherein the control (6) is configured to measure the detected thickness (d Mess ) of the cut pieces (2b) with the target size (d Soll ) to compare, wherein the control (6) is further configured when the measured thickness (d Mess ) of the cut process material (2b) from the target size (d Soll ) deviates, to output a control signal (17) compensating for the deviation to the electroporator (3) and / or the cutting device (4).

9. System (1) according to claim 8, wherein the measuring device (5) comprises an optical, an acoustic and / or an electromagnetic measuring device (46).

10. System (1) according to claim 9, wherein the measuring device (5) comprises a camera (47) or an ultrasonic measuring device which is directed towards the cutting gap (40).

11. System (1) according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the cutting device (4) comprises an actuator (45) connected to the control (6) via signal transmission for adjusting the gap width (41) and / or for adjusting the contact pressure of the material being processed at the cutting gap (40).

12. System (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the cutting device (4) comprises a centrifugal cutter (27) and / or a linear cutter (22).

13. Cutting head (35) for cutting an electroporated process material (2b), with an annular side wall (36) on which at least one cutting blade (37) is mounted, wherein the at least one cutting blade (37) extends inwards from the side wall (36) such that a cutting opening (39) with a cutting gap (40) is formed between the side wall (36) and the at least one cutting blade (37), wherein a gap width (41) of the cutting gap (40) corresponds to the radial distance between the side wall (36) and a distal cutting edge (42) of the at least one cutting blade (37), and wherein the cutting head (35) comprises an actuable adjusting mechanism (38) for adjusting the gap width (41), wherein the adjusting mechanism (38) comprises a movable adjusting element (43) connected to the cutting blade (37) in a force-transmitting manner and a force transmitter (44). for moving the actuating element (43).

14. Cutting head (35) according to claim 13, wherein the at least one cutting blade (37) is adjustable relative to the side wall (36) and the adjustment mechanism (38) is designed to change the radial distance or angle of the at least one cutting blade (37) to the side wall (36).

15. Centrifugal cutter (27) for cutting an electroporated process material (2a) with a cutting head (35) according to one of claims 13 to 14 and a wheel (116) for rotating the process material in a direction of rotation (128) against the side wall (36) of the cutting head (35).

Images