Device and method for cutting food bars

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for weighing food bars or sticks, having a cutting apparatus for cutting one or several food bars into product slices and a food supply device, wherein the food supply device has a conveyor belt for supplying the food bars to the cutting apparatus, wherein the food supply apparatus has a weighing device, associated with the conveyor belt, for weighing the food bars, wherein the food bars are supplied to the cutting apparatus.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] title

[0003] Device and method for cutting food bars

[0004] State of the art

[0005] The invention relates to a device for cutting food bars, comprising a cutting device for slicing one or more food bars into product slices, and a food feed device, wherein the food feed device has a conveyor belt for feeding the food bars to the cutting device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for cutting food bars, wherein one or more food bars are fed to a cutting device for slicing.

[0006] Such devices are widely known and are typically referred to as slicers or high-performance slicers. Basically, with such slicers, the food products are loaded onto the slicer's food feeder using an external loading device. If the weight of these food products is to be determined before slicing, a scale must be inserted between the food feeder and the external loading device. The disadvantage of this configuration is that the scale must be at least as long as the longest food product to be sliced ​​using the slicer, resulting in a comparatively large loss of installation space.

[0007] Against this background, the object is to provide a device and a method which enables an integrated and thus space-saving weighing of a food bar in a cutting device before the food bar is cut open.

[0008] Disclosure of the invention

[0009] The object is achieved by a device for cutting food bars, comprising a cutting device for cutting food bars into product slices and a food feed device, wherein the food feed device has a conveyor belt for feeding the food bars to the cutting device, wherein the device has a weighing device associated with the food feed device for weighing the food bars.

[0010] The device according to the invention for cutting food bars, in particular a slicer or high-performance slicer, has the advantage over the prior art that no additional weighing device is required upstream of the food feed device, so that the entire assembly or line can be designed in a more compact space. According to the invention, the weighing device is associated with the food feed device of the device. In the context of the present invention, this means, in particular, that the weighing device is integrated into the food feed device. Consequently, the arrangement of the weighing device in combination with the food feed device enables a space-saving device.

[0011] Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims and the description with reference to the drawings.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor belt has a conveying plane, wherein the weighing device associated with the conveyor belt has a load cell with a lifting device, wherein the lifting device is movable between a working position and a rest position through the conveying plane, wherein the lifting device is located largely above the conveying plane in the working position and largely below the conveying plane in the rest position, wherein the load cell is configured such that the weight of the food bars lying on the load cell in the working position can be determined. Advantageously, the food bars can thus be lifted by means of the lifting device during feeding and the weight of the food bars can thereby be determined effectively and efficiently by the load cell in the lifting device.The load cell is preferably moved perpendicular to the conveyor plane, with the load cell being moved from a rest position largely below the conveyor plane to a working position largely above the conveyor plane. A vertical movement of the load cell represents a simple and space-saving option for weighing a food bar. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the load cell can be moved continuously between the rest position and the working position. Depending on the weight of the food bar, the conveyor belt can have a pretension force, whereby with a high pretension force, the load cell should not be unnecessarily stressed by the tensile force of the conveyor belt. Thus, weighing within these various relative positions is also advantageously possible.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor belt is pivotable between a loading position and a feed position by means of a lifting drive, wherein the weighing device associated with the conveyor belt has a power evaluation unit for determining a power consumption of the lifting drive, wherein the power evaluation unit is configured such that the weight of the food bars can be determined depending on the power consumption of the lifting drive. The lifting drive can move the conveyor belt from a loading position for receiving food bars and a feed position for feeding the products to the cutting device, wherein the movement of the lifting drive enables, in particular, a rotational movement of the conveyor belt around a fixed point.

[0014] Instead of the rotary movement of the conveyor belt, it is also possible to move in space around at least 2 axes, such as an asymmetric scissor lift table.

[0015] The loading position is preferably a substantially horizontal position of the conveyor belt in which the food bars are fed to the conveyor belt. Furthermore, the feed position can be a new position of the conveyor belt rotated by a feed angle to the loading position, wherein in the feed position the food bars already lying on it are fed to the cutting device. The lifting drive can, for example, be a spindle drive or a geared motor with a servo drive, in which the lifting force is transmitted by means of a flat belt, toothed belt, wire rope or similar, or can also have a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, which generate the lifting movement of the conveyor belt. In principle, other drive forms are conceivable, such as a coupling cam or rocker arm.

[0016] With a spindle drive, an electric motor can be connected to the conveyor belt via a spindle, whereby a spindle is a simple mechanical connection and not very prone to errors. The power that the electric motor or the geared motor with servo drive requires to lift the conveyor belt from the loading position to the feed position (lifting force) is preferably also dependent on the weight of the food bars lying on the conveyor belt. In particular, the lifting force is transmitted by means of a toothed belt, and thus the conveyor belt with the food bar on it is lifted. The power evaluation unit can then determine the weight of the food bars based on the required power, whereby the weight of the conveyor belt and other elements are deducted by the evaluation unit. For example, deflection rollers or the weight of the conveyor belt can be mentioned. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the conveyor belt to be moved by means of a pivot bearing orradial bearing on the rotation axis of the conveyor belt and the pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder on the opposite side is pivoted. This would advantageously make it possible to determine the weight of the food bars using the power evaluation unit based on the required power of the pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. When calculating the weight, the weight of the deflection rollers or the weight of the conveyor belt would also have to be taken into account. The evaluation unit preferably determines the weight of the food bars using the power consumption of the lifting drive in combination with the measured or previously defined or provided feed angle of the conveyor belt. The feed angle of the conveyor belt can affect the weight that the food bars exert on the conveyor belt. The spindle drive or the gear motor with a servo drive, the pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders are, in particular, continuously adjustable for moving the conveyor belt.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor belt is pivotable between a loading position and a feed position by means of a lifting drive, wherein the weighing device comprises one or more load cells arranged on the left and right, which are located in the region of a pivot axis of the conveyor belt and measure the weight of the food feed device in the loading position. It is conceivable that the load cell(s) are arranged in the region of the pivot axis bearing or in the region of a bracket below the pivot axis bearing.Advantageously, the entire weight force of the food feeding device acts on the load cell(s) and lifting drive when the conveyor belt is in the loading position, so that by detecting the difference in weight (empty conveyor belt to products on the conveyor belt) the weight of the food bar that is on the conveyor belt can be determined.

[0018] REPLACEMENT SHEET (RULE 26) Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable for the conveyor belt to be pivotable between a loading position and a feed position by means of a lifting drive, wherein the weighing device has a load cell arranged in the region of a pivot axis of the conveyor belt, and a further load cell arranged in the region of a deflection pulley of the conveyor belt, wherein the load cell and the further load cell jointly measure the weight of the food feed device in the loading position. It is conceivable for the further load cell to be arranged in the bearing of the deflection pulley for the belt of the conveyor belt or in its holder. Advantageously, the weight of a food bar arranged on the conveyor belt can then be measured by means of both load cells when the conveyor belt is in the loading position.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor belt is pivotable between the loading position and the feed position by means of a lifting belt (or similar), the lifting belt having a lifting belt strain gauge, the weighing device associated with the conveyor belt having a lifting belt evaluation unit for detecting a change in length of the lifting belt strain gauge, the lifting belt evaluation unit being configured such that the weight of the food bars on the conveyor belt can be determined as a function of the change in length or width of the lifting belt strain gauge. The lifting belt can in particular be attached to a geared motor with a servo drive and the lifting force can be transmitted to the latter by means of a toothed belt. The conveyor belt, equipped with the pivot bearing orThe radial bearing on one side (rotation axis) and a fastening to the lifting belt on the other side allow for advantageous lifting and lowering. The (weight) force acting on the lifting belt provides information about the weight of the conveyor belt with the food bar on it. The (weight) force acting on the lifting belt indicates the change in length in the lifting belt. The lifting belt evaluation unit can then record the change in length, and by calculating the change in length when the conveyor belt is raised without the food bar on it, the weight of the food bar on the conveyor belt can be determined.

[0020] The lifting belt strain gauge can preferably be designed as a resistance wire which is encased in plastic. The resistance wire is typically arranged in a meandering shape and can detect a change in resistance caused by a change in the length of the lifting belt (to which the lifting belt strain gauge in the form of the

[0021] REPLACEMENT SHEET (RULE 26) plastic-covered resistance wire). Further designs of the lifting belt strain gauge include electrical sensor elements for detecting the change in length. Examples include piezoelectric, optical, inductive, and / or capacitive sensor elements.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor belt comprises a strain gauge, wherein the weighing device associated with the conveyor belt comprises an evaluation unit for detecting a change in length of the strain gauge, wherein the evaluation unit is configured such that the weight of the food bars located on the conveyor belt can be determined as a function of the change in length of the strain gauge. By means of the strain gauge included in the conveyor belt, the weight of the food bars can preferably be determined during loading of the pre-tensioned conveyor belt (in the loading position) based on the change in length of the strain gauge detected thereby.Compared to the pre-tensioned state of the conveyor belt, loading the food bars results in a change in length, which can be detected by the strain gauge and determined by the evaluation unit. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, detection and determination can also take place in the feed position of the conveyor belt. By measuring and / or providing the feed angle, the weight of the food bars on the pre-tensioned conveyor belt can be determined within the evaluation unit in proportion to the feed position and taken into account when determining the weight of the food bars. The strain gauge is attached to the conveyor belt and the designs are the same as for the lifting belt strain gauge.

[0023] Thus, by means of this embodiment of the present invention, an extremely advantageous detection of a change in length of the pre-tensioned conveyor belt by the strain gauge in the loading position or in the feeding position can be ensured and an extremely

[0024] REPLACEMENT SHEET (RULE 26) advantageous determination of the weight of the food bars by the evaluation unit (in combination with the measurement and / or provision of the feed angle) based on the change in length.

[0025] A further subject of the present invention is a method for cutting food bars, in particular by means of the device according to the invention for cutting food bars, wherein food bars are fed to a cutting device for slicing, wherein the weight of the food bars is determined by means of a weighing device associated with the food feeding device, in particular during the feeding.

[0026] The advantages and configurations described in connection with the embodiments of the device according to the invention for weighing food bars or sticks can be applied to the method for weighing food bars.

[0027] Short description of the drawings

[0028] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a device for cutting food bars according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0029] Figure 2a shows a schematic representation of the device for cutting food bars according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0030] Figure 2b shows a schematic representation of the device for cutting food bars according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0031] Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of the device for cutting food bars according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0032] Embodiments of the invention

[0033] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the device for cutting food bars 200, 200' according to one embodiment of the invention. The device comprises a cutting device 100 for cutting the food bars 200, 200' into product slices. The food bars 200, 200' are fed to the cutting device 100 by means of a food feed device comprising a conveyor belt.

[0034] It can be seen that the conveyor belt carries a food bar 200' in a loading position 110 and feeds it to the cutting device 100. Furthermore, the conveyor belt is shown in a loading position 110' by means of dashed lines. Within the loading position 110', a further food bar 200 (exemplarily arranged there) is lifted by means of a lifting device 120, and the weight of the further food bar 200 is determined by a load cell included in the lifting device 120. The lifting device 120, together with the load cell, forms a weighing device that is integrated into the food feed device and is thus also associated with the food feed device.

[0035] An arrow indicates the pivoting of the conveyor belt from the loading position 110' to the feed position 110. Furthermore, the conveyor belt has a conveying plane parallel to the conveyor belt. The lifting device 120 can be moved from a rest position to a working position and from the working position to the rest position, and in particular into (continuously variable) transition positions (indicated by two arrows). Within the working position, the weight of the additional food bar 200 is determined largely above the conveying plane. Thus, in the loading position 110', the conveyor belt can pick up a food bar 200, and by means of the lifting device 120, the food bar 200 can be lifted largely perpendicular to the conveying plane (working position). In the working position, the weight of the food bar 200 can be weighed using the load cell.After weighing, the food bar 200 can be lowered again (rest position) by means of the lifting device 120, and the conveyor belt can be pivoted from the loading position 110' to the feeding position 110'. This efficiently feeds the food bar 200' to the cutting device 100. In the receiving position 110', the food bar 200 can optionally be placed on the conveyor belt manually by a worker or by means of an external loading device (not shown).

[0036] Figure 2a shows a schematic representation of the device for cutting the food bar 200' according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0037] As in Figure 1, Figure 2a shows the cutting device 100 and the conveyor belt in the loading position 110' and in the feed position 110. The conveyor belt, loaded with the food bar 200', is raised and lowered by means of a lifting belt. The lifting belt is attached to a lifting drive, which can be designed in particular as an electric motor or a geared motor with a servo drive. The lifting force is transmitted by means of a toothed belt. Furthermore, a lifting belt strain gauge 500, 500' is attached to the lifting belt. Depending on whether the conveyor belt loaded with the food bar 200' is in the loading position 110' or the feed position 110, it has two different lengths (length 500 in the loading position 110' and length 500' in the feed position 110).By comparing these two lengths 500, 500' and the reference process (not explicitly shown here) of raising and lowering the unloaded conveyor belt, a change in the length of the lifting belt strain gauge 500, 500' in the loaded state can be advantageously detected and distinguished from the unloaded state. The change in the length of the lifting belt strain gauge 500, 500' is effectively and efficiently recorded using a lifting belt evaluation unit. The weight of the food bar on the conveyor belt can then advantageously be determined based on the change in the length of the lifting belt strain gauge 500, 500'. Here, too, the weighing device is integrated into the food feed device and thus also associated with the food feed device.

[0038] One embodiment of the lifting belt strain gauge can sometimes be a meandering resistance wire enclosed in plastic, which experiences a change in electrical resistance when its length changes. Alternatively or additionally, other sensor elements, such as piezoelectric, optical, inductive, and / or capacitive sensor elements enclosed in plastic, are conceivable.

[0039] Figure 2b shows a schematic representation of the device for cutting the food bar 200' according to a further embodiment of the invention. As in the previous figures, Figure 2b shows the cutting device 100 and the conveyor belt in the loading position 110' and in the feed position 110. By means of the lifting drive, the conveyor belt, loaded with the food bar 200', is pivoted from the loading position 110' to the feed position 110. The power consumption of the lifting drive allows the weight of the food bar 200' to be determined by means of the power evaluation unit 300 as a function of the power consumption of the lifting drive. The lifting drive can be implemented in particular by means of a spindle drive, which connects an electric motor to the conveyor belt via a spindle, or by means of a geared motor with a servo drive. In this case, the lifting force is also transmitted by means of a toothed belt.Furthermore, the lifting drive can also be designed using a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. In the case of a spindle drive, the spindle represents a simple mechanical connection which is less susceptible to errors. The power consumption of the electric motor or the geared motor with a servo drive is recorded by the power evaluation unit 300 and converted into a weight force of the food bar 200'. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the conveyor belt to have a pivot bearing or radial bearing on the rotation axis and to be attached to the opposite side of the pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. This means that the power of the pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder can also be recorded using the power evaluation unit 300 and the weight of the food bar can be effectively determined. During the calculation orFor this determination, the weight of, for example, the conveyor belt and the deflection rollers can be advantageously calculated within the detection process. The embodiment of determining the weight of the food bar 200' as a function of the power consumption of the lifting drive is also conceivable for the embodiment described in Figure 2a of pivoting the conveyor belt by means of the lifting belt attached to the lifting drive (and the associated power evaluation unit 300). The weighing device is again integrated into the food supply device and thus also associated with the food supply device.

[0040] In a further embodiment, a feed angle, which defines the angle between the loading position 110' and the feed position 110, can be measured or provided. Using the feed angle, the determination of the weight of the food bar 200' acting on the conveyor belt can be advantageously supplemented within the power evaluation unit 300 with respect to power consumption.

[0041] An alternative embodiment in which the conveyor belt and further elements, such as the cutting device 100 and the food feed device itself, pivot about the feed angle from a total loading position to a total loading position is also conceivable.

[0042] Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a device for cutting the food bar 200' according to a further embodiment of the invention. As in the previous figures, the cutting device 100 and the conveyor belt are shown in the feed position 110 and in the loading position 110'. Due to a strain gauge included in the conveyor belt, a change in length compared to the unloaded pre-tensioned conveyor belt can be detected, in particular during loading of the pre-tensioned conveyor belt (not explicitly shown here). Furthermore, when pivoting the conveyor belt into the feed position 110, a change in length between the loaded pre-tensioned conveyor belt 400' and the unloaded pre-tensioned conveyor belt 400 can also be detected by means of the strain gauge. This change in length can, however, be measured with the aid of (ieMeasurement or provision) of the feed angle, since the weight of the food bar 200' acting on the conveyor belt changes depending on the feed angle. Using an evaluation unit, the weight of the food bar 200' can be determined in both the loading position 110' and the feed position 110 (in connection with the measurement or provision of the feed angle) based on the detected change in length. The weighing device is again integrated into the food feed device and thus also associated with the food feed device.

[0043] The possible designs of the strain gauge mounted on the conveyor belt are the same as those of the lifting belt strain gauge.

[0044] Figure 4 shows a device for cutting food bars according to a further embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is essentially similar to the device shown in Figure 1. However, in the example of Figure 4, the weighing device does not comprise a lifting device 120, but rather a load cell 600, which is arranged in the region of the pivot axis 112 for the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt can pivot about this pivot axis 112 between the feed position 110 and the loading position 110'. The load cell is associated with the food feed device and arranged in such a way that the weight force acting on the pivot axis and emanating from the entire feed device can be measured. In this way, it is possible to determine the weight of the food bar 200 lying on the conveyor belt, particularly when the conveyor belt is in the loading position.

[0045] Alternatively, it is conceivable for the weighing device to have an additional load cell located in the area of ​​the pivoted deflection roller 111 of the conveyor belt. It is conceivable for the deflection roller 111 or its bearing to act on the additional load cell, so that the total weight of the conveyor belt or the food supply device can be determined by means of the load cell 600 and the additional load cell 600'. In this way, the weight of the food bar 200 located on the conveyor belt can be determined even when the conveyor belt is in the loading position 110'.

[0046] 100 cutting device

[0047] 110 Conveyor belt in a feeding position 110' Conveyor belt in a loading position

[0048] 120 lifting device

[0049] 200 additional food bars 200' food bars or sticks 300 performance evaluation unit 400 unloaded pre-tensioned conveyor belt

[0050] 400' loaded pre-tensioned conveyor belt

[0051] 500 Lifting belt in the receiving position of the loaded conveyor belt 500' Lifting belt in the loading position of the loaded conveyor belt 600 Load cell 600' Additional load cell

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. A device for cutting food bars (200, 200') comprising a cutting device (100) for cutting food bars (200, 200') into product slices and a food feed device, wherein the food feed device has a conveyor belt (110, 110') for feeding the food bars (200, 200') to the cutting device (100), characterized in that the device has a weighing device associated with the food feed device for weighing the food bar (200, 200').

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the conveyor belt (110, 110') has a conveying plane, wherein the weighing device associated with the conveyor belt (110, 110') has a load cell with a lifting device (120), wherein the lifting device (120) is movable between a working position and a rest position through the conveying plane, wherein the lifting device (120) is located largely above the conveying plane in the working position and largely below the conveying plane in the rest position, wherein the load cell is configured such that in the working position the weight of a food bar (200) lying on the load cell can be determined.

3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor belt (110, 110') can be pivoted between a loading position (110') and a feed position (110) by means of a lifting drive, wherein the weighing device associated with the conveyor belt (110, 110') has a power evaluation unit (300) for determining a power consumption of the lifting drive, wherein the power evaluation unit (300) is configured such that the weight of the food bar (200') can be determined depending on the power consumption of the lifting drive.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor belt (110, 110') is pivotable between a loading position (110') and a feed position (110) by means of a lifting belt, wherein the lifting belt has a lifting belt strain gauge (500, 500'), wherein the weighing device associated with the conveyor belt (110, 110') has a lifting belt evaluation unit for detecting a change in length of the lifting belt strain gauge (500, 500'), wherein the lifting belt evaluation unit is configured such that the weight of the the conveyor belt (110, 110') located food bars (200, 200') can be determined as a function of the change in length of the lifting belt strain gauge (500, 500').

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor belt (110, 110') is pivotable between a loading position (110') and a feed position (110) by means of a lifting drive, wherein the weighing device has a load cell (600) which is arranged in the region of a pivot axis (112) of the conveyor belt (110, 110') and measures the weight of the food feed device in the loading position (110').

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor belt (110, 110') is pivotable between a loading position (110') and a feed position (110) by means of a lifting drive, wherein the weighing device has a load cell (600) which is arranged in the region of a pivot axis (112) of the conveyor belt (110, 110'), and a further load cell (600') which is arranged in the region of a deflection roller (111) of the conveyor belt (110, 110'), wherein the load cell (600) and the further load cell (600') jointly measure the weight of the food feed device in the loading position (110').

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the conveyor belt (110, 110') has a strain gauge (400, 400'), wherein the weighing device associated with the conveyor belt (110, 110') has an evaluation unit for detecting a change in length of the strain gauge (400, 400'), wherein the evaluation unit is configured such that the weight of the food bars (200, 200') located on the conveyor belt (110, 110') can be determined as a function of the change in length of the strain gauge (400, 400').

8. Method for cutting food bars (200, 200'), in particular by means of a device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein food bars (200, 200') for slicing are fed to a cutting device (100) by means of a food feeding device, characterized in that the weight of the food bars (200, 200') is determined by means of a weighing device associated with the food feeding device, in particular during the feeding.

9. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the food bars (200, 200') are fed to the cutting device (100) in a conveying plane, wherein the food bars (200, 200') are lifted through the conveying plane by means of a lifting device (120), wherein the weight of the food bars (200, 200') is determined largely above the conveying plane by means of a weighing device.

10. Method according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the conveyor belt (110, 110') is pivoted by means of a lifting drive, wherein the power consumption of the lifting drive is measured, wherein the weight of the food bars (200, 200') is determined as a function of the power consumption.

11. Method according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the conveyor belt (110, 110') is pivoted by means of a lifting belt, wherein the lifting belt has a lifting belt strain gauge (500, 500'), wherein the change in length of the lifting belt strain gauge (500, 500') is detected by means of a lifting belt evaluation unit, wherein the weight of the food bars (200, 200') is determined as a function of the change in length of the lifting belt strain gauge (500, 500').

12. Method according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the conveyor belt (110, 110') has a strain gauge (400, 400'), wherein a change in length of the strain gauge (400, 400') is detected by means of an evaluation unit, wherein the weight of the food bars (200, 200') is determined as a function of the change in length of the strain gauge (400, 400').

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