Food cutting device

Abstract

To provide a food cutting device which keeps a contact size of a machine base to reduce costs while allowing a takeout conveyor to be drawn from the machine base.SOLUTION: A food cutting device includes: a cutting part which cuts out a food piece from a block food; a takeout conveyor 31 which receives the food piece cut out by the cutting part to carry out the food piece; a machine base 32 supporting the takeout conveyor 31; and a drawing mechanism 7 which is disposed between the takeout conveyor 31 and the machine base 32 and used to draw out the takeout conveyor 31 from the machine base 32. The drawing mechanism 7 has: a plurality of rails 71 which are provided at the takeout conveyor 31 side, extend in a drawing direction of the takeout conveyor 31, are disposed spaced apart from each other in a width direction D2 of the takeout conveyor 31; and rollers 72 which are provided at the machine base 32 side and support the rails 71.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a food cutting device for cutting block food. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional food cutting device, as shown in Patent Document 1, includes a cutting blade that cuts meat pieces from a block of meat and a conveyor that receives the cut meat pieces, and is configured so that the conveyor can be pulled out for maintenance, etc.

[0003] More specifically, rails are provided on the machine base that supports the conveyor, and rollers that roll on these rails are provided on the conveyor side, so that the conveyor is pulled out relative to the machine base as the rollers roll on the rails.

[0004] However, such a configuration requires the rails to extend in the conveyor pull-out direction, which increases the size of the machine base along the pull-out direction, resulting in higher costs for the machine base materials and the like, and thus higher costs for the entire device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7186387 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its objective is to reduce costs by keeping the size of the machine base compact while allowing the removal conveyor to be pulled out from the machine base. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In other words, the food cutting device of the present invention comprises a cutting section which cuts food pieces from a block of food, a take-out conveyor which receives and transports the food pieces cut out by the cutting section, a machine base which supports the take-out conveyor, and a pull-out mechanism interposed between the take-out conveyor and the machine base for pulling the take-out conveyor out from the machine base, and is characterized in that the pull-out mechanism is provided on the take-out conveyor side, extends in the pull-out direction of the take-out conveyor, and has a plurality of rails spaced apart in the width direction of the take-out conveyor, and rollers provided on the machine base which support the rails.

[0008] In the food cutting device configured in this manner, the rails that constitute the pull-out mechanism are provided on the take-out conveyor, and the rollers are provided on the machine base, so that the rails can be extended in the opposite direction to the pull-out direction of the take-out conveyor. The rail extends into space that would previously have been ineffectively utilized, for example below the cutting section. By fitting the rail into this dead space, it is no longer necessary to extend the machine base in the pull-out direction of the take-out conveyor, as was the case in the past. This allows the size of the machine base to be kept compact while still allowing the take-out conveyor to be pulled out from the machine base, thereby reducing the cost of the entire device.

[0009] With the upstream side of the conveying direction defined as the rear side and the downstream side defined as the front side, it is preferable that the rollers are provided in positions that support a first location on the front side of the rail and a second location behind the first location, and are provided in a position at the second location that clamps the rail from above and below. With this configuration, when the removal conveyor is pulled out from the machine base, the second point of the rail can be clamped from above and below by rollers, preventing the removal conveyor from tilting under its own weight and making it possible to pull out the removal conveyor safely.

[0010] Preferably, the drawing mechanism further has a mounting member to which the roller is attached and which is detachably attached to the machine base integrally with the roller. With such a configuration, the roller can be removed together with the mounting member, improving the maintainability.

[0011] In a state where the take-out conveyor is supported by the machine base, it is preferable that at least one of the mounting members is removable from the machine base. With such a configuration, inspections, cleaning, replacement, etc. of the roller can be performed without performing a large-scale operation such as removing the take-out conveyor from the machine base using a crane or the like, further improving the maintainability.

[0012] When the upstream side in the conveying direction is the rear side and the downstream side is the front side, an operation unit for locking or unlocking the drawing of the take-out conveyor with respect to the machine base is preferably provided on the front side of the machine base. With such a configuration, access to the operation unit is easy and the workability is good.

[0013] By the way, as a conventional food cutting device of the present applicant, in order to avoid the risk that the cutting part starts to move during maintenance or the like, it is configured that when it is detected that the cover for housing the cutting part is open or when it is detected that the above-described take-out conveyor is pulled out, the device does not operate. Therefore, detection means are provided at various locations, such as detection means for detecting that the cover is open and detection means for detecting that the take-out conveyor is pulled out, which leads to an increase in cost.

[0014] Therefore, it is preferable that the conveyor further includes an openable and closable side cover that is provided on both the left and right sides or one of the left and right sides of the conveyor and covers at least a part of the cutting portion, and that when the side cover is closed, the side cover itself or a member attached to the side cover is configured to prevent the conveyor from being pulled out. With this configuration, the take-out conveyor cannot be pulled out when the side cover that houses the cutting section is closed, so as long as it can be detected that the side cover is open, there is no need to detect that the take-out conveyor is pulled out. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the need for a detection means for detecting that the take-out conveyor is pulled out, thereby reducing costs while ensuring safety during maintenance, etc.

[0015] It is preferable that when the removal conveyor is pulled out, a member pulled out together with the removal conveyor is configured to interfere with the side cover itself or a member attached to the side cover when an attempt is made to close the open side cover, thereby preventing the side cover from being closed. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the side cover from being closed during maintenance while the take-out conveyor is pulled out, thereby ensuring safety.

[0016] In addition, the applicant's conventional food cutting device includes one that is configured to control the thickness of the food pieces. Specifically, this device includes a backing plate that the leading end of the block of food contacts and positions the food piece before it is cut out, and a drive mechanism that moves the backing plate back and forth relative to the cutting position by the cutting unit.

[0017] More specifically, this device is configured to swing a lump food holder so that its tip describes an arc, and to move a support plate back and forth diagonally while changing its inclination relative to this arc trajectory.

[0018] In such a configuration, when attempting to move the backing plate by a desired amount (for example, 1 mm at a time), in consideration of ease of control, it is desirable to arrange the motor and screw members that constitute the drive mechanism in an inclined position along the movement direction of the backing plate.

[0019] However, in order to arrange the motor and screw member in such an inclined position, the shapes and arrangement of the members that support them tend to be complicated, resulting in increased manufacturing costs.

[0020] Therefore, the food cutting device of the present invention comprises a contact plate against which the tip of the lump of food contacts to position the food pieces before the cutting section cuts the food pieces, and a drive mechanism which moves the contact plate back and forth relative to the cutting position by the cutting section, and it is preferable that the drive mechanism has a drive source and a power transmission member which moves back and forth due to the drive force from the drive source and transmits the drive force to the contact plate, and that the power transmission member is arranged along a horizontal or vertical direction.

[0021] With this configuration, the power transmission member is arranged in a horizontal or vertical direction, so that the member supporting this power transmission member can have a simpler shape than when it is arranged at an inclination, thereby enabling manufacturing costs to be reduced.

[0022] However, it would be counterproductive if the backing plate could not be moved by a desired amount by arranging the power transmission member in the horizontal or vertical direction. Therefore, it is preferable that the amount of movement of the power transmission member changes non-linearly with respect to the amount of movement of the backing plate. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce costs by arranging the power transmission members in the horizontal or vertical direction, while still being able to move the backing plate by a desired amount. Effect of the Invention

[0023] According to the present invention configured as described above, it is possible to reduce costs by keeping the size of the machine base compact while allowing the extraction conveyor to be pulled out from the machine base.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024]

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[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a food cutting device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0026] In the embodiment for carrying out the present invention, a meat cutting device for cutting and processing chunks of raw meat ("chunk food" in the claims, such as pork cutlets, hereinafter also referred to as chunk meat) is given as an example of a food cutting device, and an embodiment of the device is described in detail below. For ease of explanation, the upstream side in the conveying direction of the meat being cut is defined as the "rear" side, the downstream side as the "front" side, and the left hand side when facing the upstream side is defined as the "left" side and the right hand side as the "right" side. In addition, the parts of this meat cutting device that come into contact with chunks of meat before cutting or cut pieces of meat ("food pieces" in the claims), as well as at least the areas in their vicinity, and covers for each part, are made of stainless steel from a hygienic standpoint.

[0027] (Overall configuration of meat cutting device) As shown in Figures 1 to 6, the body of a meat cutting machine (claimed "food cutting machine") 100 includes a supply section 2, a cutting section 3, a transfer section 4, a folding section 5, a conveying section 6, and a control section (not shown) that controls these sections.

[0028] (Supply Section Configuration) As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a wide drive roller 2B is supported at the rear part of a rectangular frame 2A in plan view, and a wide driven roller 2C is supported at the front end part of the frame 2A. A wide, endless supply belt 2D that forms the bottom surface of the supply section 2 is wound around the drive roller 2B and driven roller 2C to form a supply device 2E. A flat loading plate 2F is provided at the rear end of the frame body 2A, and a supply electric motor 2G is provided below this loading plate 2F. The supply electric motor 2G drives the above-mentioned drive roller 2B in conjunction with the loading plate 2F via a gear transmission mechanism 2H. The rear part of the frame 2A is supported by a horizontal pivot shaft so that it can swing up and down. The structure of the support part by this pivot shaft will be described later.

[0029] As shown in Figures 1, 6 and 12, the frame body 2A has a top wall and left and right side walls 2I, and left and right supply chambers 2K are formed surrounded by these three walls, a removable central partition wall 2J, and a bottom supply belt 2D. From the supply port 2S formed at the rear of the left and right supply chambers 2K, chunks of raw meat that have been divided from the carcass and have had bone chips and tendons removed are supplied.

[0030] In addition, the left and right pressure plates 2L are inserted into the supply chamber 2K from the top openings at the front ends of the left and right supply chambers 2K, and the left and right air cylinders 2M that press down the left and right pressure plates 2L are provided between the stays 2T raised from the frame body 2A and the left and right pressure plates 2L. These left and right pressure plates 2L are provided to press the tips of the two rows of chunks of meat sent out from the supply chamber 2K by the intermittent drive of the supply device 2E by the extension operation of the air cylinder 2M just before they are cut, thereby cutting them accurately. The supply unit 2 is constructed as above.

[0031] As shown in Figures 1, 2, 9 and 10, the tip of a crank arm 10, which is rotated by an electric motor 9 for swinging fixed to a support frame (described later), is axially connected to the lower part of the frame body 2A by a length-adjustable linking rod 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the frame 2A is biased in an upward direction by a gas spring 12, thereby reducing the load on the electric motor 9 for swinging.

[0032] (Configuration of cutting part) As shown in Figures 3, 4, 6, and 7, a cutting device 16 is formed by wrapping an endless strip-shaped cutting blade 15 around a driving pulley 14R rotatably supported by a bearing 13R on the right-side support frame and a driven pulley 14L rotatably supported by a bearing 13L on the left-side support frame.

[0033] As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the electric cutting motor 15M that rotates the drive pulley 14R is built into the right support frame. As shown in FIG. 3, a right bearing 13R is provided for supporting a rotating shaft (drive shaft) 14RJ of the drive pulley 14R, and a left bearing 13L is provided for supporting a rotating shaft (driven shaft) 14LJ of the driven pulley 14L. The right bearing 13R and the left bearing 13L are fixed to right support plates 17R and left support plates 17L, respectively, which are arranged below the driving pulley 14R and the driven pulley 14L, and are fixed to left and right support frames via the left and right support plates 17L, 17R.

[0034] The left and right support plates 17R, 17L are connected by an upper connecting member 16U and a lower connecting member 16D, and a sliding guide member 20 that slides and guides the cutting blade 15 to prevent deviation of the circular movement trajectory is fixed to each of the upper and lower connecting members 16U, 16D. Left and right cleaning members 16WL, 16WR are fixed to the inner lower parts of the left and right support plates 17L, 17R, respectively, and are equipped with a scraper for scraping off meat scraps and grease adhering to the cutting blade 15 and a nozzle for spraying a gas-liquid mixture fluid onto the cutting blade 15 to clean it.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, a backing plate 19 is disposed on a frame member 18 attached to the tip (front end) of the frame body 2A in the supply section 2, the backing plate 19 being capable of being freely adjusted in position (distance) in the front-rear direction. This contact plate 19 is supported on the body side of the meat cutting device 100 and is positioned opposite the frame-shaped member 18 when the supply section 2 reaches the lower limit of its up-down swing, and is used to contact and position the tip of the chunk of meat before it is sent out by the supply device 2E and cut into pieces.

[0036] Above the rear surface of the pressing plate 19 with an interval T, the cutting action area of the cutting blade 15 whose circular movement locus is restricted by the sliding contact guiding member 20 on the machine body side is arranged.

[0037] (Configuration of the transfer part) As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 6, and 7, a transfer part 4 having a left - right symmetric transfer device 21 is arranged on the front side of the above - mentioned pressing plate 19. This transfer device 21 is provided with a number of left - and - right rotating disks 23L, 23R each having a number of protrusions formed on the outer peripheral edge at intervals in the left - right direction with respect to the left - and - right rotating shafts 22L, 22R. A part of each outer peripheral edge of these rotating disks 23L, 23R is configured to enter a number of vertical slits formed in the upper part of the above - mentioned pressing plate 19. In addition, left - and - right transfer electric motors 24 for driving the left - and - right rotating shafts 22L, 22R to rotate through a gear transmission mechanism 22A are provided.

[0038] (Configuration of the folding part) As shown in FIGS. 2, 5 - 7, a folding part 5 is arranged on the rear side of the transfer device 21. This folding part 5 is provided with a mechanism for reciprocally rotating a number of thin rods 28 implanted on the left - and - right rotating shafts 27L, 27R by left - and - right folding rotary tables 26L, 26R. In addition, it is provided with a mechanism for sliding the rotating shafts 27L, 27R together with the folding rotary tables 26L, 26R in the rear - upward inclined direction by air cylinders 25L, 25R. In addition, it is provided with a mechanism for raising and lowering left - and - right pressing members 29AL, 29AR provided with curved linear springs 29 to press and release the pressing on the upper surface of the meat slices m cut out in two left - and - right rows onto the upper surface of the conveying part 6. These mechanisms are provided symmetrically left and right. Furthermore, as will be described later, it is provided with a mechanism for moving the start end part of the conveying part 6 up and down.

[0039] The left and right thin rods 28 rotate back and forth from a position where they are retreated within the left and right spaces between the left and right turntables 23L, 23R of the above-mentioned transfer conveying device 21 to a position approaching the upper surface of the starting end of the conveying section 6 by driving the left and right folding rotary tables 26L, 26R in forward and reverse directions.

[0040] In the cutting operation, two chunks of raw meat are supplied from the supply port 2S to the left and right supply chambers 2K, respectively, and the meat is intermittently fed at a predetermined pitch by the supply device 2E. Then, the leading end of the meat delivered from the supply device 2E is positioned against the contact plate 19, and the parts of the two rows of meat protruding from the front surface of the frame-shaped member 18 are brought into contact with the cutting blade 15 as the supply device 2E swings upward to be cut. The cut left and right pieces of meat m pass through the gap T and are passed onto the left and right turntables 23L, 23R, and are transported forward by the rotation of the turntables 23L, 23R.

[0041] During this forward transport, the retracted thin rod 28 rotates forward, and the tip of this thin rod 28 thrusts up the middle part in the front-rear direction of the meat piece m on the turntables 23L, 23R. The pushed up piece of meat m is supported by its own weight in a state in which it hangs down on both the front and rear sides of the thin rod 28. When the thin rod 28 swings downward and approaches the upper surface of the starting end of the conveying section 6, the piece of meat m that is supported by the thin rod 28 and folded in half is placed on the upper surface of the starting end of the conveying section 6.

[0042] The placed left and right meat pieces m are pressed down by the left and right pressing members 29AL, 29AR by the extension of the left and right air cylinders 30L, 30R. In this state, the left and right air cylinders 25L, 25R are operated to slide the thin rod 28 together with the left and right folding rotary tables 26L, 26R in a rearward downward inclination direction, and the thin rod 28 is removed from between the folded meat pieces m. Thereafter, the left and right air cylinders 30L, 30R are contracted to cause the linear spring 29 to push away the upper surface of the meat piece m, while the left and right pressing members 29AL, 29AR are raised and withdrawn, completing the placement of the folded meat piece m.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 8, by repeating the above operation, a plurality (six in this example) of folded meat pieces m are arranged in parallel on the conveying unit 6 (the upper surface of the rear end portion of the conveyor belt 43 described later), and two rows of the aggregate M are formed.

[0044] (Configuration of the conveying unit) As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 7, the conveying unit 6 includes a take-out conveyor 31 that receives and discharges the meat pieces cut out by the above-described cutting unit. That is, a mounting frame 35 is supported via a front-rear link mechanism 34 with respect to a sliding frame 33 that is mounted on the machine base frame (the "machine base" in the claims) 32 so as to be slidable back and forth and positionable, and the take-out conveyor 31 is mounted on this mounting frame 35.

[0045] That is, a frame member 36F is fixed to the front portion of the mounting frame 35, the rear portion of a conveyor frame 37 in the front-rear direction is fixed to the upper portion of this frame member 36F, and this conveyor frame 37 is extended forward. An endless conveyor belt 43 is wound around a roller group 38 provided at the rear end portion of this conveyor frame 37, a floating roller 39 provided at the intermediate portion, a floating roller 40 provided at the front end portion, and a driving roller 42 that is rotationally driven by a conveying electric motor 41 attached to the frame member 36F.

[0046] The roller group 38 is configured such that a rear end roller 38B is rotatably supported by a left-right swing shaft 38J supported by the conveyor frame 37, and a lower roller 38C, an intermediate roller 38D, and a front end roller 38E are rotatably supported with respect to a swing arm 38A that is supported so as to be swingable up and down coaxially with this swing shaft 38J.

[0047] The swing arm 38A is configured to swing up and down by the expansion and contraction operation of an air cylinder 38S that is pivotally connected across the frame member 36F and the swing arm 38A. When the oscillating arm 38A swings up and down due to the extension operation of the air cylinder 38S, the upper surface (conveyor start end) of the rear end portion of the conveyor belt 43 that is looped around the roller 38D at the middle portion and the roller 38E at the front end portion moves up and down while the roller 38B at the rear end portion remains stationary.

[0048] In the cutting operation, when the thin rod 28 swings downward and approaches the upper surface of the rear end portion of the conveyor belt 43, the upper surface of the rear end portion of this conveyor belt 43 rises, and the sliced meat piece m that is supported by the thin rod 28 and folded in two is received on the upper surface of the rear end portion of the conveyor belt 43 and conveyed forward. Note that the aforementioned transfer device 21 is also supported by a frame member 36R fixed to the rear portion of the mounting frame 35.

[0049] (Control Unit) The control unit (not shown) performs control output to actuators such as the supply electric motor 2G, the air cylinder 2M, the oscillating electric motor 9, the cutting electric motor 15M, the transfer electric motor 24, the air cylinders 25L, 25R, the folding rotary tables 26L, 26R, the air cylinders 30L, 30R, the air cylinder 38S, and the conveyor electric motor 41.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 11, an operation box 49 having a display panel 45, an emergency stop switch 46, a start switch 47, and a stop switch 48 on the front surface is arranged above the cutting unit 3 to the transfer unit 4. The devices in this operation box 49 and a control device 44 that controls various operations are connected by a harness 50.

[0051] Also, as shown in FIG. 12, an emergency stop switch 46, a stop switch 48, a take-out / insert switch 52, and a power switch 53 are arranged on the upper portion of the rear surface of the right support frame. Note that the power is supplied from the in-plant power supply, and the compressed air supplied to the air cylinders is supplied by connecting a hose to an intake pipe 51 erected at the right rear end portion of the machine body from the in-plant equipment.

[0052] (Exterior Cover) As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a center cover 75C is provided to cover the rear end portion (transport start end portion) of the above-described transfer portion 4, folding portion 5, and transport portion 6 from above. Further, left and right side covers 75L and 75R for covering the left and right side portions of the cutting portion 3 are attached to both the left and right sides of the center cover 75C so as to be openable and closable in the left-right direction by vertical-axis hinges 76L and 76R provided at the rear end portion. Here, the side covers 75L and 75R are configured to open in a butterfly shape via the hinges 76L and 76R, but may be configured to be simply detachable in the vertical direction without opening in a butterfly shape.

[0053] However, in order to enable the above-described take-out conveyor 31 to be pulled out from the machine base frame 32, for example, during maintenance, as shown in FIGS. 11, 13, and 14, a pulling-out mechanism 7 for pulling out the take-out conveyor 31 is interposed between the take-out conveyor 31 and the machine base frame 32 in the meat cutting apparatus 100 of the present embodiment.

[0054] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, this pulling-out mechanism 7 includes a rail 71 provided on the take-out conveyor 31 side and a roller 72 provided on the machine base frame 32 side for supporting the rail 71.

[0055] The rail 71 of the present embodiment constitutes the above-described sliding frame 33 or is attached to the sliding frame 33, extends in the pulling-out direction D1 of the take-out conveyor 31 (here, the transport direction D1 of the take-out conveyor), and is spaced apart in the width direction D2 (here, the width direction D2 of the take-out conveyor) orthogonal to the pulling-out direction D1 of the take-out conveyor 31.

[0056] The roller 72 slidably supports the above-described rail 71 along the pulling-out direction D1 of the take-out conveyor 31. More specifically, the roller 72 of the present embodiment slidably supports the above-described sliding frame 33 along the pulling-out direction D1, and integrally and slidably supports the link mechanism 34, the mounting frame 35, and the take-out conveyor 31 together with this sliding frame 33.

[0057] Here, when the upstream side of the drawing direction D1 is the rear side and the downstream side is the front side, the roller 72 is provided at positions supporting the first location 71a on the front side of the rail 71 and the second location 71b on the rear side of the first location 71a, respectively.

[0058] During the operation of the device (during the production of meat slices), as shown in the upper part of FIG. 14, the first location 71a becomes the front end of the rail 71, and the second location 71b becomes the longitudinal center of the rail 71. Also, during maintenance when the take-out conveyor 31 is pulled out from the machine frame 32, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 14, the first location 71a becomes the longitudinal center of the rail 71, and the second location 71b becomes the rear end of the rail 71.

[0059] Returning to FIG. 13, at the first location 71a, the roller 72 is provided only on the lower side of each rail 71, and at the second location 71b, it is provided at a position sandwiching each rail 71 from above and below. That is, the drawing mechanism 7 of the present embodiment includes a total of six rollers 72, namely two rollers 72 provided on the left and right of the front side of the rail 71 and four rollers 72 provided on the left and right of the rear side of the rail 71.

[0060] The drawing mechanism 7 of the present embodiment has the above-described roller 72 attached thereto, and further has a mounting member 73 that is detachably integrated with the roller 72 with respect to the machine frame 32.

[0061] This mounting member 73 rotatably supports the roller 72, and here, it is provided at a total of four locations, namely, on the left and right front sides and the left and right rear sides of the machine frame 32, respectively. Each roller 72 that supports the rail 71 from below is supported by a both-end supported structure. Specifically, the bearing itself is used as the roller 72. On the other hand, the roller 72 provided on the upper side of the rail 71 is supported by a single-end supported structure and has a built-in bearing with higher strength than the lower roller 72.

[0062] One roller 72 is attached to each of the front mounting members 73, and a pair of upper and lower rollers 72 are integrally attached to each of the rear mounting members 73.

[0063] In such a configuration, in a state where the take-out conveyor 31 is supported by the machine base frame 32, in other words, in a state where the sliding frame 33 is mounted on the machine base frame 32, one mounting member 73 is removable from the machine base frame 32. That is, considering the length and width of the rail 71, the rollers 72 are arranged such that only the rollers 72 attached to three of the four mounting members 73 can support the two rails 71.

[0064] In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, an operation unit 74 for locking or unlocking the pulling out of the take-out conveyor 31 with respect to the machine base frame 32 is provided on the front side of the machine base frame 32.

[0065] More specifically, as shown in FIG. 14, this operation unit 74 is configured to be movable between a lock position L and an unlock position UL.

[0066] The lock position L is a position where the sliding frame 33 or a member Z connected to the sliding frame 33 abuts against the operation unit 74, as shown in the upper parts of FIGS. 13 and 14. The operation unit 74 at the lock position L prevents the take-out conveyor 31 from being pulled out with respect to the machine base frame 32.

[0067] Note that a male screw that screws into a screw hole provided behind this operation unit 74 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the operation unit 74 here. By screwing the operation unit 74 into the screw hole, the sliding frame 33 can be pushed backward, and as a result, the sliding frame 33 is pulled backward and fixed.

[0068] Also, in order to position the sliding frame 33 during this fixing, as shown in FIG. 13, a positioning pin P is provided at a predetermined position on the rear side of the sliding frame 33, and an insertion hole H into which the positioning pin P is inserted is formed in the sliding frame 33.

[0069] As shown in the lower part of FIG. 14, the release position UL is the position where the operation unit 74 has retreated from the trajectory when the sliding frame 33 or the member connected to the sliding frame 33 is pulled out. The operation unit 74 at the release position UL allows the extraction conveyor 31 to be pulled out with respect to the machine base frame 32.

[0070] That is, in a state where the operation unit 74 is at the release position UL, the extraction conveyor 31 can be pulled out from the machine base frame 32. Specifically, the extraction conveyor 31 moves between the normal position A (upper part of FIG. 14) when producing meat slices and the extraction position B (lower part of FIG. 14) during maintenance or the like.

[0071] In this embodiment, in order to prevent the extraction conveyor 31 at the extraction position B from unexpectedly moving out toward the normal position A, the machine base frame 32 is inclined so that the front side is slightly lowered.

[0072] In the above-described configuration, as shown in FIG. 15, in the meat cutting apparatus 100 of this embodiment, when the side covers 75L and 75R described above are closed, the side covers 75L and 75R are configured to prevent the extraction of the extraction conveyor 31. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, a side cover sensor S for detecting whether the side covers 75L and 75R are closed is provided.

[0073] More specifically, for example, various members X (hereinafter also referred to as accessory members X) that are pulled out together with the take-out conveyor 31, such as the air cylinders 25L and 25R that constitute the folding portion 5 described above, the drive source, or a cable cover that collectively houses a plurality of wirings, are covered (accommodated) by the side covers 75L and 75R. When attempting to pull out the take-out conveyor 31 with the side covers 75L and 75R closed, these accessory members X interfere with the inner surfaces of the side covers 75L and 75R. That is, these accessory members X and the inner surfaces of the side covers 75L and 75R with which these accessory members X interfere serve as the first restricting means for restricting the pulling out of the take-out conveyor 31.

[0074] Accordingly, even if the lock is released by operating the operation unit 74 described above, the take-out conveyor 31 cannot be pulled out from the machine frame 32 unless the side covers 75L and 75R are opened.

[0075] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 16, the meat cutting apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is configured such that the side covers 75L and 75R cannot be closed when the take-out conveyor 31 is pulled out.

[0076] More specifically, when the accessory member X pulled out together with the take-out conveyor 31 attempts to close the open side covers 75L and 75R, it interferes with the side covers 75L and 75R, preventing the side covers 75L and 75R from being closed.

[0077] In the present embodiment, when the accessory member X around the air cylinders 25L and 25R described above attempts to close the side covers 75L and 75R with the take-out conveyor 31 pulled out, it is configured to interfere with the side covers 75L and 75R. Here, the accessory member X is a plate-like member that guards the air cylinders 25L and 25R. That is, these accessory members X and the interference portions of the side covers 75L and 75R with which these accessory members X interfere serve as the second restricting means for restricting the closing of the side covers 75L and 75R.

[0078] The meat cutting device 100 of this embodiment is configured to be able to control the thickness of the meat pieces cut from a block of meat so as to make the weight of the pieces uniform. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 17, the device is provided with a drive mechanism 8 that moves the above-mentioned contact plate 19 back and forth relative to the cutting position by the cutting unit 3.

[0079] More specifically, the meat cutting device 100 is configured to swing the above-mentioned frame body 2A, which contains the chunk of meat, so that its tip draws an arc, and to move the support plate 19 back and forth diagonally while changing its inclination relative to this arc trajectory.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 17, the drive mechanism 8 of the present embodiment has a drive source 81 and a power transmission member 82 that transmits the drive force from the drive source 81 to the contact plate 19.

[0081] The driving source 81 is a motor having an angle detector (not shown) such as an encoder, and is specifically a brushless motor. However, a servo motor or the like may also be used as the driving source 81.

[0082] 17, examples of the power transmission member 82 include a screw member 821 that moves back and forth by the driving force from the driving source 81, and a link mechanism 34 formed by connecting a plurality of swing links 341. The plurality of power transmission members 82 form a transmission path of the driving force from the driving source 81 to the backing plate 19.

[0083] In addition, the link mechanism 34 in this embodiment is a pseudo-parallel link in which the upper ends 342 of each of a pair of sway links 341 are pin-connected to the mounting frame 35 at a predetermined first interval L1, and the lower ends 343 of each of these sway links 341 are pin-connected to the sway frame at a second interval L2 different from the first interval L1.

[0084] When the pressing plate 19 having an arcuate cross section is moved by the above-described pseudo-parallel link, the pressing plate 19 moves along an arc centered on the swing fulcrum of the frame body 2A. That is, in a case where the arcuate pressing plate 19 is retracted obliquely with respect to the cutting edge of the cutting blade 15 to adjust the slice thickness, the upper end portion 342 and the lower end portion 343 of the pressing plate 19 always move while maintaining a substantially equal distance from the swing fulcrum of the frame body 2A.

[0085] As a result, the protruding amount of the lump meat from the tip of the frame body 2A becomes uniform at both the upper and lower ends of the pressing plate 19. In this state, when the lump meat moves upward along the pressing plate 19 and the cutting blade 15 cuts the lump meat, the sliced meat cut out is cut out without being compressed, and the meat quality is not impaired.

[0086] In such a configuration, when the pressing plate 19 is to be moved by a desired amount of movement (for example, 1 mm at a time), considering the ease of control, it is desirable to arrange the motor and the screw member 821 constituting the drive mechanism 8 in a posture inclined along the movement direction of the pressing plate 19 (that is, arranged obliquely).

[0087] However, in order to arrange the motor and the screw member 821 in such an inclined posture, the shape and arrangement of the members supporting them tend to become complicated, and as a result, the manufacturing cost increases.

[0088] Therefore, in the present embodiment, one or a plurality of power transmission members 82 are arranged along the horizontal direction, and the amount of movement of the power transmission member 82 changes non-linearly with respect to the amount of movement of the pressing plate 19. Here, the non-linear change means a change represented by a quadratic expression or a higher-order expression of the third order or higher, and the amount of movement of the power transmission member 82 and the amount of movement of the pressing plate 19 are not in a proportional relationship.

[0089] More specifically, the above-described screw member 821 is arranged in the horizontal direction. In other words, the screw member 821 is provided in a posture of moving forward and backward in the horizontal direction. Further, in the present embodiment, the motor serving as the drive source 81 described above is provided such that its output shaft is in a posture along the horizontal direction.

[0090] However, in order to non-linearly change the moving amount of the screw member 821 with respect to the moving amount of the pressing plate 19, correlation data indicating the correlation between the moving amount of the pressing plate 19 and the moving amount of the screw member 821 or a physical quantity related thereto is stored in the memory of a control unit (not shown).

[0091] More specifically, the moving amount of the screw member 821 is proportional to the rotation speed of the motor serving as the drive source 81, and this rotation speed is proportional to the number of pulses output from an angle detector (not shown) such as an encoder provided in the drive source 81. In the present embodiment, the correlation data is data indicating the correlation between the moving amount of the screw member 821 and the number of pulses output from the angle detector (not shown) of the drive source 81, as shown in FIG. 18.

[0092] As one aspect of this correlation data, a table can be cited that consists of combinations of the total moving amounts (for example, 0 mm, 1 mm, 2 mm, ···) when the pressing plate 19 is moved by a predetermined moving amount (for example, 1 mm) each time, and the number of pulses corresponding to each total moving amount.

[0093] Further, as another aspect of the correlation data, a correlation formula showing a curve represented by a graph with one axis being the moving amount of the pressing plate 19 and the other axis being the number of pulses may be used. In this case, the curve is a curve that is convex downward when the X-axis is the number of pulses and the Y-axis is the moving amount of the pressing plate 19. Also, the correlation formula showing this curve is a quadratic formula or a higher-order formula of the third order or higher.

[0094] And the control unit (not shown) of the present embodiment is configured to control the thickness of the meat slice based on the above-described correlation data.

[0095] Specifically, this control unit (not shown) receives the set thickness of the sliced meat input from the outside, calculates the moving amount of the pressing plate 19 so as to achieve the set thickness, obtains the number of pulses corresponding to the moving amount based on the above-mentioned correlation data, and controls the drive source 81 (specifically, the rotational speed of the motor) based on this number of pulses.

[0096] (Function and Effect of the Meat Cutting Device 100 According to this Embodiment) According to the meat cutting device 100 configured as described above, since the rail 71 constituting the drawing mechanism 7 is provided on the take-out conveyor 31 and the roller 72 is provided on the machine base frame 32, the rail 71 can be extended in a direction opposite to the drawing direction of the take-out conveyor 31. And the extension end of this rail 71 is, for example, a space that has not been effectively utilized conventionally under the cutting part. By storing the rail 71 in this dead space, it is not necessary to extend the machine base in the drawing direction side of the take-out conveyor 31 as in the conventional case. Thereby, while enabling the take-out conveyor 31 to be pulled out from the machine base frame 32, the size of the machine base frame 32 can be kept compact, and the cost of the entire device can be reduced.

[0097] Also, in a state where the take-out conveyor 31 is pulled out from the machine base, the second portion 71b of the rail 71 is sandwiched from above and below by the roller 72, so that it is possible to prevent the take-out conveyor 31 from tilting due to its own weight, and it becomes possible to safely and smoothly pull out the take-out conveyor 31.

[0098] Furthermore, since the drawing mechanism 7 has a mounting member 73 to which the roller 72 is attached and which is detachably integrated with the roller 72 with respect to the machine base frame 32, the roller 72 can be removed together with the mounting member 73, and the maintainability can be improved.

[0099] Moreover, in a state where the take-out conveyor 31 is supported by the machine frame 32, since at least one mounting member 73 is removable from the machine frame 32, for example, inspections, cleaning, replacement, etc. of the rollers 72 can be performed without performing a large-scale operation such as removing the take-out conveyor 31 from the machine using a crane or the like, and further improvement in maintainability can be achieved.

[0100] In addition, since an operation unit 74 for locking or unlocking the pulling out of the take-out conveyor 31 with respect to the machine frame 32 is provided on the front side of the machine frame 32, access to the operation unit 74 is easy and workability is good.

[0101] In addition, in a state where the side covers 75L and 75R are closed, since the side covers 75L and 75R are configured to prevent the pulling out of the take-out conveyor 31, if it can be detected that even the side covers 75L and 75R are open, there is no need to detect that the take-out conveyor 31 is being pulled out. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the detection means for detecting that the take-out conveyor 31 is being pulled out, and while reducing the cost accordingly, safety during maintenance and the like can be ensured.

[0102] Furthermore, in a state where the take-out conveyor 31 is being pulled out, since the side covers 75L and 75R are configured not to be closed, it is possible to prevent the side covers 75L and 75R from being accidentally closed during maintenance when the take-out conveyor 31 is being pulled out, and safety can be ensured.

[0103] Also, a screw member 821 which is a power transmission member 82 is arranged along the horizontal direction, and since the amount of movement of the screw member 821 changes non-linearly with respect to the amount of movement of the contact plate 19, the member supporting the screw member 821 can be made into a simple shape, manufacturing costs can be reduced, and the contact plate 19 can be moved by desired amounts.

[0104] (Another Embodiment of the Meat Cutting Device 100) Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

[0105] For example, in the above embodiment, at the first location 71a of the rail 71, the roller 72 was provided only on the lower side, but the roller 72 may also be provided at a position where it sandwiches from above and below at the first location 71a.

[0106] Also, in the above embodiment, the first location 71a and the second location 71b of the rail 71 were supported by the roller 72, but three or more locations may be supported by the roller 72.

[0107] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the operation unit 74 was provided on the front side of the machine base frame 32, but its arrangement may be appropriately changed, for example, provided on the side of the machine base frame 32.

[0108] Also, the openable side covers 75L and 75R were provided on both the left and right sides of the take-out conveyor 31 in the above embodiment, but they are provided only on one side, and this side cover 75L (or 75R) may prevent the pull-out of the take-out conveyor 31.

[0109] Furthermore, the pull-out of the take-out conveyor 31 does not necessarily have to be prevented by the side covers 75L and 75R, and for example, it may be prevented by a member attached to the side covers 75L and 75R and moving open and closed integrally with the side covers 75L and 75R.

[0110] The screw member 821, which is a power transmission member 82, was provided along the horizontal direction in the above embodiment, but it may be provided along the vertical direction.

[0111] Also, the motor, which is a drive source 81, was provided with its output shaft in a horizontal direction posture in the above embodiment, but it may be provided with its output shaft in a vertical direction posture.

[0112] The correlation data is not limited to showing the correlation between the movement amount of the template 19 and the number of pulses. For example, when providing a detector for detecting the linear displacement amount of the screw member 821, the data showing the correlation between the movement amount of the template 19 and the linear displacement amount of the screw member 821 may also be used.

[0113] In the above embodiment, the machine base in the claims is described as the machine base frame 32. However, the machine base in the claims is not necessarily limited to a frame shape. For example, it may be in the shape of a block or a flat plate.

[0114] The meat cutting device 100 according to the present invention is not limited to cutting raw meat. For example, it may cut processed foods such as ham and cheese, seafood such as sliced fish, various vegetables, or food dough having flexibility and viscosity.

[0115] Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit thereof.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0116] 100 ··· Meat cutting device 31 ··· Take-out conveyor 32 ··· Machine base frame 33 ··· Sliding frame 34 ··· Link mechanism 35 ··· Mounting frame 7 ··· Drawing mechanism 71 ··· Rail 71a ··· First location 71b ··· Second location 72 ··· Roller 73 ··· Mounting member 74 ··· Operation part 8 ··· Driving mechanism 81 ··· Driving source (motor) 82 ··· Power transmission member 821 ··· Screw member

Claims

1. a cutting section for cutting food pieces from the block of food; a take-out conveyor that receives and carries out the food pieces cut out by the cutting unit; A machine base supporting the take-out conveyor; a pull-out mechanism interposed between the take-out conveyor and the machine base for pulling out the take-out conveyor from the machine base; The withdrawal mechanism is A plurality of rails are provided on the take-out conveyor side, extend in a pull-out direction of the take-out conveyor, and are spaced apart in a width direction of the take-out conveyor; A food cutting device characterized in that it has a roller provided on the machine base and supporting the rail.

2. When the upstream side in the conveying direction is defined as the rear side and the downstream side is defined as the front side, The food cutting device as described in claim 1, characterized in that the rollers are provided in positions that support a first location on the front side of the rail and a second location behind the first location, and are provided in a position at the second location that clamps the rail from above and below.

3. The withdrawal mechanism is 2. The food cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising a mounting member to which said roller is attached and which is detachably attached to said machine base together with said roller.

4. 4. The food cutting machine of claim 3, wherein at least one of said attachment members is removable from said machine base while said discharge conveyor is supported on said machine base.

5. When the upstream side in the conveying direction is defined as the rear side and the downstream side is defined as the front side, 2. The food cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising an operating section for locking or unlocking the withdrawal of the take-out conveyor from the machine base, the operating section being provided on the front side of the machine base.

6. The conveyor further includes an openable / closable side cover provided on both the left and right sides or one of the left and right sides of the conveyor to cover at least a part of the cutting section, 2. The food cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the side cover is closed, the side cover itself or a member attached to the side cover is configured to prevent the removal conveyor from being pulled out.

7. The food cutting device according to claim 6, characterized in that when the take-out conveyor is pulled out, a member pulled out together with the take-out conveyor interferes with the side cover itself or a member attached to the side cover when an attempt is made to close the open side cover, thereby preventing the side cover from being closed.

8. a backing plate for contacting and positioning the leading end of the block of food before the cutting section cuts the food pieces; a drive mechanism for moving the contact plate back and forth relative to a cutting position by the cutting unit, The drive mechanism includes: A driving source; a power transmission member that moves forward and backward by a driving force from the driving source and transmits the driving force to the contact plate, 2. The food cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the power transmission member is arranged along a horizontal or vertical direction.

9. 9. The food cutting device according to claim 8, wherein the amount of movement of the power transmission member changes nonlinearly with the amount of movement of the backing plate.

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