Conveyor device for a cutting and / or packaging machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveyor device (1) for a cutting and / or packaging machine for food products, wherein the conveyor device (1) has a support structure (2), at least two deflection shafts (3, 4) connected to the support structure (2), and an endless belt (9) guided around the two deflection shafts (3, 4), wherein the endless belt (9) has an outer surface (11) on which the food products are conveyed, and an inner surface (10) which runs on the at least two inner deflection shafts (3, 4), wherein the conveyor device (1) furthermore has at least one outer deflection shaft (5, 6) on which the outer surface (11) of the endless belt (9) runs, wherein the outer deflection shaft (5, 6) is covered by a protective element (8) and wherein the conveyor device (1) has a holding device (7) which is releasably connected to the support structure (2) and to which both the outer deflection shaft (7) and the protective element (8) are fastened.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] title

[0003] Conveyor device for a cutting and / or packaging machine

[0004] State of the art

[0005] The present invention relates to a conveying device for a cutting and / or packaging machine for food products, wherein the conveying device has a support structure, at least two deflection shafts connected to the support structure and an endless belt guided around the two deflection shafts, wherein the endless belt has an outer surface on which the food products are conveyed and an inner surface which runs on the at least two inner deflection shafts, wherein the conveying device further has at least one outer deflection shaft on which the outer surface of the endless belt runs and wherein the outer deflection shaft is covered by a protective element.

[0006] Such conveyor systems are well known. The problem is that external deflection shafts, over which the outer surface of the endless belt runs, always represent a hazard, unlike internal deflection shafts. This is because they act as a nip point, through which objects, or in extreme cases even the limbs of operators working on the conveyor system, could be drawn into the area between the endless belt and the deflection shaft. This can result in serious injuries to the operators or damage to the conveyor system. For this reason, such hazards in the form of nip points must always be protected by safety devices.

[0007] German patent application DE 20 2018 005 645 U1 discloses a conveyor belt system to which a unit consisting of a protector and a carrying roller is to be attached. The protector is intended to serve as personal protection to prevent the entrapment of operating personnel's extremities. For this purpose, the protector is attached to the carrying roller via a mounting plate, and the resulting unit is then attached to the conveyor belt system. The advantage is that the protector and the carrying roller can be pre-assembled, thus simplifying installation. However, a disadvantage of this unit is that the (pre-)assembly of the protector on the carrying roller is not essential for the mounting of the carrying roller itself. The carrying roller is apparently attached to the conveyor belt system by additional elements. The conveyor belt system could therefore also be operated without the protector and still exhibit the entrapment point, for example, if the protector was "forgotten" during the mounting of the carrying roller.This assembly error would result in the operating conveyor system containing an open inlet point without personal protection.

[0008] This is particularly problematic for conveyor belt systems used in food processing, as such systems must be cleaned regularly for hygienic reasons. For cleaning, they are often disassembled and then reassembled. It must be ensured that the protectors are always correctly reinstalled during this process.

[0009] Due to the associated risks, conveyor systems in food processing regularly incorporate additional elements, such as presence sensors, that monitor the presence of the protectors at the infeed points to ensure that no open infeed points exist, for example, due to assembly errors after cleaning. In such cases, the conveyor systems could not be put into operation until the presence of the protectors has been verified by the sensors. However, such sensors are expensive to implement and also prone to failure.

[0010] Disclosure of the invention

[0011] The object of the present invention was therefore to provide a conveying device for a cutting and / or packaging machine for food products which does not have the disadvantages mentioned in connection with the prior art and in which, in particular, no dangers can arise from open infeed points, even without the implementation of complex sensor technology.

[0012] The problem is solved by a conveying device according to claim 1, in particular a conveying device for a cutting and / or packaging machine for food products, wherein the conveying device has a support structure, at least two deflection shafts connected to the support structure and an endless belt guided around the two deflection shafts, wherein the endless belt has an outer surface on which the food products are conveyed and an inner surface which runs on the at least two inner deflection shafts, wherein the conveying device further has at least one outer deflection shaft on which the outer surface of the endless belt runs, wherein the outer deflection shaft is covered by a protective element, wherein the conveying device has a holding device which is detachably or pivotably connected to the support structure, to which both the outer deflection shaft and the protective element are attached.

[0013] The conveying device according to the invention has the advantage over the prior art that the outer deflection shaft, from which the potential entrapment hazard originates, is attached to a support structure that also carries the protective element. This ensures that as soon as the outer deflection shaft is mounted, the protective element is necessarily also mounted. In other words, it is not possible to mount only the outer deflection shaft without the protective element. Since the outer deflection shaft cannot be connected to the support structure without the holding device, the holding device must be mounted together with the protective element attached to it. In this way, it can be ensured in a particularly effective and cost-efficient manner that incorrect mounting of the outer deflection shaft without the protective element can be prevented.In particular, no sensors are required to confirm the presence of the protective element before the conveyor device is put into operation. The outer deflection shaft is attached and supported exclusively by the holding device. Preferably, the outer deflection shaft is connected to the support structure solely via the holding device. Furthermore, the protective element is firmly and preferably permanently connected to the holding device. "Permanently connected" in the context of the present invention means, in particular, that the protective element cannot be separated from the holding device without damage or tools. It is conceivable that the protective element cannot be removed from the holding device (for example, without damage or tools). The protective element is, for example, bonded, welded, and / or formed in one piece with the holding device.The holding device comprises, in particular, two holding flanges arranged on opposite sides of the outer deflection shaft, each with a bearing for the outer deflection shaft. The outer deflection shaft is preferably equipped with rollers on which the endless belt runs. It is conceivable that the conveying device includes a feed belt, a portioning belt, an insertion belt, and / or a transfer belt for the cutting and / or packaging machine for food products.

[0014] Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the conveying device according to the invention can be found in the following description, the description of the figures, and the dependent claims. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holding device is movably, and in particular foldably or slidably, connected to the support structure between a working position and a maintenance position. In the working position, the outer deflection shaft is arranged in its working position for deflecting the endless belt, and in the maintenance position, the support structure, together with the outer deflection shaft, can be removed from the conveying device, in particular without tools. Advantageously, the holding device, together with the outer deflection shaft and the protective element, can thus be removed from the conveying device for cleaning and maintenance purposes.During the subsequent assembly of the outer deflection shaft, it is always ensured that it can only be mounted together with the holding device and the protective element connected to the holding device.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the holding device can be locked in the working position by means of a locking element. This advantageously ensures that the holding device remains in the working position. The locking element preferably comprises a plug-in axle which runs parallel to the outer deflection shaft, wherein a receptacle for the plug-in axle is formed both on the support structure and on the holding device in order to lock the holding device in the working position by means of the plug-in axle.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the two inner deflection shafts comprises a motor-driven drive shaft. The endless belt is driven by means of the drive shaft to convey the food products along the main conveying direction, in particular on the upper run of the endless belt.

[0017] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the two inner deflection shafts is designed to be displaceable parallel or antiparallel to the main conveying direction. The conveying device here particularly comprises a transfer belt whose transfer point is displaceable in the main conveying direction, thereby allowing the transfer point to be varied.

[0018] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the endless belt comprises an upper run for conveying the food products and a lower run, wherein the conveying device in the area of ​​the lower run has the outer deflection shaft and a further outer deflection shaft, and wherein an inner deflection shaft, in particular in the form of a motor-driven drive shaft, is arranged between the outer deflection shaft and the further outer deflection shaft. Such an arrangement is particularly referred to as an omega drive and enables efficient integration of the drive shaft into the conveying device.

[0019] Another object of the present invention is a cutting and / or packaging machine for food products comprising the conveying device according to the invention.

[0020] Further details, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the drawings and from the following description of preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings. The drawings merely illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, which do not limit the essential concept of the invention.

[0021] Brief description of the drawings

[0022] Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a conveying device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a conveying device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a conveying device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figures 4a and 4b show perspective views of a conveying device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Embodiments of the invention

[0027] In the various figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference numerals and are therefore generally only named or mentioned once. Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of a conveying device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the conveying device 1 comprises a conveying unit for transporting and / or portioning product slices, which are cut from a food bar, for example one or more cheese or sausage bars, by means of a cutting machine (not shown).

[0028] The conveyor device 1 comprises a support structure 2, which, for example, includes a machine frame that stands on the floor or is attached to a machine base. Two internal deflection shafts 3, 4 are connected to this support structure 2, on which a continuous belt 9 runs. The internal deflection shafts 3, 4 are mounted in bearings of the support structure 2 and, in particular, have freely rotating rollers.

[0029] The endless belt 9 comprises an upper run on which the food products, in the form of separated product discs (not shown), are conveyed along a main conveying direction 13. The upper run is located above the inner deflection shafts 3, 4 and, in particular, above the support structure 2. Below the inner deflection shafts 3, 4, the endless belt 9 has a lower run.

[0030] The endless belt 9 comprises an inner surface 10, which faces the inner deflection shafts 3, 4 and on which the rollers of these inner deflection shafts 3, 4 run. Furthermore, the endless belt has an outer surface 11 opposite the inner surface 10, on which the food products rest when conveyed along the main conveying direction 13.

[0031] In the lower section, the conveyor device 1 illustrated in Figure 1 has a further inner deflection shaft, which is driven by a motor. This further inner deflection shaft therefore functions as a drive shaft 14, which drives the endless belt 9 in its circular motion around the inner deflection shafts 3, 4.

[0032] To ensure that the endless belt wraps around the drive shaft 14, the conveyor device 1 also has two outer deflection shafts 5, 6, between which the drive shaft 15 is arranged. While the inner deflection shafts 3, 4 and the drive shaft 14 are always in contact with the inner surface 10 of the endless belt 9, the outer surface 11 of the endless belt 9 runs along the outer deflection shafts 5, 6. This arrangement is also referred to as an omega drive, since the endless belt 9 has a path similar to the (inverted) Greek letter Q in the area of ​​the drive shaft 14. However, this creates dangerous pinch points directly at the outer deflection shafts 5, 6, into which objects or the limbs of the operating personnel could be drawn. To reduce these dangers, the outer deflection shafts 5, 6 and their pinch points are covered by two protective elements 8.The protective elements 8 ensure that the infeed points are not freely accessible and thus prevent foreign objects from being drawn in between the endless belt 9 and the outer deflection shafts 5, 6. Each protective element 8 comprises a plate-shaped cover made of metal or plastic, extending parallel to the outer deflection shafts 5, 6. It is conceivable that the covers are arranged at an angle to the vertical.

[0033] The protective elements 8 are each firmly and, in particular, inseparably connected to a holding device 7. Inseparably connected within the meaning of the present invention means, in particular, that the protective element 8 cannot be separated from the holding device 7 without damage or tools.

[0034] The holding device 7 comprises two retaining flanges 15, each arranged on either side of the respective protective element 8, such that each protective element 8 extends from one retaining flange 15 parallel to the outer deflection shafts 5, 6 to the opposite retaining flange 15. The holding device 7 also has a bearing for each outer deflection shaft 5, 6. Each of the two outer deflection shafts 5, 6 is thus attached to a holding device 7 and connected to the support structure 2 exclusively via this holding device 7. The outer deflection shaft 5, 6 extends parallel to the protective elements 8 from one retaining flange 15 to the opposite retaining flange 15.

[0035] The holding device 7 is detachably connected to the support structure 2. To mount the outer deflection shaft 5, 6, the holding device 7 must be attached to the support structure 2. Since the protective elements 8 are permanently connected to the holding device 7, they are automatically and inevitably mounted during this assembly step. This has the advantage that the outer deflection shafts 5, 6 can never be mounted without the corresponding protective elements 8.

[0036] Figure 2 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a conveying device 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, so the preceding statements apply analogously to the second embodiment. The conveying device 1 shown in Figure 2 also has the so-called Omega drive, so that an exposed outer deflection shaft 5 exists. However, this outer deflection shaft 5 is not visible in the perspective view, as it is covered by the protective element 8 to protect it from the infeed point. The protective element 8 is fixedly and, in particular, permanently attached to the holding device 7 in the form of the two retaining flanges 15. The retaining flanges 15 each have a bearing for the outer deflection shaft 5.

[0037] The holding device 7 is detachably connected to the support structure 2. For this purpose, the support structure 2 has a recess 16. Each holding flange 15 is provided with a projection 17 extending parallel to the outer deflection shaft 5, which can engage in the recess 16 and, in particular, in an undercut within the recess 16. For mounting the holding device

[0038] On the support structure 2, the extension 17 is first inserted into the recess 16 until it engages the undercut. This position of the holding device 7 is referred to as the maintenance position. The holding device 7 is then tilted upwards from the maintenance position (in which it can be removed) towards the upper run, thus moving it into the working position. In this position, the endless belt 9 rests against the outer deflection shaft 5. To fix the holding device 7 in this working position, a locking element 12, in the form of a plug-in axle, is inserted along a direction parallel to the outer deflection shaft 5 through corresponding receptacles in the support structure 2 and the holder flanges 15.

[0039] Since the protective element 8 is firmly connected to the holding device 7, the protective element

[0040] 8 is always also mounted during the described assembly of the holder device 7.

[0041] When disassembling the holding device 7, the plug-in axle is first removed, then the holding device 7 is folded from the working position into the folded-down maintenance position, and then the extensions 17 are each removed from the recess 16.

[0042] Figure 3 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a conveying device 1 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is similar to the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, so the preceding statements apply analogously to the third embodiment. However, unlike the first and second embodiments, the third embodiment does not include a conveying device 1 for a portioning or discharge conveyor with an omega drive, but rather a conveying device 1 that is a length-variable insertion or transfer conveyor. To enable the food products conveyed by the conveying device 1 to be variably inserted from the conveying device 1 onto a subsequent conveyor belt (not shown) or into packaging (not shown), the transfer point of the conveying device 1 is designed to be displaceable along the main conveying direction 13.Depending on the position of the transfer point, excess length of the endless belt 9 must be accommodated. For this purpose, the conveyor 1 has an outer deflection shaft 5 and an inner deflection shaft 3 in the lower run, around which the endless belt 9 is deflected and, in particular, folded to accommodate the excess length. The other inner deflection shaft 4 is located in the area of ​​the transfer point and is not shown in Figure 3 for the sake of clarity.

[0043] The outer deflection shaft 5 creates a hazardous inlet point, which is covered by the protective element 8 to prevent foreign objects from being drawn in. The protective element 8 is permanently attached to a holding device 7. The holding device 7 comprises two retaining flanges 15, between which the protective element 8 extends parallel to the outer deflection shaft 9. The outer deflection shaft 9 is also attached to and supported by the two retaining flanges 15.

[0044] The holding device 7 is detachably attached to the support structure 2 of the conveyor 1 and can be inserted into receptacles on the support structure 2 along a mounting direction 18, similar to a drawer. The mounting direction 18 extends parallel or antiparallel to the main conveying direction 13. When the holding device 7 is inserted into the receptacles on the support structure 2, it is in its working position. In the working position, the holding device 7 is secured by inserting a plug-in axle as a locking element 12. For this purpose, the plug-in axle is inserted parallel to the outer deflection shaft 9 into corresponding receptacles on the support structure 2 as well as in the holding device 7.

[0045] Figures 4a and 4b show perspective views of a conveying device 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Here, the support structure 2 has two internal deflection shafts 3, 4 around which four endless belts 9 run, each having an outer surface 11 on which the food products are conveyed. Below the support structure 2, the conveying device 1 has a trough 9 that can be folded down for servicing purposes, which in this example includes the holding device 7. This holding device 7 is pivotable and thus, in the broadest sense, also (partially) detachable from the support structure 2. A plurality of external deflection shafts 5, 6 are mounted on the holding device, which, when folded up, engage in the lower run of the endless belts 9 and force them into an omega shape, thereby bringing the belts into frictional contact with their respective drive shafts on the underside of the support structure 2. In the folded-up state, the intake area is shielded by the wall of the trough 19, which thus simultaneously forms the protective element 8.

[0047] This means that both the outer deflection shafts 5, 6 and the protective element 8 are connected to the tub 19 in the form of the retaining device 7 which can pivot relative to the supporting structure 2.

[0048] Reference symbol list

[0049] 1 Conveyor

[0050] 2 Supporting structure

[0051] 3, 4 Inner deflection shaft

[0052] 5, 6 Outer deflection shaft

[0053] 7 Holding device

[0054] 8 protective element

[0055] 9 Endless tape

[0056] 10 interior surface

[0057] 11 Outdoor area

[0058] 12 locking element

[0059] 13 Main conveyance direction

[0060] 14 Drive shaft

[0061] 15 retaining flanges

[0062] 16 recess

[0063] 17th continuation

[0064] 18 Mounting direction

[0065] 19 bathtubs

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Conveyor device (1) for a cutting and / or packaging machine for food products, wherein the conveyor device (1) comprises a support structure (2), at least two inner deflection shafts (3, 4) connected to the support structure (2), and an endless belt (9) guided around the two inner deflection shafts (3, 4), wherein the endless belt (9) has an outer surface (11) on which the food products are conveyed and an inner surface (10) which runs on the at least two inner deflection shafts (3, 4), wherein the conveyor device (1) further comprises at least one outer deflection shaft (5, 6) on which the outer surface (11) of the endless belt (9) runs, wherein the outer deflection shaft (5, 6) is covered by a protective element (8), characterized in that the conveyor device (1) has a holding device (7) detachably or pivotably connected to the support structure (2), on which both the outer deflection shaft (5, 6) as well as the protective element (8) are attached.

2. Conveying device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the outer deflecting shaft (5, 6) is attached and supported exclusively on the holding device (7).

3. Conveying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the protective element (8) is firmly and in particular inseparably connected to the holding device (7).

4. Conveying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding device (7) has a bearing for the outer deflecting shaft (5, 6).

5. Conveyor device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the holding device (7) is movable and in particular foldable or displaceable between a working position and a maintenance position connected to the support structure (2), wherein in the working position the outer deflecting shaft (5, 6) is arranged in its working position for deflecting the endless belt (9) and wherein in the maintenance position the support structure (2) together with the outer deflecting shaft (5, 6) can be removed from the conveyor device (1), in particular without tools.

6. Conveying device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the holding device (7) can be locked in the working position by means of a locking element (12).

7. Conveying device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the locking element (12) comprises a plug-in axle which runs parallel to the outer deflection shaft (5, 6), wherein a receptacle for the plug-in axle is formed both on the support structure (2) and on the holding device (7) in order to lock the holding device (7) in the working position by means of the plug-in axle.

8. Conveying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the two inner deflection shafts (3, 4) comprises a motor-driven drive shaft.

9. Conveying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the two inner deflection shafts (3, 4) is designed to be displaceable parallel or antiparallel to the main conveying direction (13).

10. Conveyor device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the endless belt (9) has an upper run for conveying the food products and a lower run, wherein the conveyor device (1) has in the area of ​​the lower run the outer deflecting shaft (5, 6) and a further outer deflecting shaft (5, 6) and wherein an inner deflecting shaft (5, 6), in particular in the form of a motor-driven drive shaft, is arranged between the outer deflecting shaft (5, 6) and the further outer deflecting shaft (5, 6).

11. Cutting and / or packaging machine for food products comprising a conveying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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