Food Slicing Distributor for Complete Packaging Lines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food slicing and packaging systems often result in incomplete product lines due to varying slicing speeds and product lengths, leading to empty packaging, which is inefficient and requires complex apparatus for correction.
Innovation Solution
A method and device where multiple food products are sliced simultaneously into portions, with a first distributor redirecting incomplete product lines to a pre-distribution position and a second distributor redistributing portions to multiple insertion tracks, ensuring complete packaging lines and minimizing distribution time and effort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple food products are sliced simultaneously on separate tracks, then productivity increases, but incomplete product lines occur due to different slicing speeds and product lengths
Solution Approach 1:
A distributor acts as an intermediary between the multiple slicing tracks and the packaging machine. It collects portions from all tracks, identifies incomplete product lines, and redistributes available portions to ensure complete packaging. This mediator resolves the conflict between high-speed parallel slicing and complete product line formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the distribution parameters by redirecting portions from complete product lines to compensate for incomplete lines. The distributor adjusts which portions go to which packaging positions based on real-time detection of product line completeness, transforming fixed track-to-packaging mappings into flexible dynamic assignments.
2Reliability
If incomplete product lines are diverted and completed in a parallel line, then packaging completeness improves, but device complexity and space consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor combines the functions of multiple slicing tracks and their respective packaging paths into a single centralized distribution point. Instead of having separate parallel completion lines for each incomplete product, all portions converge at the distributor which then manages redistribution, merging multiple complex paths into one manageable system.
Solution Approach 2:
The distributor serves multiple functions: it collects portions from all slicing tracks, detects product line completeness, redirects incomplete lines, and distributes portions to packaging positions. This single multi-functional device replaces what would otherwise require multiple specialized devices for each function.
3Loss of substance
If portions from incomplete product lines are redistributed to other tracks, then waste is reduced, but distribution time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The distributor performs preliminary sorting and identification of complete versus incomplete product lines before final packaging. By detecting which portions belong to incomplete lines early in the distribution process, it can proactively redirect them to appropriate packaging positions, preventing waste before it occurs and minimizing the time needed for correction.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and a device for simultaneously slicing several food products, in particular sausage, (raw) ham and/or cheese, wherein a track is provided for each food product, along which the food product is transported in the direction of a moving blade which cuts off food slices from the front end of the food product, the cut-off food slices being subsequently packaged.