Multi-Lane Slicer Tracks Height Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-lane slicing devices for food products, such as sausages or cheese, often result in slices being deflected differently due to varying impulse sizes and directions from the cutting blade, leading to uneven alignment and an undesirable visual appearance, especially in staggered stacks.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a device with tracks at different height levels to compensate for the varying impulses, ensuring precise alignment of cut slices by adjusting the fall height of slices post-slicing, which can be done before, during, or after the slicing process, and is adaptable based on the product, cutting blade properties, and sensor feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple products are fed simultaneously to a cutting plane with a common cutting blade, then productivity is improved, but the slices experience different impulses and are deflected to different extents, resulting in poor alignment precision
Solution Approach 1:
Each track is assigned a specific height level tailored to its requirements. The feed device and/or removal device have tracks at different height levels, allowing local optimization of slice alignment for each product lane while maintaining high throughput across all lanes simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces height as an additional dimension for differentiation. By arranging tracks at different vertical levels rather than only horizontal positions, the system compensates for varying impulses from the cutting blade and achieves precise slice alignment across multiple lanes.
2Device complexity
If tracks are arranged at the same height level, then device complexity is reduced, but slices from different tracks cannot be properly aligned, resulting in twisted discs and poor visual appearance
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of complicating the horizontal arrangement of tracks, the invention utilizes the vertical dimension by setting tracks at different height levels. This approach maintains relative simplicity in track layout while achieving precise slice placement through gravitational compensation of varying impulses.
Solution Approach 2:
The height level parameter of tracks is varied to compensate for placement errors. By adjusting the vertical position of individual tracks, the system optimizes slice alignment without requiring complex mechanical adjustments or active control mechanisms.
3Speed
If the cutting blade moves rapidly through multiple products, then slicing speed is improved, but slices experience stronger and more varying impulses, worsening alignment precision
Solution Approach 1:
Each track's height level is optimized for its specific slicing requirements and impulse characteristics. This local customization allows the cutting blade to operate at high speed across all lanes while each track compensates for its specific impulse variations through appropriate height positioning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures that slices are arranged neatly and evenly, preventing twisting and allowing for the formation of orderly portions without disturbing the visual appearance, providing more time for handling and transportation, and enabling the creation of precise 'staggered stacks' or overlapping portions.
Implementation Method 1
the fall height of the cut slices is different. In this way, the different impulses experienced by the slices by the cutting knife can be compensated
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for multi-lane slicing of food products, in particular high-performance slicers, with a feeding device that simultaneously feeds several products to be sliced side by side to a cutting plane in which a cutting blade, in particular rotating and/or circumferential, moves, and a removal device downstream of the cutting plane, in particular comprising a portioning unit, for slices separated from the products or for portions comprising several slices, wherein the feeding device and/or the removal device comprises at least in the area of the cutting plane a plurality of lanes which are set and/or adjustable to different height levels with respect to a product support surface in order to compensate for lane-specific placement errors.