EP2614939B1 - Method and device for creating portions - Google Patents

Abstract

The food products pieces preparation method involves separating a product slice from a product of one type by using a cutting device (11a). The separated product slice of one type falls on a product carrier (19) and forms a sub-section. The product carrier with the sub-section is conveyed to the cutting device by a conveyor (13), where the product slice of another type is separated using another cutting device (11d). The separated product slice of the latter type falls on the product carrier and forms an another sub-section. Independent claims are included for the following: (1) an apparatus for automatic preparation of pieces of multiple food products of different types by using two cutting devices; and (2) a production line for multi-locations packages.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for the automatic production of portions of several food products of different types by means of at least two cutting devices, in particular high-performance slicers.

Purchasers of packaged food slices are increasingly seeking so-called multi-sort or mixed packs, i. together wrapped slices of different product types. For example, it is desired that different types of sausages, different cheeses, or both sausage and cheese slices be contained in a single package.

With modern high-performance slicers, it is possible to separate individual product slices from a product bar or product slat with a high cutting speed. Likewise, separated product slices as well as product slices consisting of several product slices of a certain type of product can be relatively quickly transported away by a slicer by means of conveyors such as belt or belt conveyors and fed, for example, to a packaging machine. However, mixed portions of several products of different varieties must be put together by hand. These manual operations required to produce the aforementioned multi-type packages is not only annoying, but also time consuming and costly.

The AT 385 939 B discloses an arrangement of three cold cutting machines, which is associated with a common conveyor belt for removing the cut slices. A controller ensures that, for example, a product line completed on the first cutting machine is transported through the conveyor belt to the next cutting machine and is expanded there by a second product line.

This document thus discloses a method for the automatic production of portions of several food products of different types by means of at least two slicers, in which by means of a first cutting device at least one product slice is separated from a product of a first variety, wherein the separated product slice of the first variety falls onto a conveyor and forms a first partial portion, the conveying device with the first partial portion is conveyed to a second cutting device, and by means of the second cutting device at least one product slice of a second type is separated, wherein the separated product slice of the second type falls onto the conveying device and forms a second partial portion, which supplements the first partial portion to a desired, no longer to be supplemented, total portion or to a partial portion to be supplemented by at least one further cutting device.

When in the EP 0 482 334 A1 sausage portions are placed in trays and moved between different stations.

The DE 198 51 149 A1 discloses a slicing machine in which packaging trays are used for the sliced food portions.

There is a need to further improve the creation of portions of several food products of different varieties.

This is achieved on the one hand by a method having the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, by means of a first cutting device, at least one product slice is separated from a product of a first type, wherein the separated product slice of the first type drops onto a product carrier and forms a first partial portion. The product carrier with the first partial portion is conveyed by means of a conveyor to a second cutting device. By means of the second cutting device, at least one product slice of a second kind is separated, wherein the separated product slice of the second variety falls onto the product carrier and forms a second partial portion which supplements the first partial portion to a desired, no longer to be supplemented, total portion or to a partial portion to be supplemented by at least one further cutting device.

Thus, at least two separate cutting devices are used to cut products of different types. The mixed portion of the products of different variety is then assembled on the product carrier, which is movable by means of the conveyor from one of the cutting devices to the other cutting device. Due to the transfer of the product carrier between the cutting devices, the creation of mixed portions can be fully automatic, without an operator having to combine the individual partial portions of a product type into the mixed portion. Overall, this results in a significant increase in effectiveness in the production of packaged food portions.

In principle, it should be pointed out that not only different types of meat, sausage or cheese can form different types of products in the sense of the present invention, but also products of the same kind, which differ from one another in terms of a parameter relevant to the consumer. For example, large-diameter salami slices and small-diameter salami slices are to be considered as different types of products within the meaning of the invention. However, differences that are imperceptible or completely irrelevant to the consumer, as they naturally occur in all food products, are not intended to be covered by the term "different variety", although this is nevertheless possible according to the invention.

After receiving the first partial portion and before receiving the second partial portion, the product carrier is moved by means of an adjusting device such that the position of the second partial portion on the product carrier fulfills a predetermined condition relative to the position of the first partial portion on the product carrier. By such a movement of the product carrier can be prevented that all product slices come to rest one above the other and the lower product slices are thus not visible to a consumer. Instead, by the movement of the product carrier, the individual partial portions can be staggered relative to one another on the product carrier, for example shingled or rounded. So it can be achieved an appealing appearance of the created total portion.

According to the invention, the product carrier is displaced relative to a bearing surface of the conveying device, in particular in or against the conveying direction or transversely to the conveying direction, and / or the product carrier is rotated about a vertical axis. The process of dislocation may be before, after, or during the actual conveyance. Concretely, the product carrier can be moved continuously in the conveying direction and be displaced simultaneously on the support surface.

By rotating the product carrier about a vertical axis, the partial portions can be arranged in an annular manner, for example, resulting in a particularly attractive appearance.

The product carrier can be removed from the conveyor before being moved and placed on the conveyor again after being moved. The removal, movement and settling, for example, by a handling device, in particular a Umsetzroboter or "pick and place" robot, take place. This is advantageous in that when no elaborate adjusting mechanisms must be provided on the conveyor.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, more or fewer product slices are separated for forming the first partial portion than for forming the second partial portion. As a result, uneven mixing portions can be created, whereby the flexibility of the system is further increased.

On the product carrier at least two partial portions, which are not formed directly one after the other, can be formed by different tracks of a cutting device, which is designed for multi-track cutting. Multi-track cutting can further increase the efficiency and flexibility of the system. In the individual tracks of this cutting device products of different types can be supplied. Each track of a multi-track cutter may, in the context of the invention, be considered as a single-track cutter as a "station" for making a partial portion.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the cutting devices are arranged spaced apart along a, in particular not closed, conveying path and the product carrier is moved back and forth between at least two cutting devices along at least part of the conveying path in the forward direction and in the backward direction. Preferably, the conveyor track is substantially rectilinear. This allows the use of particularly simple designed conveyors. In particular, in this case at least one multi-track cutting device can be used, which can be approached several times. Furthermore, the cutters may be spaced apart along a closed loop, wherein the loop is traversed more than once by the product carrier. This has the particular advantage that the product carriers are available again immediately after emptying and do not have to be returned in a detour to the starting point. In particular, in this case at least one multi-track cutting device can be used, which can be approached several times.

The invention also relates to a device for automatically producing portions from a plurality of food products of different types by means of at least two cutting devices, in particular high-performance slicers, comprising a conveyor, which is adapted to at least one product carrier of a product disc storage area of a first cutting device, in which a Partial portion of at least one product slice of a first variety is formed on the product carrier, to promote a product slice storage area of a second cutting device, in which a partial portion of at least one product slice of a second variety is formed on the product carrier, which together with the first partial portion a desired , no longer to be supplemented total portion or even to be supplemented by at least one further cutting device portion portion. Such a device allows a simple way to automatically create portions of food products of different varieties, the two cutting devices do not necessarily have to have a particularly high cutting performance.

There are further provided means for displacing the product carrier relative to a support surface of the conveyor and / or means for rotating the product carrier about a vertical axis. The means of displacement the product carrier can be integrated in the conveyor, for example in the form of a movable within the support surface table. Alternatively, the means for displacing the product carrier may also be realized by a handling device arranged outside the conveyor, such as a transfer robot.

The means for rotating the product carrier may also be integrated into the conveyor, for example in the form of a turntable, or be realized by a handling device located outside the conveyor.

At least one of the cutting devices may have a single-track product feed. At least one of the cutting devices may have a multi-lane product feed. This cutter can be approached to create the total portion several times. This allows a particularly simple and inexpensive construction.

Furthermore, the conveyor can be designed for, in particular linear, conveying the product carrier along a straight and / or curved conveying path, wherein the cutting devices are arranged spaced apart along the conveyor track. According to a preferred embodiment, the conveying device is a simple belt conveyor or an arrangement of belt conveyors arranged one behind the other. However, it can also be provided multi-belt or roller conveyor.

The conveyor may also be designed for conveying the product carrier along a self-contained, in particular circular, loop, the cutting devices being spaced apart from one another are arranged along the loop. Should it require the application, then the conveyor may also include a combination of self-contained and open conveyor sections.

The conveyor can also be designed for the continuous conveying of a plurality of product carriers in a uniform product carrier distance, wherein in particular the product carrier distance corresponds to the distance between the product disc storage areas of the cutting devices. Thus, partial portions can be cut at several cutting devices at the same time, whereby the production capacity of the system is increased. For example, For example, a partial portion can be produced on the second cutting device, while a partial portion for the next product carrier is already produced on the preceding first cutting device.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, means for linear movement of the product carrier in and / or opposite to the conveying direction or transversely to the conveying direction are provided.

The product carrier can be fixedly coupled to the conveyor and in particular integrated into the conveyor. There is then no device for providing empty product carriers or for returning empty product carriers required. For example, product carriers could be mounted at regular intervals on the conveyor belt of a belt conveyor, preferably movable. Emptied product carriers are then automatically returned to the starting point at the lower run of the conveyor belt.

Alternatively, the product carrier may be removable from the conveyor and in particular only on a support surface of the conveyor rest. This allows in particular the use of standard product documents or trays as product carriers. If desired, different product carrier types can also be used on one conveyor.

Preferably, the product carrier is positively connected to a conveyor belt of the belt conveyor designed as a conveyor in engagement. By this positive engagement in particular a correct position of the product carrier is ensured within the band surface.

The product carrier may be a package or part of a package for the total portion, in particular a tray. This allows the additional process step of converting the total portion of the product carrier can be saved in the packaging.

The invention further relates to a production line for multi-type packages, each containing a total portion of product slices of food products of different types, with a device as described above and a packaging machine.

Fig. 1

ist eine vereinfachte Draufsicht auf eine Produktionslinie für Mehrsortenpackungen gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

Fig. 2

ist eine vergrößerte Teildarstellung der Produktionslinie gemäß Fig. 1.

Fig. 3

zeigt eine Mehrsortenpackung, welche mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Produktionslinie erstellt wurde.

Fig. 4

ist eine vereinfachte Draufsicht auf eine Produktionslinie für Mehrsortenpackungen gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

Further developments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1

is a simplified plan view of a production line for multi-sort packages according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2

is an enlarged partial view of the production line according to Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 3

shows a Mehrsortenpackung, which was created with a production line according to the invention.

Fig. 4

is a simplified plan view of a production line for multi-sort packages according to a second embodiment of the invention.

According to Fig. 1 For example, a production line for multi-sort packages comprises four separate cutters 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, a first conveyor 13, a second conveyor 15, and a packaging machine 17. The first conveyor 13 is a belt conveyor adapted to receive product carriers 19 in FIG to promote a uniform distance D along a conveying direction F. The four cutting devices 11a-d are arranged next to the first conveyor 13 such that product slices separated therefrom fall onto the conveyed product carriers 19. The cutting devices 11a-d are preferably high-performance slicers of conventional design, which comprise a single-track product feed and a cutting blade moving in a cutting plane. The cutting devices 11a-d are arranged such that the respective storage locations of the separated product slices are spaced apart by the distance D.

Product portions created on the product carriers 19 pass from the first conveyor 13 to the second conveyor 15, which is e.g. is designed as a depositor and ensures that the product portions are correctly transferred to the packaging machine 17 and packaged there.

How out Fig. 2 As can be seen, the product carrier 19 are fixedly mounted on the first conveyor 13, but with respect to a support surface 20 of the conveyor 13 movable. Specifically, several actuators, not shown, ensure that the product carrier 19 is displaceable relative to the support surface 20, both in and against the conveying direction F and transverse to the conveying direction F. Another, also not shown actuator ensures that the product carrier 19 are additionally rotatable about a vertical axis A. After the transfer of a finished product portion to the second conveyor 15, the empty product carrier 19 at the lower run of the first conveyor 13 are returned to the starting point of the conveyor line again.

According to an alternative embodiment, the product carriers 19 are not attached to the conveyor 13, but are only loosely on the support surface 20, wherein for moving the product carrier 19, an external handling device such as a Umsetzroboter is provided.

The product feeds of the cutting devices 11a-d are each loaded in a manner known in the art with product bars or product slices, the product bars or product slices for the individual slicing devices 11a-d differing with respect to the product type.

Below is the creation of portions by means of the production line according to Fig. 1 described, in addition to Fig. 3 Reference is made, which shows an exemplary product carrier 19 with four partial portions 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d different kind. The partial portions 30a-d together form a rounded, mixed total portion 33 of food products of different varieties.

To create a total portion 33 of product slices of food products of different types, a plurality of product slices of a first kind are first separated by means of the first cutting device 11a. These product slices fall on the product carrier 19 and form a first partial portion 30a, wherein the continuous movement of the product carrier 19 in the conveying direction F ensures that the product slices of the first partial portion 30a come to lie on the product carrier 19 in a shingled arrangement. The product carrier 19 is then further conveyed to the second cutter 11b, which separates a plurality of product slices of a second type of product. These product slices also fall on the product carrier 19 and come to rest next to the product slices of the first variety, preferably in direct shingled connection to this. Thus, a second partial portion 30b is formed. The product carrier 19 is then conveyed in an analogous manner to the third cutting device 11c and to the fourth cutting device 11d, with two further partial portions 30c, 30d being added to the partial portions 30a, 30b already located on the product carrier 19, each formed by product slices of a further variety are. In this way, a partial portion 30a-d of a single variety is created on each of the cutting devices 11a-d, wherein the partial portions 30a-d are all located on the product carrier 19 and thus form the mixed total portion 33.

The product carrier 19 can also be conveyed back and forth between the cutting devices 11a-d so as to create a total portion 33 which is composed of more than four partial portions 30a-d. That is, the number of sub-portions 30a-d may exceed the number of cutters 11a-d if desired.

The mixed total portion 33 is then fed to the second conveyor 15 (FIG. Fig. 1 ) and packaged in the packaging machine 17. By moving the product carrier 19 between the creation of the individual partial portions 30a-d, a multiplicity of different laying patterns can be produced. For example only is in Fig. 3 a rounded arrangement shown.

Fig. 4 shows a production line for multi-type packages according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein four cutting devices 11a-d along a circular conveyor 25 are arranged, which forms a self-contained loop. The loop is preferably traversed several times by each product carrier 19. With this arrangement, it is not necessary that emptied product carrier 19 be conveyed back to the starting point of the conveyor line 27 in a detour. When passing through the loop twice, for example, twice, that is, eight partial portions can be placed on the product carrier 19. This means that a total of eight varieties can be created.

The invention enables an efficient, fully automatic production of portions of several food products of different types, wherein the cutting devices 11a-d used can be relatively simple and in each case need not have a particularly high cutting performance per se. Because all the cutting devices 11a-d are always operated simultaneously, a high production output results in the total. Unless multi-packs are required, one-packs can be easily produced using the same system.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

11a-d

cutter

13

first conveyor

15

second conveyor

17

packaging machine

19

product support

20

bearing surface

25

circular conveyor

27

conveyor line

30a-d

subportion

33

total dose

F

conveying direction

D

distance

A

vertical axis

Claims (12)

1. A method for the automatic preparation of portions (33) of a plurality of food products of different types by means of at least two cutting apparatus (11a - d), in particular high-performance slicers, wherein
   at least one product slice is cut off from a product of a first type by means of a first cutting apparatus (11a - d), with the cut-off product slice of the first type falling onto a product carrier (19) and forming a first part portion (30a);
   the product carrier (19) having the first part portion (30a) is conveyed to a second cutting apparatus (11a - d) by means of a conveying device (13, 25); and
   at least one product slice of a second type is cut off by means of the second cutting apparatus (11a - d), with the cut-off product slice of the second type falling onto the product carrier (19) and forming a second part portion (30b) which complements the first part portion (30a) to form a desired total portion (33) no longer to be complemented or to form a part portion still to be complemented by means of at least one further cutting apparatus (11a - d), wherein the product carrier (19) is moved by means of an adjustment apparatus after the reception of the first part portion (30a) and before the reception of the second part portion (30b) such that the position of the section part portion (30b) on the product carrier (19) relative to the position of the first part portion (30a) on the product carrier (19) satisfies a predefined condition,
   and wherein the product carrier (19) is displaced relative to a support surface (20) of the conveying device (13, 25), in particular in or against the conveying direction (F) or transversely to the conveying direction (F); and/or in that the product carrier (19) is rotated about a vertical axis (A).
2. A method in accordance with claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the product carrier (19) is removed from the conveying device (13, 25) before the movement and is placed onto the conveying device (13, 25) again after the movement.
3. A method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   more or fewer product slices are cut-off to form the first part portion (30a) than to form the second part portion (30b).
4. A method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   at least two part portions (30a - d) which are not formed directly subsequent to one another are formed on the product carrier (19) from different tracks of a cutting apparatus (11a - d) which is configured for a multitrack cutting, with in particular the cutting apparatus (11a - d) being arranged spaced apart from one another along a conveyor track, in particular a non-closed conveyor track, and the product carrier (19) being moved to and fro along at least a part of the conveyor track in the forward direction and between at least two cutting apparatus (11a - d); and/or in that the cutting apparatus (11a - d) are arranged spaced apart from one another along a loop closed per se and the loop is run through more than once by the product carrier (19).
5. An apparatus for the automatic preparation of portions (33) from a plurality of food products of different types by means of at least two cutting apparatus (11a - d), in particular high-performance slicers, comprising a conveying device (13, 25) which is configured to convey at least one product carrier (19) from a product slice placement zone of a first cutting apparatus (11a - d) in which a part portion (30a) is formed from at least one product slice of a first type on the product carrier (19) to a product slice placement zone of a second cutting apparatus (11a - d) in which a part portion (30b) of at least one product slice of a second type is formed on the product carrier (19) which, together with the first portion (30a), forms a desired total portion (33) no longer to be complemented or a part portion still to be complemented by at least one further cutting apparatus (11a - d), wherein means are provided for displacing the product carrier (19) relative to a support surface (20) of the conveying device (13, 25); and/or in that means are provided for rotating the product carrier (19) about a vertical axis (A).
6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5,
   characterized in that
   at least one of the cutting apparatus (11a - d) has a single-track product feed and/or at least one of the cutting apparatus (11a - d) has a multitrack product feed.
7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5 or claim 6,
   characterized in that
   the conveying device (13) is configured for conveying, in particular linearly, the product carrier (19) along a straight and/ or curved conveyor track, with the cutting apparatus (11a - d) being arranged spaced apart from one another along the conveyor track; or in that the conveying device (25) is configured for conveying the product carrier along a loop closed per se, in particular a circular loop, with the cutting apparatus (11a - d) being arranged spaced apart from one another along the loop.
8. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 5 to 7
   characterized in that
   the conveying device (13, 25) is configured for a continuous conveying of a plurality of product carriers (19) at a uniform product carrier distance (D), with the product carrier distance (D) in particular corresponding to the distance between the product slice placement zones of the cutting apparatus (11a - d).
9. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 5 to 8,
   characterized in that
   means are provided for the linear movement of the product carrier (19) in and/ or against the conveying direction (F) or transversely to the conveying direction (F); and/or in that the product carrier (19) is fixedly coupled to the conveying device (13, 25) and is in particular integrated into the conveying device.
10. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 5 to 9,
    characterized in that
    the product carrier (19) can be removed from the conveying device (13, 25), in particular only lies on a support surface (20) of the conveying device (13, 25); and/or in that the product carrier (19) is in form-fitted engagement with a conveyor belt of the conveying device (13, 25) formed as a belt conveyor.
11. An apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 5 to 10
    characterized in that
    the product carrier (19) is a package or a part of a package for the total portion, in particular a tray.
12. A production line for multitype packs which each contain a total portion (33) of product slices of food products of different types having an apparatus in accordance with any one of the claims 5 to 11 and having a packaging machine (17).

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