EP2789539B1 - Food slicer - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a food slicer, in particular a bread slicer, comprising a set of cutting blades arranged to cut the food into slices and an output table disposed downstream of the set of blades and arranged to support the slices in their movement when they leave the blade set, which slicer has a packing member and a holding member which is arranged at the height of the output table and arranged to hold the adjacent slices of each other in their movement on the table Release.

Such a slicer is known and is marketed by the applicant. The slicer has an exit table that supports slices of bread that come out of the blade set. As the slicer is in particular designed for use in a supermarket, it is equipped with a holding member that holds the slices together to prevent, on the one hand, the slices fall and secondly , that the user must keep the slices together near the blade set. The packaging member is formed by an inclined board on which the user places the slices before putting a bag on the bread cut.

A disadvantage of known slicers, as well as slicers in general, is that it takes some dexterity to bag bread or other food. Indeed, it is necessary to prevent the slices fall and break down the bread when taking and transporting bread cut between the output table and the packaging member. In addition, it is necessary to place the slices properly aligned on the packaging member to be able to ensacher properly. Finally, as there are different sizes of bread, it is necessary that the user chooses the appropriate bag and that the store has a sufficient stock of different kinds of bags. When the slicer is placed in supermarkets, it must also be avoided that, due to the various operations to be performed, a user, who does not have the required dexterity, monopolizes the slicer too long.

The document EP 2520501 describes a food slicer that automatically cuts and wraps food. Nevertheless, this slicer is bulky and the packaging of a commodity is relatively slow. In this slicer, the food is successively moved from an introductory position to a cutting station and, after the food has been cut completely into slices, it is directed to a packing station.

The object of the invention is to provide a slicer which makes it possible to automate the packaging of the foodstuff after its slicing and this in a much faster manner in a very compact machine compared to the prior art.

To this end, a slicer according to the invention is characterized in that the packaging member comprises a supply unit arranged to supply packaging material to the output table in the form of two sheets oriented one towards the other such that the slices, which leave the set of blades, are housed between the two sheets, the packaging member also comprising a connecting member arranged to bind the sheets of the packaging material to each other on at least two opposite edges to each other. The use of sheets of packaging material avoids having a stock of packaging bags of different sizes and having to choose each time the appropriate bag. The slices, which leave the set of cutting blades, in particular the slices formed at least partially in the part of the already cut bread, are housed between the sheets of the packaging material so that the slices are automatically packed in the leaves without the intervention of the user. The presence of the holding member ensures that the slices remain together during their movement on the output table and during packaging. After the sheets have been applied around the slices, the connecting member will bind together the sheets of the packaging material to thereby be able to close the packaging of the commodity. It is thus found that the packaging is carried out automatically without requiring the use of a bag.

A first embodiment of a slicer according to the invention is characterized in that the packaging member comprises a set of first arms connected to the supply unit and arranged to move back and forth by report to the output table and guide the second sheet relative to the slices as they move on the output table. The back and forth movement allows the free passage for the slices when they pass on the output table and guide one of the sheets relative to the slices.

A second embodiment of a slicer, according to the invention, is characterized in that for respectively providing the first and the second sheet, the supply unit comprises a first and a second support arranged to respectively support a first and a second roll of packaging material. The use of rollers mounted on a support makes it possible to cut sheets of different dimensions according to the size of the commodity and to have a reserve of packaging material.

A third embodiment of a slicer, according to the invention, is characterized in that the drive element comprises first drive rollers arranged between the output table and the set of cutting blades under a formed plane. by the output table, said first rollers being arranged to drive the first sheet from the first roll. The drive rollers provide a reliable realization and their presence, between the output table and the set of cutting blades under the plane formed by the output table, position them at the point where the slices come out of the set of blades. chopped off.

A fourth embodiment of a slicer, according to the invention, is characterized in that a guide is placed downstream of the drive rollers, said guide being arranged to guide the free end of the first sheet towards the table Release. Thus the first sheet is correctly guided to the output table.

A fifth embodiment of a slicer, according to the invention, is characterized in that the drive element comprises a guide roller disposed above the output table downstream of the set of cutting blades, said guide roll being arranged to guide the second sheet from the second roll. The second sheet is thus also correctly guided.

A sixth embodiment of a slicer according to the invention is characterized in that the packaging member comprises a closure member arranged to close the side edges of the wrapping material wrapped around the commodity. Thus, the packaging is also made on the lateral edges around the holding member.

• La figure 1 illustre une vue d'ensemble d'une trancheuse de pain, selon l'art antérieur.
• Les figures 2 et 3 illustrent le fonctionnement de l'organe de maintien.
• Les figures 4 à 6 illustrent le fonctionnement de la trancheuse, suivant l'invention, en montrant les différentes étapes de l'emballage.

The invention will now be described in more detail with the aid of the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of a slicer according to the invention.

• The figure 1 illustrates an overview of a bread slicer, according to the prior art.
• The Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the operation of the holding member.
• The Figures 4 to 6 illustrate the operation of the slicer according to the invention, showing the different steps of the packaging.

In these figures the same reference has been attributed to the same element or to a similar element.

The food slicer, according to the invention, can be used to cut various foods, such as bread or cakes. However, for the purpose of simplifying the understanding of the invention, the latter will be described by limiting itself to a bread slicer. It will, however, be clear that the protection conferred is not limited to a bread slicer. The same goes for the packaging material, which in the description will be limited to paper. Of course other materials, such as a plastic or aluminum, can also be used as a packaging material. The packaging material is preferably formed by thermal paper, in particular a paper covered with a polyethylene film.

The conventional bread slicer 1, illustrated in figure 1 , comprises a set of cutting blades 2 arranged to cut the sliced bread. The blades are arranged in parallel and the bread is cut by a movement of back and forth blades when the bread in the field of the blades.

An output table 4 is disposed downstream of the blade set and is arranged to support the slices in their movement as they leave the blade set. Thus, the slices move on the exit table which prevents the cut bread from falling to the ground. The slicer may also include a packaging member (not shown).

A pusher (not shown) is preferably provided to push the bread 2 through the set of cutting blades 2 to the output table 4. This pusher can be moved between a position adjacent to the blade set 2 and a remote position of this blade set. Thus, the bread 1 to be cut is introduced into the space between the set of blades and the pusher when the latter is in its remote position. In order to cut the bread 1 and to cross through the set of blades 2 to the output table 4, the pusher is driven and moved to its position adjacent to the set of blades.

In order to prevent the slices of cut bread from falling under the effect of gravity, according to the invention, a holding member 5 is provided in the figures 2 and 3 . The holding member is disposed at the height of the output table and is arranged to maintain the adjacent slices of each other in their movement on the output table. This holding member prevents the slices from deviating from each other by simultaneously applying a slight pressure on two opposite ends of the bread in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the bread on the output table. The holding member comprises a toothed wheel 6 (shown schematically in the drawing) on which are mounted a first 7 and a second 8 rack. The rotation of the gearwheel, which is driven by a motor (not shown), causes a reciprocating movement of the racks which are arranged under the output table. Sleeves 11 and 12 are mounted on the racks. A first finger 13 and a second finger 14 are mounted on the first 11 respectively second sleeve 12 and are thus arranged on either side of the output table. The fingers are used to hold together the slices of the bread 3. The movement of back and forth of the rack will cause the fingers will arrive at the ends of the bread to then come to apply pressure on the end slices of the bread and release them when he arrived at the end of the course on the exit table. Of course other embodiments that fingers can be envisaged such as for example rings, pellets, or pallets.

The document EP 1857233 describes, for example, such a holding member suitable for holding the slices against each other during the cutting of the bread and after the latter has left the set of cutting blades.

When the slices leave the set of cutting blades and advance on the output table, the racks 7 and 8 will be activated to move the fingers 13 and 14 to the lateral ends of the bread. When the fingers come in contact with the bread, the movement of the racks is stopped and the fingers apply a pressure on the bread to maintain the adjacent slices of each other.

The Figures 4 to 6 illustrate the operation of the bread slicer according to the invention. The slicer includes a packaging member 20 having a first support 21 and a second support 23 on which a first roll of packaging material 22, respectively a second roll of packaging material 24 can be placed. It is important that the first sheet 30 and the second sheet 35 are oriented toward each other so that the slices that leave the set of blades are lodged between the two sheets.

The packaging member advantageously also comprises a drive element arranged to drive the packaging material from the first roller 22 to the output table 4. This drive element preferably comprises roller rollers. 26, 27 arranged between the output table 4 and the set of cutting blades 2, so that the drive rollers do not obstruct the exit of the bread from the clearance of the cutting blades. The drive rollers are juxtaposed with each other and rotate in opposite directions with respect to each other, so as to drive the paper which is unrolled from the roller 22. In order to better guide the paper, which comes out of the drive rollers, a first guide 28, 29 is preferably placed downstream of the drive rollers. The first guide has two parts which are arranged each time in the extension of the roller to which the portion of the guide is allocated. Thus, a first sheet of paper 30 coming out of the rolls 26 and 27 is guided by the portions of the first guide 28 and 29 to be directed towards the beginning of the exit table 4.

The packaging member also comprises a second guide 31 formed by a guide roller mounted on an arm 32. The second guide 31 is disposed above the output table downstream of the set of cutting blades 2. The roller The guide is arranged to guide a second sheet 35 from the second roller 24 in a direction that extends in the direction of movement of the slices leaving the set of cutting blades.

The packaging member of the food slicer also comprises a set of first arms 40 arranged to reciprocate with respect to the output table 4 and to guide the second sheet 35 with respect to the slices when they move on the exit table. The arms 32 of the second guide are mounted on the set of first arms so that the second guide 31 is moved back and forth.

By this configuration, said second guide 31 can preferably be moved in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the output table 4.

The packaging member also comprises a cutting member 34 arranged to cut the packaging material. This cutting member is preferably formed by a wheel-shaped knife and arranged to reciprocate with respect to the exit table. The knife is thus driven into a Linear motion that extends across the width of the wrapping material in a direction perpendicular to that of the bread movement on the output table. This cutting member is preferably placed under the exit table between the first arms 40 and the set of cutting blades 2.

The packaging member preferably further comprises a connecting member 25 arranged to bind the sheets of the packaging material to one another. The leaves are connected together in a direction that is perpendicular to the movement of the bread on the exit table. This connecting member preferably comprises a welding member arranged for welding the sheets 30 and 35 to one another.

To cut and package the bread using the bread slicer according to the invention, the user will put the bread behind the set of cutting blades 2 so that the bread can be sliced by the set of blades. When the cutting blade set is turned on, the packing member will also be activated. Turning on the set of cutting blades will result in the bread starting to pass through the set of cutting blades. The game of the first arms 40 will also be activated to raise the second guide 31 and the second sheet of paper that it guides, as shown in FIG. figure 5 . Drive element 26 and 27 will also be activated and thus sheets of paper 30 and 35 will be unwound and the second sheet will be raised. As the paper is between the output table and the output of the cutting blade set, the presence of the first sheet will result in the bread, during its cutting, comes to rest on this first sheet while the presence of the second sheet of paper will result in the bread, which comes out of the game of cutting blades, will come before the second sheet. The bread will be caught between the first and second sheets. Thus, as the bread is cut into slices, it is introduced between the first and the second sheet.

When the slices of the bread, which pass through the set of blades, begin to come out of this set of blades, the holding member is also activated to bring the fingers towards the lateral ends of the bread. The holding member follows or causes the bread roll on the output table to maintain the slices together on their entire path on the output table.

The movement of the worm and the first arm 40 is of course limited by the distance of the worm. It suffices, in fact, that the second guide 31 is high enough that it does not interfere with the movement of the bread on the table Release. Thus, this raising movement of the first arms, in particular the second guide 31, is barely greater than the height of a bread. At the end of the race, the first arms will stop.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the displacement of the second guide is driven by the action of the bread, which leaves the set of cutting blades 2 and which moves on the output table 4.

However, since the blade set continues its cutting motion until the bread is completely cut, the bread continues to move on the exit table. As the bread has encountered the paper, the movement of the bread will push the sheets of paper that continue to be unrolled rolls. The second guide remaining in place above the slices of bread in motion, the movement of the bread will result in the second leaf following this movement and thus cover the bread. In fact, slices of bread will pass under the second guide, as shown in figure 5 . As the paper continues to be driven and thus rolled out of the roll, and the first sheet of paper is on the output table under the bottom of the bread, the movement of the bread and the paper cause the paper to envelop the bread.

When the bread is driven by a pusher through the set of blades, in order to be sliced, the cut portion of the bread causes the first sheet and the second sheet by the action of the pusher, so that the material of wrapping the bread as it progresses through the blade set.

Meanwhile, the holding member 5 holds the slices against each other by means of the fingers 13 and 14. After the pusher has arrived in its position adjacent to the cutting blade set 2, the 5, or at least the fingers 13 and 14, continue to move parallel to the plane of the exit table 4 and away from the set of blades 2 while the bread, sliced, is held by the organ of held between the fingers 13 and 14. Thus, the bread is advanced by the holding member 5 until it is at the end of its course at a predetermined distance from the set of blades 2. At the advancement bread, it grows, preferably against the sheets 30 and 35 to wrap between these sheets.

As described above, the holding member 5, by virtue of its fingers 13 and 14, retains the end slices of the bread and thus holds together all the slices lying between these end slices, thus preventing the bread cut from fall into separate slices. The holding member is arranged to hold the slices together until the bread has reached the end of its path on the exit table.

At the end of the bread run, said predetermined distance is at least equal to the width of the second guide 31 in the direction of movement of the bread.

When the bread has reached the end of its course on the exit table and is therefore fully sliced, as shown in figure 6 the sheets of paper cover the bread and the set of first arms 40 will return to its starting position, thus completing its movement back and forth. In particular, by the action of the first arms, said second guide 31 will descend until the first sheet 30 and the second leaf 35 touch, preferably, across their width transversely to the direction of movement of the bread . Then, the connecting member 25, which is preferably positioned opposite the second guide 31, will be activated ( figure 6 ) and will apply a first link at height where the second sheet rejoins the first sheet. The first link is applied in a direction perpendicular to that of the movement of the bread on the table. Then, the sheets 30 and 35 will be advanced over a distance of between 1 and 3 cm so as to allow the first link to go beyond the location where the cutoff member 34 is located.

It is clear that at the end of the course of the bread, at least the connecting member 25 is located between the bread and the set of cutting blades 2. At this time, the cutting member 34 is preferably also located between the bread and the blade set.

The cut-off member 34 and the link member will now be activated to first cut the paper and secondly to apply a second link. The latter being applied upstream of the first link. Thus, the movement of the paper cutoff member is between the first and the second link and the cut is therefore applied between these two links. This allows, on the one hand, to close by the first link the packaging of bread that has just been cut and, secondly, to form the second binding binding between the sheets for the next bread.

After applying the cut, the drive element will still feed the paper slightly to bring enough paper to begin packing the next bread.

The closing of the lateral ends of the paper sheets can be done manually by knotting or wrapping these ends. Alternatively, the packaging member may also comprise a closure element arranged to close these lateral edges. This closure element comprises, for example, a means for gluing or stapling these ends so as to close it. The fingers of the holding member hold the bread until the lateral sides of the package are closed and then move away and return to the rest position.

It is thus noted that the packaging does not require the use of prefabricated bags or a variety of bags, since the paper is rolled from a roll. In addition, the user can, by a simple twist, tie the side edges together, since all the rest of the paper packaging is done automatically, thus requiring no particular dexterity of the user.

Claims (16)

1. Food slicer, in particular a bread slicer (1), comprising a set of cutting blades (2) having blades disposed in parallel and arranged so as to cut the food into slices, and an output table (4) provided downstream of the set of blades and arranged so as to support the slices in their movement when they leave the set of blades (2), whereby said slicer also comprises a packing unit (20) and a holding member (5) provided at the output table (4) and arranged to hold the adjacent slices together during their movement over the output table (4), wherein the packing unit (20) is arranged so as to supply packing material to the output table (4) in the form of two sheets (30,35) facing one another, such that, while the bread is being sliced, the slices leaving the set of blades (2) are put between said two sheets (30,35), and whereby the packing unit (20) also comprises a connecting member (25) arranged to join the sheets (30,35) of the packing material together on at least two opposite edges.
2. Food slicer according to claim 1, characterised in that a push rod is provided, arranged so as to push the bread (1) through the set of cutting blades (2) towards the output table (4), whereby this push rod can be moved between a position adjacent to the set of blades and a position away from the set of blades, wherein a gap for introducing food is provided between the set of blades and the push rod when the latter is in its remote position, whereby the push rod makes it possible to push the food through the set of blades so as to place it between said sheets (30,35).
3. Food slicer according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the packing unit (20) comprises a set of first arms (40) arranged to exert a back and forth movement in relation to the output table (4) and to guide the second sheet (35) in relation to the slices while they are moving over the output table.
4. Food slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the set of first arms (40) is mounted on endless screws.
5. Food slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that, in order to respectively supply the first and second sheet (30,35), the packing unit (20) comprises a first and a second support (21,23) arranged so as to respectively support a first and a second roller (22,24) of packing material.
6. Food slicer according to claim 5, characterised in that it also comprises a drive member for driving the packing material towards the output table (4).
7. Food slicer according to claim 6, characterised in that the drive member (26,27) comprises first drive rollers (26,27) provided between the output table (4) and the set of cutting blades (2) in a plane formed by the output table, whereby said first rollers are arranged so as to drive the first sheet (30) coming from the first roller (22).
8. Food slicer according to claim 7, characterised in that a guide (28,29) is positioned downstream of the drive rollers (26,27), whereby said guide is arranged so as to guide the free end of the first sheet (30) towards the output table.
9. Food slicer according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the drive member (26,27) comprises a guide roller (31) disposed above the output table (4) downstream of the set of cutting blades (2), whereby this guide roller is arranged so as to guide the second sheet (35) coming from the second roller (24).
10. Food slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the connecting member (25) is formed of a welding member.
11. Food slicer according to claim 10, characterised in that the welding member is situated at the output table (4) downstream of the set of blades (2).
12. Food slicer according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that it comprises a cutting member (34) provided downstream of the connecting member (25).
13. Food slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the packing unit (20) comprises a closing member provided to close the side edges of the packing material wrapped around the food.
14. Food slicer according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the holding member (5) comprises a first and a second pin (13,14) provided on either side of the output table (4), whereby these pins (13,14) are each mounted on a rack (7,8) so as to move towards and from the lateral ends of the food.
15. Food slicer according to claim 14, characterised in that the holding member (5) is arranged such that it is activated when the slices leave the set of cutting blades (2) and is deactivated when the packaging ends are joined.
16. Method for producing food cut into slices and packaged, according to which the food is pushed through a set of cutting blades (2) having blades arranged in parallel and wherein the part of the bread (1) which has gone through the set of blades is held at its far ends in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the bread so as to hold the slices together by exerting a pulling force on the bread in its direction of movement, at least until the bread has gone completely through the set of blades, according to which, while the bread is moving through the set of blades, the latter makes contact with at least one wrapping sheet (30,35), such that, as it progresses, the bread will be wrapped by said sheet until a predetermined distance is obtained between the bread and the set of blades, whereby the portions of the sheet extending beyond the bread on the side of the set of blades are brought into contact with each other in order to form an attachment between these portions of the sheet in a direction perpendicular to that of the movement of the bread.

Images