Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 0222~776 1997-12-22
MACHINE FOR SLICING SAUSAGE OR THE LIKE
The invention relates to a m~rhin~ for slicing, in particular, rod-shaped sausage or the like, in
which a knife, preferably a rotating knife, cuts off slices from one end of the rod and the rod is
held at the other end by claws in order to advance the rod against the knife.
Slicing m~r?~in~s are known which cut, for example, rod-shaped sausages into slices. The sausages
may have a length of about one metre or more with a diameter of about 20 cm. The rod-shaped
sausages are held in the m~l~hinç at their rear end by claws and guided against the cutting knife
by means of the claws, but also by other devices, for example conveyor belts, rollers or the like.
As a rule the cutting knife is a circular knife, for example a disc-shaped knife moved in planetary
fashion or else a sickle-shaped knife. Other forms of knife may also be used. The knife cuts off
slices from the front end of the rod in rapid succ~c~ion. These slices fall onto a base and are then
further processed into portions.
While in general only non-positive drives are possible at the periphery of the product to be sliced,
the claw con,lel;Lion at the rear end of the rod also provides a positive connection of the product
to be sliced to the drive device. The claws used are in general driven in the manner of pincers and
engage in the product to be sliced at two or more opposite places.
A penetration depth which is as small as possible in the longit~ in~l direction of the product to
be sliced is desirable, in orderto keep the unusable ~ p portionto a ...i,.;l....,., Onthe other
hand, a connection which is as firm as possible bclw~ell the product to be sliced and the drive
means is also desirable. As a rule the claw movements do not allow the claw drive to be
completely covered, which causes hygiene problems since the drive rapidly becomes soiled.
Cleaning of the drive is time-con~ g
It is the object of the invention to provide an ~.dng~lllent which brings about a secure connection
between the rear end of the rod and the drive, but which can also be easily detached in order to
remove the unusable l~ i"i~g portion. In addition, hygiene is also to be improved.
To achieve this object, the invention proposes at least one claw which is helically curved and is
rotatably driven about the centre axis of the helix. As a rule the centre axis coincides with that of
CA 0222~776 1997-12-22
the advancing device. A rotatable claw does not give rise to any problems whatsoever with regard
to the drive. A given rotary movement is to be pGlro,llled, for example coordinated with the
advancing movement, in order to connect the product to be sliced to the driving device. At the
end of the rotary movement, the end of the rod is securely held. The rotary movement requires
only a simple passage for the rotary drive, which is easily sealed off, so that all parts of the drive
can, for example, be encapsulated.
In general two helical claws will be arranged symmetrically to each other, so that the claws
together form a multiple helix. It is sufficient for the claw winding to amount to approximately
one half to one whole turn. The claws are preferably provided with a carrier which is
colles~,olldingly rotatably driven. In particular, an abutment is preferably provided against which
the end of the rod is pressed by the claws during the rotary movement. This improves the secure
holding of the end of the rod. If a switch is provided in the region of the abutment or the end of
the rod, this switch can shut offthe rotary drive at the correct moment, in order to avoid excessive
~Lr~ssi~g of the product to be sliced. A plurality of claws with the same axis of rotation but
lirr~,.ell~ directions of rotation, and possibly different diameters, may be provided. In particular,
the invention proposes in this regard that a plurality of claws with different axes of rotation be
provided, so that the exertion of a torque on the product to be sliced is avoided.
Coupled rotation of the product to be sliced can also be prevented by providing at least one pin
which eng~s in the end of the rod parallel to the axis of rotation and stops the claw from taking
along the~cwilh the product to be sliced.
In general the claw will have a ulfirollll pit~. ~t is however also possible to vary the pitch of the
claw along the axis of rotation. In this way, depending on the product to be sliced, the firm
pressing of the product to be sliced against the abutment can be il"proved.
The arrangement acco,.lmg to the invention is suitable in particular where a plurality of claws are
to be arranged beside or above one another, in order, for example, to fix a plurality of parallel
rods. The drive of a plurality of claws, possibly also in di~.ellt directions of rotation, can be
accomplished in a simple way. All that is neces~ry is to provide suitable ~ cion means, for
example gears, toothed belts or the like.
CA 0222~776 1997-12-22
It proves to be particularly favourable in the invention that with a reverse rotary movement the
end of the rod is pushed away or lifted away from the claws. Special ejecting devices can thus be
avoided. The novel arrangement also allows the extension of the claws in the axial direction to
be kept to a minimllm, so that the unusable portion remains small.
The invention is intçn-lç~l in particular for rod-shaped sausage, with both the length and the
diameter being freely selectable. It is however also possible to slice other rod-shaped products,
for example cheese or the like.
The invention is not restricted either to rod-shaped products. The invention can be employed
advantageously in the same way, for example, for slicing bacon or the like. Here, too, it is
desirable to connect the rear end of the product to be sliced firmly to an ad~ancing device, in
order to exert a precisely precletermined advancing force on the product, which in turn is a
prerequisite for the slice thic~nPss being equal or r~ precisely controllable by controlling
the drive.
Plefelled embo-liment~ of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with
reference to the acco~ ljing drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows a sectional view of part of a slicing m~hin~ constructed in accordance with
the invention,
Fig. 2 shows a sectional view through a modified embodiment,
Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a further variant according to the invention, and
Fig. 4 shows a view of a m~rhin~ according to the invention similar to that of Fig. 3.
Fig. 1 shows a ~h~nn~l 1 in a slicing m~hin~, in which a product to be sliced 2 is movable. This
product 2 lies, for ~Y~mple on a conveyor belt 3 guided by rollers 4 and 5. The conveyor belt 3
may extend up to the knife (not illustrated). A slide may be provided in place of the conveyor
belt 3.
CA 0222~776 1997-12-22
-
A claw arrangement engages on the rear end 6 of the product 2, which in this case is rod-shaped.
A carrier 7 is shown, on which two claws 8 are mounted, the claws 8 by way of example having
a u~ ln pitch. It is clear that when the carrier 7 is rotated about the axis 24, the claws 8 engage
in the product 2 with their tips 9 and press the product 2 against the carrier 7. The front face 10
of the carrier 7 acts as an abutment against which the end 6 of the product is pressed.
The carrier 7 is seated on a shaft 12 which is mounted in the housing 11. The shaft 12 carries a
gearwheel 13 which is set in rotation by a suitable drive. A housing 1 1 is part of an advancing
device 14 which can be moved into the channel 1.
Fig. 2 illustrates a modified embodiment. In this case, a pin 15 is mounted in the shaft 12, the front
end 16 of the pin cooperating with the rear end of the product to be sliced. The opposite end 17
of the pin 15 cooperates with a switch 18 which controls a motor 19. This motor 19 serves to
drive a pinion 20 which in turn drives a gearwheel 13. In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the housing
11 carries two further pins 21 which are arranged and constructed in such a way that they engage
in the product to be sliced and merely prevent the claws 8 from taking the product along
therewith.
In the embodiment of Fig. 3, a housing 22 accommodating four shafts 12 is shown. The shafts 12
are driven by one motor 19, in particular via ge~Leels 13 on the shafts 12. Each shaft 12 carries
one claw arrangement. In this way, it is possible to fix, for example, four rod-shaped sausages
close beside one another at their rear end and slice them simultaneously.
Fig. 4 shows a trough 23 which lcceiv~s the rod-shaped sausage.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways.
Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are int~ntle~l to be included
within the scope of the following claims.
