Method For Slicing A Block Of Food Into Portions Of Precise Weight

• US 20120073415A1
• Filed: 04/06/2010
• Published: 03/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CFS Bühl GmbH (GEA Group AG)
• Original Assignee: CFS Bühl GmbH (GEA Group AG)
• Inventors: Maidel, Rainer, Quaglia, Silvio
• Application Number:
  US13/262,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20120073415A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/13
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/143 rotating about a stationary axis B26D1/20 - B26D1/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2210/02 for cutting food products, e.g. food slicers
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/26 wherein control means on the work feed means renders the cutting member operative
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/32 with the record carrier formed by the work itself
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/0625 by endless conveyors, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/30 for weighing cut product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/04 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/162 With control means responsive to replaceable or selectable information program
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/647 With means to convey work relative to tool station

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for slicing a block of food (1) into portions (3) of precise weight. The invention further relates to a slicing machine (12) and to a block of food (1).

Claims

1. A method for slicing a block of food into portions of precise weight, characterized in that:

a weight (W) or a length (L) of the block of food is ascertained,

an irradiation scanner ascertains n signals (p<sub>i,i=1−

n</sub>) from n scan slices having a thickness (x<sub>i,i=1−

n</sub>) which are arranged in succession along a longitudinal axis (x) of the block of food,

the signals (p<sub>i,i=1−

n</sub>) are stored in a computer unit and a sum thereof (P) is formed and stored,

the values of W, P and p<sub>i,i=1−

n</sub> or L, P and p<sub>i,i=1−

n</sub> and also a desired target weight G of a respective portion are used to calculate a length to be taken off (x_N) from the block of food, and

the length to be taken off is transferred to a slicing machine which cuts off the respective portion.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the weight (w_i) of each scan slice is calculated and stored.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the weight (w_i) of each scan slice is ascertained using the formula w_i=p_i*W/P.

4. The method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the values w_i are used to calculate a number of scan slices to be taken off

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a sum of a number of measured values to be taken off per respective portion is calculated.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the sum of the number of measured values to be taken off per portion is ascertained using the formula G*P/W.

7. The method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the number of scan slices to be taken off is converted into the length to be taken off (x_N).

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the length to be taken off (x_N) is sliced into a prescribed number of food slices.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the thickness of the respective slice is predetermined.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that detection means captures at least one reference point (β

) from a start of the block of food on a conveyor belt and starts a recording of the measured values and/or a capture of an advance of a conveyor belt.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that a distance (α

) between the reference point (β

) and a scan plane is ascertained.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the distance between the reference point and the scan plane (α

) is transmitted to the slicing machine.

13. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of block of foods are at least intermittently irradiated simultaneously using the irradiation scanner.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that for each block of food a reference point (β

) is ascertained and transmitted to the slicing machine individually.

15. A slicing machine having a cutting knife which takes off food slices from a front end of a block of food, wherein the block of food is transported by a means of transport in a direction of the cutting knife, and means to establish and track a position of the block of food on the means of transport in the direction of transport thereof.

16. The slicing machine as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the means to establish and track comprises a sensor or a stop.

17. The slicing machine as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the means of transport comprises an encoder.

18. The slicing machine as claimed in claim 15, comprises a plurality of means of transport, wherein each means of transport is provided with a means to establish and track the position of the block of food on the means of transport in the direction of transport thereof.

19. The slicing machine as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that the speed of transport of each means of transport can be set individually.

20. The slicing machine as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the means to establish and track recognizes a start of the block of food.

21. The slicing machine as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that the means to establish and track captures the start of the block of food in the same region as an irradiation scanner.

22. The slicing machine as claimed in claim 15, comprises a means to establish an orientation of the block of food on the means of transport.

23. The slicing machine as claimed in claim 15, comprises a means to individualize the block of food.

24. The slicing machine as claimed in claim 23, comprises a controller which associates a scan data record with the block of food.

25. A block of food, comprising means to establish an orientation of the block of food.

26. The block of food as claimed in claim 25, characterized in that the means to establish establishes a position of a start of the block of food.

27. The block of food as claimed in claim 25, characterized in that the means to establish establishes a position of a face.