(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2010/0307304 A1
`Weber
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Dec. 9, 2010
`
`US 20100307304A1
`
`(54) APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE
`SLCING OF FOOD PRODUCTS
`
`(75) Inventor:
`
`Guenther Weber, Gross Nemerow
`(DE)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW,
`LLP
`TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER, EIGHTH
`FLOOR
`SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111-3834 (US)
`
`(73) Assignee:
`
`Weber Maschinenbau GmbH
`Breidenbach, Breidenbach (DE)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`12/791,195
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jun. 1, 2010
`
`
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`(30)
`Jun. 3, 2009 (DE) ...................... 10 2009 O23 751.8
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`B26D 706
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................................ 83/13; 83/403.1
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`An apparatus for the slicing of food products has a product
`feeder which includes a plurality of belt conveyors arranged
`parallel next to one another. The belt conveyors each include
`an endless belt serving as a product Support for a product to be
`sliced and they are drivable together in order simultaneously
`to feed a plurality of products which each lie on one of the
`belts to a cutting plane in which a cutting blade moves. The
`belt conveyors have a common drive with a drive shaft. For
`the setting of an individual single conveying speed for each
`belt conveyor, a respective setting apparatus is associated
`with them which is made to individually change the running
`diameter of the drive shaft in the region of the belt.
`
`Weber EX1007
`IPR2020-01557
`U.S. Patent No. 10,639,812
`
`

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`Patent Application Publication
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`Patent Application Publication
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`US 2010/0307304 A1
`
`Dec. 9, 2010
`
`APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THE
`SLCING OF FOOD PRODUCTS
`
`0001. The present invention relates to an apparatus and to
`a method for the slicing of food products.
`0002 Different types of food slicing apparatus are known
`in the prior art. For example, so-called high-performance
`slicers are used to slice food products Such as meat, sausage or
`cheese at a high cutting speed. In an endeavor further to
`increase the cutting performance, Such apparatus can have a
`product feeder which is made to feed a plurality of product
`loaves or product bars—in the following simply: products—
`parallel to one another to a common cutting blade which
`moves in a cutting plane which extends perpendicular to the
`product conveying direction. It is possible in this manner to
`utilize a single cutting apparatus—with a correspondingly
`large blade—for the simultaneous cutting of a plurality of
`products.
`0003. Such a high-performance slicer with independent
`product feeders for two products to be conveyed in parallel
`and thus to be sliced simultaneously is described in European
`patent EP 0 713 753 B1. In this slicer, each product to be
`sliced is pushed in the direction of the blade by means of a
`separate driven gripping claw which engages at the rear prod
`uct end. The gripping claws each have their own drive and can
`accordingly be driven completely independently of one
`another at different feed speeds so that it is possible to change
`the thickness of the cut product slices for the conveyed prod
`ucts by means of the individual product feeder drives inde
`pendently of one another during the slicing.
`0004 Slicers with mutually independent product feeder
`drives for two products to be sliced simultaneously are more
`over known from U.S. Pat. No. 3,605,837 and U.S. Pat. No.
`3,927.319. Each product is in this respect clamped during the
`slicing between two oppositely disposed endless belt convey
`ors which are oriented vertically and which can both hold the
`product and feed it to a cutting plane at a changeable feed rate.
`Each pair of endless belt conveyors provided for a respective
`product has its own drive for the product feeder, with the
`drives being completely independent of one another so that
`the product feeder rates of the products to be sliced can be
`changed independently of one another.
`0005. Above all the relatively high effort which is required
`for the provision of a plurality of mutually independent drives
`including the associated control devices is problematic with
`these known apparatus.
`0006. It is therefore an object of the invention to simplify
`the simultaneous slicing of a plurality of food products con
`veyed in parallel, with the thickness of the cut product slices
`being able to be changed individually for each product.
`0007. The object is satisfied, on the one hand, by an appa
`ratus having the features of claim 1.
`0008. The apparatus in accordance with the invention has
`a product feeder which includes a plurality of belt conveyors
`which are arranged parallel to one another, which each
`include an endless belt serving as a product support for a
`product to be sliced and which can be driven together in order
`simultaneously to feed a plurality of products which each lie
`on one of the belts to a cutting plane in which at least one
`cutting blade moves, in particular in a rotating and/or circu
`lating manner. The belt conveyors have a common drive
`which includes a drive shaft by which the products lying on
`the belts can be fed to the cutting plane at a common base
`
`conveying speed. Each belt has a setting apparatus associated
`with it which is made to individually change the running
`diameter of the drive shaft in the region of the belt and thus the
`individual conveying speed of the belt.
`0009. It was recognized in accordance with the invention
`that with cutting apparatus of the generic kind, products are to
`be cut up in practice which usually largely coincide with
`respect to their outer shape and which only vary to a relatively
`Small degree with respect to their cross-sections. In order
`either to produce individual product slices or portions of
`product slices of the same weight, the products can therefore
`Substantially be conveyed at the same speed, with only rela
`tively slight adaptations being required for the exact obser
`vance of the preset slice weight or portion weight These
`adaptations are themselves not only relatively slight for each
`product, but are also additionally in the same order of mag
`nitude for all products to be sliced simultaneously. The inven
`tion utilizes this circumstance.
`0010. In accordance with the invention, the construction
`and manufacturing effort can thus be considerably reduced in
`that a set of parallel belt conveyors is provided which are
`driven in common, but which are individually adjustable. For
`this purpose, a common drive having a drive shaft is provided,
`with the drive shaft defining a running Surface with a specific
`running diameter in the region of each belt. The running
`surface can in particular be formed by a drive roller rotation
`ally fixedly connected to the drive shaft. The term “running
`diameter of the drive shaft canthus also relate to one or more
`additional components rotationally fixedly connected to the
`drive shaft. The circulation speed of a belt and thus the indi
`vidual conveying speed of the respective belt conveyor
`depends on the speed of the drive shaft and on the running
`diameter for the respective belt. If the running diameter is
`variable, the individual conveying speed can be individually
`changed while keeping constant the speed of rotation of the
`drive shaft for every individual belt.
`0011. The running diameter of the drive shaft is preferably
`variable for every belt during the slicing operation with a
`circulating belt. The adaptation of the individual conveying
`speed can thus take place “online' So-to-say without a delay
`or interruption of the ongoing cutting operation being neces
`sary. Products having a cross-sectional shape changeable in
`the longitudinal direction can thus in particular also be sliced
`while maintaining a uniform slice weight or portion weight,
`which requires a constant adaptation of the individual con
`veying speed during the slicing.
`0012. In accordance with a further embodiment of the
`invention, for each belt, its individual conveying speed can be
`changed by means of the setting device whose limits are
`determined in that the base conveying speed can be reduced
`and increased by a specific maximum amount, with the base
`conveying speed, for example, being able to be decreased by
`up to 20% and increased by up to 20%. The respective then
`current value of the individual conveying speed can therefore
`vary for each of the belt conveyors by a common value which
`is given by the base conveying speed. The base conveying
`speed is therefore so-to-say only changed with a relatively
`Small range.
`0013 The running diameter of the drive shaft is preferably
`changeable in a stepless manner for each belt to ensure an
`exact adaptation of the respective individual conveying speed
`to the then current circumstances or to the respective require
`mentS.
`
`

`

`US 2010/0307304 A1
`
`Dec. 9, 2010
`
`0014. In accordance with a further embodiment, each belt
`is changeable in length by elastic stretching and/or is pro
`vided with a clamping device for the adaptation to a change of
`the running diameter. The length change associated with a
`change of the running diameter can be compensated by these
`measures in order thus always to ensure an evenly tautened
`circulation of the belt. The clamping device can e.g. be a
`clamping roller cooperating with the empty run of the belt
`conveyor and acted on by spring force.
`0.015. In accordance with a further embodiment, each set
`ting apparatus includes two conical plates which are rotation
`ally fixedly connected to the drive shaft and which are axially
`displaceable relative to one another. The conical plates can in
`particular cooperate with a V-belt whose peripheral surface is
`made as a running Surface for the belt. The conical plates
`whose tapered sides face one another form a running Surface
`pair for the symmetrical support of the V-belt side surface.
`The cross-sectional shape of the V-belt is expediently adapted
`to the conical shape. On an axial moving together of the two
`conical plates, a force transmission to the V-belt takes place
`via the corresponding oblique Surfaces of the conical plates,
`whereby said V-belt is pressed radially outwardly and accord
`ingly runs on a larger effective diameter. Conversely, the
`V-belt slips radially inwardly when the conical plates move
`apart axially.
`0016. An arrangement of axially adjustable conical plates
`is used, as is known, for belt drives which can be adjusted in
`a stepless manner to change the speed of the output shaft with
`an unchanged speed of the drive shaft. In the described
`embodiment of the invention, however, the speed of the out
`put shaft is of no interest since no output takes place via a
`common return shaft for the belts which is provided, for
`example, and which is freely journalled. What is rather impor
`tant here is the change of the track speed of the belt called a
`belt here; it can be used in an advantageous manner for the
`setting of the individual conveyor speed of the respective belt
`conveyor and indeed in particular independently of any
`change in the speed of rotation of the return shaft.
`0017. The axial relative movement of the conical plates
`can be brought about by different types of setting apparatus.
`For example, external drivers or mutually journalled hollow
`shaft sections can be provided.
`0018. The V-belt transmits the driving torque in an advan
`tageous manner from the conical plates to the circulating belt.
`Generally, however, the belt used for the conveying of the
`products and serving as a product Support could also itself be
`made in the manner of a V-belt and circulate without an
`additional interposed V-belt on the conical plates as well as
`e.g. on a freely rotatable return shaft.
`0019. In accordance with an embodiment, each V-belt
`contacts the conical plates over the full periphery. The V-belt
`can thereby take up a high driving torque from the conical
`plates. The change in the running diameter takes place while
`deforming the V-belt. The V-belt is therefore stretched when
`the conical plates move axially toward one another. The
`V-belt is relaxed accordingly when the conical plates move
`away from one another.
`0020. In accordance with an alternative embodiment, each
`V-belt has a length which is larger than the outer diameter of
`the conical plates, with the V-belt being pressed toward the
`conical plates by the belt and only contacting the conical
`plates within the active arc. The non-pressed on part of the
`V-belt is deflected and has no contact with the running sur
`faces of the conical plates. In this embodiment, no deforma
`
`tion of the V-belt is necessary to change the running diameter
`so that only relatively small axial adjustment forces are
`required and a drive provided for the adjustment can be
`dimensioned accordingly small. In addition, the V-belt in this
`embodiment can be removed particularly simply from the
`conical plates for servicing or cleaning purposes.
`0021. In accordance with an embodiment, each belt is
`pretensioned. This is in particular advantageous because the
`V-belt is in this manner pressed toward the running Surfaces
`of the conical plates by the belt so that the V-belt is also in
`friction-locking engagement with the driving conical plates
`in the presence of a loosely deflected section.
`0022. In accordance with a further embodiment of the
`invention, each belt has an upper belt associated with it which
`is made to act on the upper side of the product. Such an
`additional belt can even be made without a drive and only
`free-running so that the upper belt unit exerts a holding-down
`function, whereby a particularly reliable product positioning,
`product holding, or product guidance is achieved during the
`slicing. The product to be sliced is therefore so-to-say
`clamped between two circulating belts disposed opposite one
`another and are conveyed in this manner. It is also possible
`that each upper belt is drivable and in this respect can be
`synchronized with its lower belt, that is its “partner belt
`serving as a product Support. The product is then conveyed, as
`in the initially named prior art in this respect, by the lower belt
`and the upper belt together.
`0023 This object is satisfied, on the other hand, by a
`method having the features of claim 13.
`0024. In the method in accordance with the invention for
`the slicing of food products, a plurality of products which
`each lie on one of the belts are Supplied simultaneously to a
`cutting plane in which at least one cutting blade is moved, in
`particularina rotating and/or circulating manner, by means of
`a product feeder which includes a plurality of belt conveyors
`which are arranged in parallel next to one another and which
`each include an endless belt serving as a product Support for
`a product to be sliced. The belts are driven by means of a
`common drive and the running diameter of the drive shaft in
`the region of the belt is changed individually as required in
`order to set the thickness of product slices to be cut individu
`ally for each product
`0025. In accordance with an embodiment, the running
`diameter of the drive shaft is changed for each belt in depen
`dence on the contour of the product, with the contour of the
`product preferably being determined using a detection device
`integrated into the apparatus. As soon as a product region with
`a reduced cross-sectional Surface, for example, therefore
`moves to the cutting plane on the slicing of the product, the
`individual conveying speed of the respective belt conveyor is
`increased by a corresponding amount So that as a result the
`product slice weight remains unchanged. The cutting appa
`ratus is aware of the topography of the product and thus of the
`contour extent of the product in the conveying direction, so
`that it is also known when which product cross-sectional
`Surface arrives at the cutting plane so that a respective desired
`slice thickness can be produced by corresponding control of
`the setting apparatus, and indeed—if desired with a slice
`thickness varying from slice to slice. The principle of the
`direct change of the product feeder in dependence on the
`product contour is known per se so that this should not be
`looked at in any more detail.
`0026. The invention will be described in the following by
`way of example with reference to the drawing.
`
`

`

`US 2010/0307304 A1
`
`Dec. 9, 2010
`
`0027 FIG. 1 schematically shows a plan view of the prod
`uctfeeder region of a cutting apparatus in accordance with the
`invention;
`0028 FIG. 2 schematically shows a side view of the cut
`ting apparatus in accordance with FIG. 1;
`0029 FIG.3 shows an enlarged sectional view of a setting
`apparatus for a belt conveyor of the cutting apparatus in
`accordance with FIG. 1; and
`0030 FIG. 4 schematically shows a side view of a cutting
`apparatus in accordance with an alternative embodiment of
`the invention.
`0031. The cutting apparatus in accordance with the inven
`tion includes a product feeder 11 with, in this example, three
`belt conveyors 13 arranged next to one another and aligned
`parallel to one another. Each of the belt conveyors 13 includes
`an endless belt 15 which serves as a support for a product 17
`to be sliced. The belts 15 are driven by a common drive shaft
`19 on which respective drive rollers 20 are seated. The belts
`15 furthermore run freely around a return shaft 21 having
`return rollers 22 (FIG. 2), with the return rollers 22 being
`arranged close to a cutting plane S
`0032. A cutting blade 23 (FIG. 2) rotates in a planetary
`manner in the cutting plane S, with alternatively a cutting
`blade, in particular a scythe blade, also being able to be used
`which does not rotate in a planetary manner, but rather only
`rotates. The return rollers 22 can also be journalled separately
`instead of on the common return shaft 21.
`0033. The products 17 lying on the upper run of the belt
`conveyer 13 are fed simultaneously and parallel to one
`another along a product conveying direction F to the cutting
`plane S by driving the drive rollers 20 by means of the com
`mon drive shaft 19.
`0034. The drive of the drive rollers 20 does not have to take
`place directly by a common coaxial drive shaft 19. Depending
`on the embodiment, it is also possible that different transmis
`sion components are provided as an intermediate member
`between the drive shaft 19 and the respective drive roller 20.
`The drive shaft 19, however, ultimately represents a common
`drive for all belt conveyors 13.
`0035. The design of the drive rollers 20 will be explained
`in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Each drive
`roller 20 is composed of two coaxial conical plates 30, 32
`which are rotationally fixedly connected to the drive shaft 19.
`The conical plates 30, 32 form a pair of running surfaces 34,
`36 for a V-belt 38. The cross-sectional shape of the V-belt 38
`is matched to the shape of the conical plates 30, 32 so that the
`V-belt 38 contacts the running surfaces 34, 36 areally in the
`region of the active arc of the drive roller 20. The respective
`associated belt 15 is tensioned via the V-belt 38 so that the
`peripheral surface 42 of the V-belt 38 forms a running surface
`for the belt 15. The belts 15 are made as elastically stretchable
`transport belts and are under a bias. The V-belt 38 is pressed
`toward the running surfaces 34, 36 in this manner, whereby a
`friction locking is established between the conical plates 30,
`32 and the V-belt 38 as well as between the V-belt 38 and the
`belt 15.
`0036. In each of the belt conveyors 13, one of the two
`conical plates 30, 32 is axially displaceably journalled on the
`drive shaft 19 and can be adjusted relative to the other conical
`plate by means of a motor-driven setting apparatus 25. The
`V-belt 38 is displace in the radial direction by the adjustment
`and circulates on a changed running diameter, whereby a
`changed running diameter also results for the belt 15.
`
`0037. In a base state of the cutting apparatus, all the belts
`15 circulate at a common base conveying speed in the
`stretched state so that all the products are “of the same speed
`and the thickness of the cut product slices is the same for all
`belt conveyors 13. Since the circuit speed of the belts 15 and
`consequently the individual conveying speed of the belt con
`veyors 13 also depends on the running diameter of the respec
`tive belt 15 in addition to the speed of rotation of the drive
`shaft 19, the individual conveying speed of each belt conveyor
`13 can be either increased or decreased with respect to the
`value of the base conveying speed by controlling the setting
`apparatus 25. This individual variation of the individual con
`veying speeds of the belts 15 takes place despite the common
`drive of the belts 15 by the common drive shaft 19 rotating at
`a constant speed. Since a separate setting apparatus 25 is
`associated with each belt conveyor 13, the individual convey
`ing speeds can be varied individually.
`0038. As can in particular be seen from FIG. 2, each V-belt
`38 has a length which is larger than the outer diameter of the
`conical plates 30, 32 so that a loop 44 out of engagement with
`the drive roller 20 forms outside the active arc of the drive
`roller 20. Due to this design, the V-belt 38 can easily be
`removed from the conical plates 30, 32 in the service or
`cleaning case. In addition, the V-belt 38 does not have to be
`stretched to effect an increase in the running diameter, which
`is of advantage with respect to the force required for the
`adjustment of the conical plates 30, 32.
`0039. The individual setting of the individual conveying
`speeds by a different position of the products 17 with respect
`to the cutting plane S is illustrated in FIG. 1, with it being
`assumed for easier understanding that the products 17 origi
`nally had the same lengths. Accordingly, the product 17
`located at the left in FIG. 1 instantaneously runs ahead of the
`other products so that it instantaneously has the Smallest
`residual length. Since the cutting blade 23 (FIG. 2) cuts
`through all Supplied products 17 with a constant cutting fre
`quency, the product slices cut from the products 17 are the
`thicker, the higher the individual conveying speed of the
`respective belt conveyer 13 is instantaneously.
`0040. Overall, an individual change in the individual con
`veying speed of each of the belt conveyors 13 within a range
`extending around the base conveying speed is made possible
`by the arrangement in accordance with the invention. The
`adjustment range is given by the respective extreme positions
`of the conical plates 30, 32. The variation range of the indi
`vidual conveying speed is defined, for example, by an
`increase and a decrease in the base conveying speed by a
`maximum in each case of 20% This variation range is suffi
`cient for practice since normally such products 17 are to be
`conveyed and sliced simultaneously on the individual belt
`conveyors 13 which only differ with respect to their outer
`contours, in particular with respect to the extent of their
`cross-sectional Surfaces in the longitudinal direction, to a
`degree Such that, for the achieving of weight-constant slices
`orportions, a variation of the slice thickness required for this
`purpose can beachieved by comparatively small relative indi
`vidual conveying speed changes.
`0041) If a greater adaptation of the belt running speed
`should be necessary due to the properties of the products to be
`sliced than can be effected by a maximum possible adjust
`ment stroke of the clamping rollers 30, it is possible at all
`times So-to-say to realize a common offset or a common base
`state shift for all belt conveyors 32 directly via the common
`
`

`

`US 2010/0307304 A1
`
`Dec. 9, 2010
`
`drive, e.g. in the embodiment set forth here by an increase or
`decrease in the speed of rotation of the drive shaft 19.
`0.042
`FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the
`invention. In the product feeder 11', each belt 15 has a belt 51
`associated with it which acts on the supper side of the product
`17 and thus provides a more reliable product guidance during
`the conveying process. The product 17 to be conveyed is
`clamped between the oppositely disposed belts 15, 51. The
`upper belt 51 is associated with an upper belt conveyor 53
`which is designed analogously to the lower belt conveyor 13
`and includes a drive roller 55 composed of two adjustable
`conical plates. So that the running speed of the two runs
`feeding the product 17 together is the same, the upper belt
`conveyor 53 is driven synchronously to the lower belt con
`veyor 33, with the synchronization in particular being
`achieved in that the adjustment of the conical plates 30, 32 of
`the lower drive roller 20 is always accompanied by an equal
`adjustment of the conical plates of the upper drive roller 55.
`This can be achieved either by means of a correspondingly
`controlled separate adjustment drive or by a suitable
`mechanical coupling of the respective conical plates. The two
`drive shafts 19 are accordingly also synchronized.
`0043 Provision can alternatively be made that the upper
`belt conveyor 53 does not have a drive and the upper belt 51
`only circulates freely.
`0044 Since, in accordance with the invention, the indi
`vidual conveying speeds are individually adjustable, the
`thicknesses of the cut product slices are adapted individually
`for each belt conveyor 13 without a separate drive having to
`be provided for each belt conveyor 13 for this reason. The
`effort and the costs for the provision of the product feeder 11,
`11' inaccordance with the invention and thus of the total slicer
`canthus be reduced. A constant slice weight orportion weight
`can in particular be ensured for all simultaneously Supplied
`products 17 despite product cross-sectional Surfaces varying
`in the longitudinal product direction.
`
`REFERENCE NUMERAL LIST
`0045 11, 11' product feeder
`0046 13 belt conveyor
`0047 15 belt
`0048 17 product
`0049) 19 drive shaft
`0050 20 drive roller
`0051 21 return shaft
`0052 22 return roller
`0053 23 cutting blade
`0054 25 adjustment apparatus
`0055 30 conical plate
`0056 32 conical plate
`0057 34 running surface
`0058. 36 running surface
`0059) 38 V-belt
`0060 42 peripheral surface
`0061 44 loop
`0062 51 upper belt
`0063 53 upper belt conveyor
`0064. 55 upper drive roller
`0065 Scutting plane
`006.6 F product conveying direction
`1. An apparatus for the slicing of food products, in particu
`lar a high-performance slicer, comprising
`a product feeder (11,11') which includes a plurality of belt
`conveyors (13) which are arranged parallel to one
`
`another, which each include an endless belt (15) serving
`as a product support for a product (17) to be sliced and
`which can be driven together in order simultaneously to
`feed a plurality of products (17) which each lie on one of
`the belts (15) to a cutting plane (S) in which at least one
`cutting blade (23) moves, in particular in a rotating and/
`or circulating manner,
`wherein the belt conveyors (13) have a common drive
`which includes a drive shaft (19) by which the products
`(17) lying on the belts (15) can be fed to the cutting plane
`(S) at a common base conveying speed; and
`wherein each belt (15) has a setting apparatus (25) associ
`ated with it which is made to individually change the
`running diameter of the drive shaft (19) in the region of
`the belt (15) and thus the individual conveying speed of
`the belt (15).
`2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized
`in that the running diameter of the drive shaft (19) is change
`able for each belt (15) during the slicing operation with a
`circulating belt (15).
`3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized
`in that, for each belt (15), its individual setting speed is
`changeable by means of the setting apparatus (25) in a range
`whose limits are determined in that the base conveying speed
`can be decreased and increased by a specific maximum
`degree, with the base conveying speed preferably being able
`to be decreased by up to 20% and increased by up to 20%.
`4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized
`in that the running diameter of the drive shaft (19) for each
`belt (15) can be changed in a stepless manner.
`5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized
`in that each belt (15) is changeable in length and/or is pro
`vided with a clamping apparatus for the adaptation to a
`change of the running diameter by elastic stretching.
`6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized
`in that each setting apparatus (25) includes two conical plates
`(30.32) which are rotationally fixedly connected to the drive
`shaft (19) and are axially displaceable relative to one another.
`7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, characterized
`in that the conical plates (30.32) cooperate with a V-belt (38)
`whose peripheral Surface (42) is made as a running Surface for
`the belt (15).
`8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, characterized
`in that each V-belt (38) contacts the conical plates (30, 32)
`over the full area.
`9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 6, characterized
`in that each V-belt (38) has a length which is larger than the
`outer diameter of the conical plates (30, 32), with the V-belt
`(38) being pressed toward the conical plates (30, 32) by the
`belt (15) and only contacting the conical plates (30.32) within
`the active arc.
`10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized
`in that each belt (15) is pretensioned.
`11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, characterized
`in that each belt (15) has an upper belt (5) associated with it
`which is made to act on the upper side of the product (17).
`12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11, character
`ized in that each upper belt (51) is drivable and can be syn
`chronized with a belt (15) serving as a product support.
`13. A method for the slicing of food products, wherein
`a plurality of products (17) which each lie on a respective
`belt (15), are simultaneously fed by means of a product
`
`

`

`US 2010/0307304 A1
`
`Dec. 9, 2010
`
`feeder (11,11') to a cutting plane (S) in which at least one
`cutting blade (23) moves, in particular in a rotating and/
`or circulating manner;
`wherein the product feeder includes a plurality of belt
`conveyors (13) which are arranged parallel to one
`another and which in each case include an endless belt
`(15) serving as a product support for a product (15) to be
`sliced;
`the belts (15) are driven by means of a common drive, in
`particular a drive including a common drive shaft (19)
`for the belts (15); and
`
`the running diameter of the drive shaft (19) for each belt
`(15) is changed individually as required in the region of
`the belt (15) to set the thickness of product slices to be
`cut individually for each product (17).
`14. A method inaccordance with claim 13, characterized in
`that the running diameter of the drive shaft (19) for each belt
`(15) is changed in dependence on the contour of the product
`(17), with the contour of the product (17) preferably being
`determined using a detection device integrated into the
`apparatus.
`
`