Process for cutting elastic strands, in particular meat strands and cutting machine therefor
AssigneeTvi Entwicklung & Produktion GmbH
InventorsThomas Völkl, Martin Mayr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for slicing meat loafs that have a cross section that varies across their longitudinal extension into accurately weighted slices, that includes the steps of bringing the loaf into a defined shape with a uniform cross section across its length inside a forming tube by pressing the loaf before it is sliced. The pressing is performed in a longitudinal direction and a transversal direction relative to the loaf in a predefined order and in particular in multiple pressing steps. The pressing may also comprise pressure relieving strokes for the purpose of reducing the force exertion for pressing, and for keeping the tissue structure of the loaf intact.
Claims20
A method for forming an irregularly shaped, elongated loaf of an elastic material into a shape that has a substantially uniform cross section across a length of the loaf, the method comprising:
- pressing the loaf in a longitudinal direction of the loaf by placing a first pressing plunger against the loaf in a first pressing direction in a first pressing step, and advancing the first pressing plunger further by a first pressing stroke to press the loaf in the first pressing direction;
- pressing the loaf in at least one transverse direction by placing a second pressing plunger against the loaf in a second pressing direction in a second pressing step, and advancing the second pressing plunger by a second pressing stroke, wherein the at least one transverse direction is transverse to the longitudinal direction;
- withdrawing at least one of the first pressing plunger in a direction opposite the first pressing direction or the second pressing plunger in a direction opposite the second pressing direction in a first relieving stroke following at least one of the first or second pressing strokes to relieve pressure applied to the loaf in at least one of the first pressing step or the second pressing step;
- and
- following the first relieving stroke by a further pressing stroke on the loaf and in the first pressing direction to compress the loaf if the first relieving stroke was performed in the direction opposite the second pressing direction, or following the first relieving stroke by a further pressing stroke on the loaf and in the second pressing direction to compress the loaf if the first relieving stroke was performed in the direction opposite the first pressing direction;
- wherein, if the first relieving stroke was performed in the direction opposite the first pressing direction, a distance of the first relieving stroke in the direction opposite the first pressing direction is smaller than a distance of the first pressing stroke in the first pressing direction, or if the first relieving stroke was performed in the direction opposite the second pressing direction, a distance of the first relieving stroke in the direction opposite the second pressing direction is smaller than a distance of the second pressing stroke in the second pressing direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.