Apparatus and method for longitudinally cutting a ribbon of food, in particular a ribbon of cheese, into strips

An apparatus for longitudinally cutting a ribbon of food, such as a ribbon of cheese, into strips, the apparatus comprising a longitudinal cutting apparatus toward which the ribbon of food is moved at a transport speed in a transport direction, the longitudinal cutting apparatus comprising:

• a grooved shaft comprising a grooved shaft axis which is disposed transversely to the transport direction and a plurality of grooves which encircle the grooved shaft in the transport direction of the ribbon of food, the grooved shaft being configured take over the ribbon of food as it is moved toward the grooved shaft;
• and
• a cutting shaft comprising a cutting shaft axis which is disposed transversely to the transport direction and a plurality of cutting knives which encircle the cutting shaft in the transport direction of the ribbon of food,
• wherein,
• the cutting shaft is disposed opposite to the grooved shaft,
• the ribbon of food is guided between the cutting shaft and the grooved shaft,
• one respective cutting knife of the plurality of cutting knives engages slightly into one respective groove of the plurality of grooves disposed opposite thereto so that the ribbon of food is cut into the strips along the transport direction,
• the cutting shaft has a length of at least 600 mm along the cutting shaft axis, and
• the grooved shaft has a length of at least 600 mm along the grooved shaft axis.

A system for longitudinally and transversely cutting a ribbon of food, such as a ribbon of cheese, into pieces, the system comprising:

• a longitudinal cutting apparatus toward which the ribbon of food is moved at a transport speed in a transport direction, the longitudinal cutting apparatus comprising, a grooved shaft comprising a grooved shaft axis which is disposed transversely to the transport direction and a plurality of grooves which encircle the grooved shaft in the transport direction of the ribbon of food, the grooved shaft being configured take over the ribbon of food as it is moved toward the grooved shaft, and
• a cutting shaft comprising a cutting shaft axis which is disposed transversely to the transport direction and a plurality of cutting knives which encircle the cutting shaft in the transport direction of the ribbon of food;
• wherein,
• the cutting shaft is disposed opposite to the grooved shaft,
• the ribbon of food is guided between the cutting shaft and the grooved shaft, and
• one respective cutting knife of the plurality of cutting knives engages slightly into one respective groove of the plurality of grooves disposed opposite thereto so that the ribbon of food is cut into longitudinal strips along the transport direction;
• and
• a transverse cutting unit to which the ribbon of food cut into the longitudinal strips is transferred for a transverse cutting into the pieces, such as into cuboid pieces, the longitudinal cutting apparatus comprising,
• a transverse cutting shaft comprising a transverse cutting unit axis and at least one knife blade which is attached to the transverse cutting shaft and which rotates about the transverse cutting unit axis,
• wherein,
• the transverse cutting unit, via a rotating movement of the at least one knife blade, is configured for transversely cutting the longitudinal strips into the pieces,
• wherein,
• the transverse cutting unit axis, in a vertical direction, is disposed below the grooved shaft axis and below the cutting shaft axis, and, in a horizontal direction, is disposed between the grooved shaft axis and the cutting shaft axis.