Patent Publication Number: US-2022234769-A1

Title: Bread slicer allowing sliced bread to be bagged

Description:
The invention concerns a bread slicer which makes it possible to wrap bread in a packing bag. 
     This slicer comprises a loading compartment with a support surface to place a loaf of bread to be cut on. The loading compartment is connected to a receiving compartment which has an output table for the sliced bread. A push rod is used to push the bread from the loading compartment to the receiving compartment in a direction of travel of the bread. 
     To cut successive slices of bread as the latter is being moved from the loading compartment to the receiving compartment, a cutting element is provided. This cutting element is arranged in a cutting plane between the loading compartment and the receiving compartment and is substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the bread. 
     Holding means are provided in the receiving compartment for holding a packing bag having an opening, which is open with the opening facing the cutting plane. These holding means allow the packing bag to be held open while the bread is moving in the direction of travel, whereas the push rod is arranged so as to push at least a part of the sliced bread through the opening of the bag in said direction of travel in order to introduce the sliced bread at least partially into the packing bag. 
     Document DE 9310344 U1 describes, for example, such a slicer in which the holding means comprise a blowing nozzle creating an air flow to open the flat-folded packing bag and to hold the bag open. This slicer has the disadvantage that the slices of bread fall as they are introduced into the bag and the sliced bread falls apart in the bag. 
     The slicer disclosed in document EP 2799345 prevents the bread slices from falling in the bag, but requires the use of packing bags with a rigid bottom specially adapted to this slicer. 
     Document WO 2018/161982 describes a slicer which has a push element that makes it possible to open the packing bag while the bread is being cut. The cut slices of bread push against said push element to advance it. Thus, the slices can be compressed when they push against the push element with too much force, or they can fall and thus move apart when the push element&#39;s resistance to movement is too weak. Indeed, the effectiveness of the push element depends on the type of bread and the thickness of the bread slices. 
     The invention aims to remedy these disadvantages by presenting a bread slicer with which it is possible to wrap a loaf of bread while it is being sliced in a conventional preformed packing bag while ensuring that the slices of bread are held against each other in the bag without falling and thus decomposing the bread or without being compressed. Furthermore, the invention aims to provide a packing system that is independent of the type of bread to be sliced, in particular independent of the specific weight or hardness of the bread. 
     To this end, the slicer according to the invention comprises a push element which is provided in the receiving compartment and which makes it possible to compress the packing bag while the latter is being held open by the holding means in order to reduce the cross-section of the bag at the push element, so that the part of the bag with a reduced cross-section forms a support for the end of the loaf opposite the end facing the push rod. The push element can at least move in the direction of travel of the bread so that it can move away from the cutting plane as the sliced part of the bread is being introduced into the bag. 
     Advantageously, the push element cooperates with the push rod so as to allow a synchronized movement of the push element and the push rod when the bread is being cut into slices. 
     In an interesting embodiment of the slicer according to the invention, the holding means comprise a clamping element for holding a lower side of the opening of the packing bag substantially at the level of the output table, and an opening device for holding the upper side of the bag at the opening and for moving this upper side away from the lower side until the bag opens for the introduction of a loaf. 
     In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the output table is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane to hold the slices of the cut bread against each other while the bread is being introduced into the packing bag. 
     In a particular embodiment of the invention, the slicer comprises a storage space for accommodating a stack of flat-folded packing bags with their opening directed towards the cutting plane. This storage space has a mobile support for said stack which allows the level of the stack of bags to be adapted so that the upper surface of this stack extends substantially in the plane of the output table. 
     The invention also relates to a method for cutting a loaf of bread into slices and for introducing these slices in a packing bag, wherein the bread is placed in a loading compartment and is moved in a direction of travel of the bread towards a receiving compartment by pushing it with a push rod. During this movement, preferably in discrete successive steps, the bread is cut into successive slices by a blade which moves in a cutting plane between the loading compartment and the receiving compartment. A packing bag having an opening is held in the receiving compartment with the opening of the bag directed towards the cutting plane to introduce the slices of bread into the bag along said direction of travel as the bread moves. 
     The method is characterized in that the packing bag is compressed by a push element in order to reduce the cross-section of a portion of the bag while the bag is being held open. Thus, the end of the loaf opposite the end facing the push rod will rest in the bag against the portion of the bag with the reduced cross-section. According to the method, the push element is moved synchronously with the push rod to move the portion with the reduced cross-section away from the cutting plane in said direction of travel as the sliced portion of the loaf is being introduced into the bag while maintaining the end of the loaf supported by said portion of the bag with the reduced cross-section. 
    
    
     
       Further details and particularities of the invention will become clear from the following description, given by way of example without being limitative in any way, of some particular embodiments of the slicer and the method according to the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of a slicer comprising a loading compartment, a cutting element and a receiving compartment with an output table according to a particular embodiment of the invention, when a loaf of bread to be cut has been introduced into the loading compartment. 
         FIG. 2  is a view similar to that in  FIG. 1 , with an open packing bag for the bread. 
         FIG. 3  is a view similar to that of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , with the cross-section of the packing bag being reduced by a push element. 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  show a view similar to that of the previous figures with the bread being cut into slices and the sliced part of the bread being introduced in the packing bag. 
         FIG. 6  is a view similar to that of the previous figures with the sliced bread being completely introduced in the packing bag. 
         FIG. 7  is a view similar to that of the previous figures and shows the removal of the bagged sliced bread. 
         FIG. 8  is a view similar to that of the preceding figures of a bread slicer according to an alternative embodiment of the invention having a storage space to accommodate a stack of packing bags. 
         FIG. 9  is a view similar to that of the preceding figures of a bread slicer according to another embodiment of the invention with a blowing nozzle for opening the packing bags. 
     
    
    
     In the different figures, the same reference figures refer to similar or identical elements. 
     The invention generally relates to a slicer and a method wherein a loaf of bread is cut into slices and, while being sliced, introduced in a preformed bag. 
     The invention is especially interesting to be applied in stores where consumers can choose a loaf of bread, cut it with an automatic bread slicer and take the cut bread themselves. The application of the invention is not limited to supermarkets, but can also be used in any place where bread is cut by an automatic slicer, such as in a baker&#39;s shop, for example. 
     To cut the bread into slices, it is placed on the bottom of a slicer&#39;s loading compartment and then pushed by a push rod through a cutting plane towards an output table from where the cut bread is fed into a bag and collected by the consumer. A cutting blade moves back and forth in said cutting plane to cut successive slices of bread as it passes through the cutting plane. 
     The invention generally relates to a system for packing sliced bread in a preformed bag, wherein the bread is cut and introduced in the packing bag while being sliced without the need to hold the bread by hand. 
     A first embodiment of the slicer and the method according to the invention is schematically shown in  FIGS. 1 to 7 . The slicer comprises a loading compartment  1  for receiving a loaf of bread  2  to be cut. As indicated by the arrow  3 , the loaf of bread  2  is placed on a support surface  4  of the loading compartment  1  of the slicer. 
     In this loading compartment  1  is arranged a push rod  5  making it possible to push the bread  2  to be cut in a direction of travel of the bread  2  from the loading compartment  1  towards a receiving compartment  6 . A cutting plane  7  extends substantially transversely to said direction of travel between the loading compartment  1  and the receiving compartment  6 . A cutting element  8 , such as for example a blade, may move back and forth along the cutting plane  7  to cut successive slices of the bread  2  as it passes through said cutting plane  7 . Preferably, this cutting element  8  comprises a circular blade  9  which is driven around its central axis  10 . 
     The direction of travel of the bread  2  is generally parallel to the support surface  4  of the loading compartment  1  and/or parallel to the output table  12  in the receiving compartment  6 . 
     In the embodiment of the slicer shown in the figures, the push rod  5  comprises at least one hook  11  which is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. Thus, as shown in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , the hook  11  is in the extended position when penetrating the bread to grab and hold it. Nevertheless, it is not essential that the push rod  5  has such a retractable hook  11  in the slicer according to the invention. 
     The bottom of the receiving compartment  6  comprises an output table  12  on which a packing bag  13  for the bread  2  can be placed. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the packing bag  13  is placed on the output surface  12  as folded, with its opening  14  directed towards the cutting plane  7 . The packing bag  13  is, for example, a conventional paper or plastic bag that is commonly used for packing bread. 
     In the receiving compartment  6 , holding means are provided which enable the packing bag  13  to be held open with the opening  14  facing the cutting plane  7 . Preferably, these holding means do not only ensure that the bag  13  is held open, but also allow the bag  13  to be opened from its folded state. 
     Thus, when a flat-folded packing bag  13  is provided with the opening  14  of the bag  13  facing the cutting plane  7 , the bag  13  is detachably attached to the output table  12  by a clamp  15 . In particular, a lower edge  16  of the opening  14  on the lower side of the bag  13  is clamped between the clamp  15  and the output table  12 . Preferably, said lower edge  16  extends beyond the upper edge of the opening  14  of the bag  13  to facilitate the attachment of the bag to the output table  12 , for example. 
     The slicer according to the invention has holding means for holding open the packing bag  13  with the opening  14  facing the cutting plane  7 . These holding means comprise a clamping element for holding the lower side of the opening  14  of the packing bag  13 , in particular said lower edge  16 , substantially at the level of the output table  12 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 to 7 , this clamping element comprises the aforementioned clamp  15 . 
     The holding means also have an opening device for holding the upper side  17  of the bag  13  at the opening  14  and for moving said upper side  17  away from the bottom edge  16  until the bag  13  opens so as to allow a loaf of bread  2  to be introduced in the bag. 
     In the slicer of  FIGS. 1 to 7 , the opening device comprises at least one suction cup  18  for sucking on and holding the upper side  17  of the bag  13  in order to open it and keep it open. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the suction cup  18  is moved towards the upper side  17  of the bag  13 , preferably close to the opening  14 . The suction cup  18  sucks on the upper side  17  of the packing bag  13  so that the bag is fixed to the suction cup  18 . Subsequently, the suction cup  18  is moved upwards so that the upper side  17  of the bag  13  moves away from the lower edge  16  and the bag opens with the opening  14  directed towards the cutting plane  7 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     The slicer may comprise a single suction cup  18  or a series of suction cups which are arranged next to each other so that they can be fixed across the entire width of the opening  14  to the upper side  17  of the bag. 
     The distance between the open bag  13  or opening  14  and the cutting plane  7  is preferably smaller than the width of a cut slice of the bread  2  in the direction of travel of the bread  2 . 
     To cut the bread  2  into slices, the latter is advanced by the push rod  5  in discrete steps from the loading compartment  1  to the receiving compartment  6  across the cutting plane  7 . Each time the bread is advanced over a distance corresponding to the width of a slice, the blade  9  is driven and moved along the cutting plane  7  between the two compartments  1  and  6  to cut a slice off the bread  2 . In order to cut a subsequent slice, the bread  2  is advanced again by one step corresponding to the width of a slice. As a result of this movement of the bread  2 , the slice that has just been cut is pushed further into the packing bag  13 , as shown schematically in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     In order to prevent the cut slices from falling in the bag  13  and the cut part of the bread  2  from decomposing, the slicer according to the invention comprises a push element  19  which is provided in the receiving compartment  6 . In  FIG. 1 , the push element  19  is shown in a rest position. 
     The push element  19  comprises, for example, a rod or roller  29  which extends substantially horizontally and transversely to the direction of travel of the bread  2 . 
     This push element  19  can be moved towards the packing bag  13  and makes it possible to compress said packing bag  13  at least partially while the latter is being held open by the holding means. In  FIG. 2 , the arrow  20  indicates the movement of the push element  19  towards the bag  13 . 
     By partially compressing the bag  13 , which is being held open, the push element  19  reduces the cross-section of the bag  13  at this push element  19 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Thus, the portion  21  of the bag  13  with the reduced cross-section forms a support for the end of the bread  2  opposite the end facing the push rod  5 . 
     It is ensured, for example, that the sectional extent of this portion  21  of the bag  13  with the reduced section is smaller than the cutting surface of the slices of bread  2 . In this way, the slice adjacent to this reduced section of the bag  13  will rest against the bag at the portion  21  with said reduced section. This prevents the slice from falling. Each slice that is cut from the loaf  2  rests against the previous slice, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . When the loaf  2  is advanced to the receiving compartment  6  for cutting the next slice, the cut portion of the loaf is moved further into the bag  13 . 
     When the bread has been sliced entirely, the push rod  5  is preferably advanced beyond the cutting plane  7  in order to push the cut bread further into the bag and to also introduce the end of the bread  2  facing the push rod  5  in the bag  13 . It may be interesting to move the push rod  5  through the opening  14  into the bag  13 . Next, the hooks  11  are removed from the bread  2  and return to their retracted position in the push rod  5 , which is moved back into the loading compartment  1 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     The push element  19  is movable in the direction of travel of the bread, such that it can move away from the cutting plane  7  as the cut portion of the bread is being introduced in the bag  13 . After a loaf  2  has been put in the loading compartment  1  to be sliced, the packing bag  13  will be kept open as described above and the push element  19  is moved from its rest position, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , to a compression position of the packing bag  13  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In this compression position, the push element  19  compresses the packing bag  13  close to the opening  14  in order to reduce the cross-section of a portion of the bag  13  and to make this section  21  smaller than the section of the opening  14  and smaller than the cutting surface of a cut slice of the bread  2 . Thus, the slice cut from the end of the loaf  2  opposite the one facing the push rod  5  can rest in the bag  13  against the portion  21  of the bag  13  with the reduced section. As a result, this slice will rest against the push element  19  through the bag  13 . 
     While the bread  2  is being cut into slices, the push element  19  is moved in said direction of travel as the cut portion of the bread  2  is being introduced in the bag  13 . Thus, the portion  21  of the bag  13  with the reduced section is moved away from the cutting plane  7  simultaneously with the movement of the push rod  5  towards the cutting plane  7 , while maintaining the end of the loaf  2  supported by said portion  21  of the bag with the reduced section. In particular, the push element  19  is moved away from the cutting plane  7  along said direction of travel of the bread  2  or parallel to the output table  12  as the bread  2  advances. 
     According to an interesting embodiment of the invention, the push element  19  cooperates with the push rod  5  so as to allow a synchronized displacement of the push element  19 , in particular said rod or roller  29 , and of the push rod  5  while the bread  2  is being cut into slices. Thus, a movement is imposed on the push element  19  which is synchronous with the movement of the push rod  5 . The push element  19  can be driven, for example, by an electric motor or by the movement of the push rod  5 . 
     In this embodiment, the push element  19  is driven, for example, by an electric motor which ensures that, while the bread is being cut, the distance between the push rod  5  and the push element  19  is maintained substantially constant so that the movement of the push rod  5  and the push element  19  is synchronized. 
     According to a variant of this embodiment, it is ensured that the average speed of movement of the push element  19  in said direction of travel corresponds to the average speed of the push rod  5  in order to obtain a synchronized movement of the push element  19  and the push rod  5 . 
     Thanks to the synchronized movement of the push element  19  and the push rod  5 , it is prevented that the cut slices of bread fall and push against the push element  19 , which would cause the push element  19  to advance faster than the bread  2  or the push rod  5 . This occurs, for example, when the resistance to the movement of the push element  19  is too low and the slices can fall and move away from each other. 
     On the other hand, the synchronized movement of the push element  19  and the push rod  5 , while the bread is being cut, prevents the cut slices from being compressed against the push element  19  when the latter&#39;s resistance to movement is too high. 
     In practice, a control unit may be provided which controls the motor of the push element  19  and thus regulates the movement of the push element  19 , in particular of said rod or the roller  29 , in accordance with the movement of the push rod  5  while the bread  2  is being cut. Thus, this control unit ensures that the push element  29  and the push rod  5  undergo a synchronized movement during the cutting of the bread. The control unit determines, for example, the position of the push element  29  and/or regulates the speed of movement of the push element  29  in particular. 
     Optionally, the push element  19  is moved by the force exerted on the latter by the bread  2  which is pushed by the push rod  5 . In this case, the push element  19  cooperates, for example, with a spring which pushes the push element  19  against the bread  2  or which maintains a pressure force between the push element  19  and the cut portion of the bread  2  to prevent the slices from falling. In such a case, said spring, or another device for maintaining this pressure force between the push element  19  and the cut portion of the bread  2 , is adjustable according to the type of bread, for example according to the stiffness of the bread, to ensure a synchronized movement of the push element  19  and the push rod  5   
     In another embodiment of the invention, a synchronized movement of the push element and the push rod is achieved thanks to the presence of a physical connection between the push element and the push rod, such as a connecting bar, for example. 
     After the bread  2  has been sliced entirely, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the sucking of the upper side  17  of the bag  13  by the suction cup  18  is completed and the push rod  5  is returned to its initial position. The push element  19  is moved to its rest position and the sliced bread  2  which is packed in the packing bag  13  is removed from the receiving compartment  6 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     In some cases, the output table  12  may be tilted to the horizontal plane. The level of the opening  14  of the bag  13  is then higher than the level of the portion of the bag  13  with the reduced section. Thus, the cut slices of bread will automatically rest against the portion  21  of the bag  13  with the reduced section due to gravity. 
       FIG. 8  shows a variant of the preceding embodiment of the slicer according to the invention. In this variant, the slicer comprises a storage space  22  for accommodating a stack  23  of preformed, flat-folded packing bags  13  with their opening  14  directed towards the cutting plane  7 . 
     This storage space  22  has a mobile support  24  for the stack  23  which allows the level of this stack  23  of bags  13  to be adjusted so that the upper surface of the stack  23  extends substantially in the upper plane of the output table  12 . 
     The lower side  25  of the bags  13  is provided with a strip protruding from the opening  14 . Thus, this protruding strip is formed by the lower edge  16  of the opening  14  on the lower side  25  of the bag  13 . This lower edge  16  extends beyond the upper edge of the opening  14  of the bag. Adjacent to the storage space  22 , the lower side of the output table  12  has a rim  28  against which the protruding strip, in particular the edge  16 , of the upper bag  13  of the stack  23  is clamped. To this end, the mobile support  24  is pushed towards the output table  12  by means of, for example, a compression spring  26  mounted between this support  24  and the slicer frame. The edge  16  of the top bag  13  of the stack  23  is thus clamped and fixed between the stack  23  of bags  13  and the edge of the output table  12 . The holding means thus include said rim  28 . 
     The top bag of the stack  23  is opened by a suction cup  18  which sucks on the upper side  17  of this bag  13 , as described in connection with the embodiment of the slicer shown in  FIGS. 1 to 7 . 
     After the bread  2  has been sliced entirely and the slices have been introduced in the bag, the bread  2  packed in the bag  13  is removed from the receiving compartment  6 . Then, the next bag in the stack  23  is automatically presented and clamped with the lower edge  16  below the rim  28  of the output table  12 . 
       FIG. 9  shows another embodiment of the slicer according to the invention. The main difference between this slicer and those of the previous figures is the presence of a storage space for packing bags  13  and a blowing nozzle  27 . This blowing nozzle  27  is part of the opening device and can, for example, be added to the suction cup  18  or can replace this suction cup  18 . 
     The blowing nozzle  27  is thus arranged to generate an air flow towards the surface of the output table  12  and, in particular, substantially along the direction of travel of the bread  2  to open the folded packing bag that is present at the output table  12 , and to keep this bag  13  open. 
     In the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 9 , the blowing nozzle  27  has a slot that extends substantially parallel to the cutting plane  7  and is parallel to the output table  12 . In this particular case, the output table  12  extends at a level that is slightly lower than that of the support surface  4 , so that the blowing nozzle  27  extends below the support surface  4  and above the output table  12 . Thus, the blowing nozzle  27  makes it possible to generate an air flow towards the surface of the output table  12 . 
     Generally, the blowing nozzle  27  is oriented to form an air flow directed towards the opening  14  of the top bag  13  of the stack  23 . Preferably, this air flow is substantially parallel to the bottom side  25  of the bag  13  arranged level with the surface of the output table  12  or, in particular, substantially parallel to the surface of the output table  12 . 
     Thus, this air flow is directed towards the opening  14  of the bag  13  which is folded flat, as shown in  FIG. 9 , to expand the bag. Thus, the bag  13  is opened by the air flow from the blowing nozzle  27  and is also kept open by this air flow with the opening  14  facing the cutting plane  7 . The air flow is maintained at least until a cut slice of bread  2  is introduced in the bag  13  through the opening  14  and preferably until the bagged cut bread is removed from the receiving compartment  6 . 
     In an alternative embodiment, the blowing nozzle  27  may be formed by a slot or a succession of openings provided in the surface of the output table  12  between said clamp  15 , or rim  28 , and the cutting plane  7 . 
     It is clear that the invention is not limited to the various embodiments described above, but that also other variants may be envisaged while still remaining within the scope of the present invention, particularly with respect to the holding means. 
     Thus, the holding means may include guide fingers arranged such that they extend on either side of the bread  2  through the opening  14  of the packing bag  13  to keep the bag  13  open and to guide the bread  2  as it is introduced in the bag  13 . 
     The invention is characterized, in particular, by the fact that a loaf of bread to be sliced is pushed in one and the same direction and through a cutting plane for cutting it into slices and into a packing bag. 
     In the figures, a slicer is shown which has a horizontally extending output table  12  and support surface  4 . It is clear that the support surface  4  and/or the output table  12  may also extend in a plane which is inclined with respect to the horizontal. 
     Although in the above-described embodiments of the invention, the push element  19  extends substantially horizontally, it is also possible for this push element  19  to extend vertically, for example. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the push element  19  comprises, for example, two mobile rollers which extend on either side of the bag  13  and which can move towards each other in order to reduce the cross-section  21  of the packing bag  13 . 
     It is clear that these rollers can also move in the direction of travel of the bread, so that they can advance while the bread is being sliced.