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EP-4642602-B1 - DEVICE FOR CUTTING SOLID FOODS INTO SLICES

EP4642602B1EP 4642602 B1EP4642602 B1EP 4642602B1EP-4642602-B1

Inventors

  • Demir, Faruk
  • Gölge, Bahattin
  • Schuster, Hans-Peter

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250113

Claims (13)

  1. Device (1; 1a) for cutting solid food products (33) into slices, in particular for cutting cheese loaves into slices, comprising a receiving arrangement (2; 2a) for receiving a food product (33) to be cut into slices and a cutting arrangement (3; 3a) connected to the receiving arrangement (2; 2a) so as to be pivotable, wherein the cutting arrangement (3; 3a) has elongate cutting members (5, 6; 5a, 6a) which are arranged in at least two cutting planes (7, 8; 7a, 8a) spaced apart from one another, characterized in that the cutting arrangement (3; 3a) has an actuating member (17; 17a), by the actuation of which a cutting movement can be effected, wherein the actuating member (17; 17a) is pivotably articulated to a frame (4; 4a) of the cutting arrangement (3; 3a), wherein a connection of the actuating member (17; 17a) to the frame (4; 4a) is designed such that, upon pivoting of the actuating member (17; 17a), a movable cutting-member holder (15; 15a) is linearly movable along a longitudinal axis of the frame (4; 4a).
  2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least two cutting planes (7, 8; 7a, 8a) spaced apart from one another are parallel to one another.
  3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the elongate cutting members (5; 5a) of a first cutting plane (7; 7a) of the at least two cutting planes (7, 8; 7a, 8a) are arranged offset relative to the elongate cutting members (6; 6a) of a second (8; 8a) of the at least two cutting planes (7, 8; 7a, 8a).
  4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the plurality of elongate cutting members are designed as cutting wire (5, 6; 5a, 6a), as blade, or as cutting wires and blades.
  5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cutting arrangement (3; 3a) has a frame (4; 4a), wherein the elongate cutting members (5, 6; 5a, 6a) extend in a frame longitudinal direction.
  6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cutting arrangement (3; 3a) has a frame (4; 4a), within which the at least two cutting planes (7, 8; 7a, 8a) spaced apart from one another are arranged.
  7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the cutting arrangement (3; 3a) has a frame (4; 4a) comprising two cutting-member holders (15, 16; 15a, 16a), between which the plurality of elongate cutting members (5, 6; 5a, 6a) extend, wherein the two cutting-member holders (15, 16; 15a, 16a) form opposite frame parts.
  8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that one of the cutting-member holders (15; 15a) is linearly movable in a frame longitudinal direction.
  9. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating member (17; 17a) is integrally formed on a frame (4; 4a) of the cutting arrangement (3; 3a), and preferably comprises a handle, or is designed as a bow-shaped handle.
  10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the receiving arrangement (2; 2a) comprises two side cheeks (18; 18a), against which a solid food product (33) to be cut can be placed, wherein each of the side cheeks (18; 18a) preferably has a recess (21).
  11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the side cheeks (18; 18a) are designed as guide means which guide a frame (4; 4a) of the cutting arrangement (3; 3a), wherein, during a cutting operation, outer sides (27) of the side cheeks (18; 18a) bear against inner sides (26) of the frame (4; 4a).
  12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the receiving arrangement (2; 2a) has a comb-like retaining means (18; 18a) which prevents movement of a food product to be cut out of a cutting position during a cutting operation.
  13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the receiving arrangement (2; 2a) comprises a preferably planar base (20; 20a), which is formed by parallel bars (21) spaced apart from one another, wherein a base surface is arranged at a distance from an axis of rotation (23; 23a), about which the cutting arrangement (3; 3a) is pivotable.

Description

The invention relates to a device for slicing solid foodstuffs, in particular for slicing cheese wheels, comprising a receiving device for receiving a foodstuff to be sliced and a cutting device pivotably connected to the receiving device, wherein the cutting device has elongated cutting means arranged in at least two spaced-apart cutting planes. A solid food is a food that, unlike liquid foods, retains its shape. Out of US 2014/208908 A1 , DE 34 31 955 A1 and US 8,739,669 B2 Cutting devices according to the preamble of claim 1 are known. Egg slicers are well-known through their use. With an egg slicer, an egg to be sliced is cut by cutting wires. Depending on the hardness of the egg and the thickness of the cutting wires, the egg is deformed during slicing. The invention is based on the objective of creating a device of the type mentioned at the outset, by which a foodstuff, in particular a cheese wheel, for example a soft cheese wheel, can be sliced while largely retaining its shape. For example, soft cheese slices cut with a device according to the invention are particularly well suited for use in flatbread, to whose shape the shape of the soft cheese wheel is adapted, due to the retention of their shape. Furthermore, the invention is based on the objective of creating a device of the type mentioned above with which a solid foodstuff can be cut into several slices in a single operation. According to the invention, the problem is solved by the cutting device having an actuating means by whose actuation a cutting movement can be effected, wherein the actuating means is pivotably articulated to a frame of the cutting device, wherein a connection of the actuating means with the frame is designed such that when the actuating means is pivoted, a movable cutting element holder can be moved linearly along a longitudinal axis of the frame. For example, a cutting motion can be achieved by pressing down the actuating element in one direction of gravity. This creates a purely mechanical cutting device; no electronic or electrical components are required. Furthermore, the device according to the invention can be easily cleaned after use. A cutting device is created in which the tension of the cutting elements between the cutting element holders, between which the cutting elements extend, is adjustable. This ensures sufficient cutting element tension, especially when the cutting elements are designed as cutting wires. Advantageously, no crushing or chipping occurs on the food being cut during the cutting process. A particularly smooth cut is possible. Overall, a cutting device is created that can be used without modification for a wide variety of different foods to be sliced, for example, hard cheese, soft cheese, fish or vegetables such as potatoes or carrots. Each of the at least two cutting planes of the cutting device has several elongated cutting elements, preferably equidistant from one another. The cutting planes are arranged one behind the other in the direction of a cutting movement, so that the cutting elements of a first of the at least two cutting planes are in contact with the food being cut first, and the cutting elements of a second of the at least two cutting planes only come into contact later during the cutting movement. Advantageously, even with closely spaced elongated cutting elements, the food being cut is not deformed, but rather a smooth cut without deformation of the food is possible. A smooth cut is a cut in which a separation plane is created that, for example, has no visible crush marks or chips. The inventors have recognized that a cutting device according to the invention is particularly suitable for quickly slicing soft cheese rounds, making its use in the catering industry, especially in fast-food kebab restaurants, particularly advantageous. Preferably, exactly two cutting planes are provided. It is advantageous for the at least two cutting planes, spaced apart from each other, to be parallel to each other. The advantage is that a food item can be sliced into even, smooth slices. Areas where chips or visible bruises could occur are prevented. A firm food can be cut into visually appealing slices that reflect the original shape of the food. In one embodiment of the invention, the elongated cutting means of a first cutting plane of the at least two cutting planes are arranged offset from the elongated cutting means of a second of the at least two cutting planes. An offset arrangement means an offset perpendicular to a direction in which the elongated cutting elements extend. An advantageous feature is the staggered cutting action, in which adjacent cutting elements, which separate a slice from the food being cut, penetrate the food sequentially during a single cutting movement of the cutting device. This also prevents crushing of the food, even with small distances between the cutting elements. Preferably, the at least two cutting planes are arranged offset such that an inner slice cut f