Redesign and facelift

MKW GmbH, Wuppertal, has further optimized the 3000 X slicing machine and re-engineered the plant’s design.

MKW GmbH, Wuppertal/Germany, reports that in addition to a visual facelift, further optimizations were undertaken when redesigning the Rotec 3000 X slicing machine.

This is how the plant operates: first of all, the required product is selected on the controller. The machine then adjusts itself to pre-specified values, e.g. slice thickness, number of slices, product height etc. The operator now positions loaves of bread by hand on the bread feeder table. The loaves are then transferred individually to the feeder belt, thus cycling them into the slicing machine. In the Rotec 3000 X, bread is fed forward via two servo drives: the upper and lower chains. Optical sensors determine the beginning and end of a loaf. If required, these are cut off into the residual scrap. Residual scrap is carried out of the slicing area on two belts and a Z-conveyor.

The slicing machine is also equipped with volumetric bread strand measurement at the bread infeed. The data are used to adjust the slice thickness. After slicing, a portioner accepts the slices and places them pack-wise onto the finger web. The portioner is designed for pack heights from 5 to 20 mm.

The first belt after the finger web is the weighing belt. Combined with volume information, the weighing data are used to regulate the slice thickness. Finally, an outfeed belt carries the bread packages out of the slicing machine and readies them for the downstream periphery.

a. Bread feed table with upstream feeder belt

+ Bread feed table dimensions: 1,500 x 1,500 mm (width x depth)

+ Frequency-controlled drives b. ROTEC 3000 X circular knife slicing machine

+ Single-channel model

+ According to the patterns, the slicing area is designed for 150 x 150 mm (width x height)

+ 10-slice sections at front and back for strand bread with a length of 1,000 – 1,500 mm

+ Continuously adjustable knife rotation and cutting speed

+ The Rotec has a nominal output capacity of 150 stacks/ minute (at 2 slices/stack) and a gap-closing overload of 200 stacks per minute (with 2 slices/stack)

+ The machine is designed for a rotation speed of up to 550 rpm. However, the actually usable speed is product-dependent

+ The circular knife is oiled by an oiling system (adjustable via the recipe)

Controls

The control cabinet is made of stainless steel and arranged above the machines. A Beckhoff Industrial PC is used, programmed in TC3. Remote servicing is also possible. The plant is operated via a 12" multitouch control panel of closed construction and with integrated operating elements mounted at the machine exit point. A product scanner is also offered. According to MKW, this is located upstream of the slicing process and is used to ensure weight-optimized slicing. +++