The invention according to the third aspect makes use of the same advantages as the feed apparatus according to the first and second aspects. Preferred embodiments and developments of the first and second aspect of the invention are at the same time embodiments and developments of the further processing apparatus according to the third aspect, and vice versa, so, to avoid repetition, reference is made in that respect to the above observations concerning the feed apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention shall now be described in greater detail with reference to a preferred embodiment and the attached Figures, in which:

FIG. 1: shows a perspective view of an apparatus for further processing a link of sausages, including an embodiment of a feed apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2: shows a top view of the feed apparatus according to the invention shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3: shows a perspective view of a detail of the feed apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4: shows a front view of the feed apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 5: shows a side view of the feed apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 6: shows a front view of a second embodiment of a feed apparatus according to the invention, and

FIGS. 7-10: show perspective views of different embodiments of the surface on the feed apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an apparatus 100 for further processing a link of sausages 12 composed of a plurality of sausages 18, having a conveyor 102 comprising a plurality of conveyor elements 104, 106 and which takes delivery of the link of sausages 12 and conveys them in a conveying direction F. Apparatus 100 has a housing 108 on which conveyor 102 with its conveyor elements 104, 106 is arranged. Apparatus 100 also includes a control unit 110 in signal communication with conveyor 102 in order to control conveyor elements 104, 106. Control unit 110 has an operating display panel, not shown in further detail, for setting respective process data and parameters.

A feed apparatus 10 for feeding the link of sausages 12 to apparatus 100 for further processing the link of sausages 12 is arranged upstream at conveyor 102. Feed apparatus 10 includes a frame 14, which can also be regarded as a kind of housing, and arranged on frame 14 a feeder element 16 for feeding the link of sausages 12, composed of interlinked sausages 18, to conveyor 102. In the embodiment shown here, frame 14 is in the form of a supporting table.

Feeder element 16 arranged on frame 14 has a surface 20 on which the link of sausages 12 lies during operation of apparatus 10 and on which it is moved in a feeding direction Z towards further processing apparatus 100. In this embodiment, feeding direction Z and conveying direction F are coaxially aligned.

As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the link of sausages 12 composed of sausages 18 is placed in a meandering pattern on the surface 20 of feeder element 16 in such a way that sausages 18 are oriented approximately transversely to the feeding direction Z of the link of sausages 12 towards conveyor 102. Here, two sausages 18 laid one after the other in a row form an approximately straight section 22 of the supported link of sausages 12. When the link of sausages 12 is moved in feeding direction Z, the respective ends of the straight portions 22 of the link of sausages 12 laid in a meandering pattern are accelerated transversely to the actual feeding direction Z. In order to reduce the forces acting on the link of sausages 12 during transverse acceleration, the invention specifies that the surface 20 of feeder element 16 is funnel-shaped and concave, such that the sausages 18 are deflected radially inwards, in relation to feeding direction Z, from peripheral areas 24 of surface 20, at least in sections.

In a preferred embodiment, the peripheral areas 24 of surface 20 become increasingly steeper in feeding direction Z. Due to the increasing steepness of the peripheral areas 24 of its surface 20, feeder element 16 is so adapted with its respectively shaped surface 20 that the sausages 18 are increasingly deflected radially inwards in relation to feeding direction Z. Due to peripheral areas 24 becoming increasingly steeper, the force of gravity has a supporting effect on the movement of the sausages 18; the tensile strain on the link of sausages 12 and in particular on the twist points 26 linking the individual sausages 18 to each other is reduced as a result.

As can be seen from the detail shown in FIG. 3, the surface 20 of feeder element 16 defines a feed cross-section Q_Zthat extends substantially transversely to feeding direction Z. Within the meaning of the invention, feed cross-section Q_Zis upwardly bounded by an imaginary line running between the two upper lateral edges of the peripheral areas 24 of surface 20 of feeder element 16. It can be seen from FIG. 3, for example, that at the location shown, the imaginary line of width b limits feed cross-section Q_Zin the upward direction, whereas the surface 20 of feeder element 16 limits or defines feed cross-section Q_Zlaterally and in the downward direction.

Viewed in feeding direction Z, feed cross-section Q_Zat the first end of surface 20 of feeder element 16 is relatively small or even zero, and then becomes larger initially. Viewed along the further course of feeding direction Z, in particular from about half way along feeder element 16, 16′, feed cross-section Q_Zthen decreases towards dispensing area 32. The width b of surface 20 decreases over the entire length of feeder element 16, 16′, whereas the height h of the lateral edges of peripheral areas 24 increases. It would also be in accordance with the invention if feed cross-section Q_Zwere upwardly limited by a lid, not shown, or by an upper wall.

As FIG. 3 further illustrates, the width of feed cross-section Q_Zdecreases in feeding direction Z, i.e., between the peripheral areas 24 that determine the width b of feeder element 16. In a special embodiment of the invention, feed cross-section Q_Zis substantially U-shaped along at least one section in feeding direction Z.

In the embodiment shown here, the surface 20 of feeder element 16 forms an upwardly open feed hopper