Cardboard dispensing apparatus

Abstract

A cardboard dispensing apparatus for providing cardboards at a food product supply area comprises a cardboard store for storing cardboards that form a cardboard stack, a cardboard buffer storage for storing a plurality of cardboards, and a cardboard conveyor for conveying the cardboards from the cardboard buffer storage to the food product supply area. A cardboard extracting device is configured to extract cardboards from the cardboard store and move the cardboards into the cardboard buffer storage, while the cardboard conveyor is configured to remove the cardboards from the cardboard buffer storage and convey them to the food product supply area.

1 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A cardboard dispensing apparatus for providing cardboards for use as a food product bottom support or as a food product packaging element at a food product supply area where food products are provided by a conveying apparatus,
 the cardboard dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a cardboard store for storing cardboards that form a cardboard stack in the cardboard store, 
 a cardboard extracting device for extracting cardboards from the cardboard store, 
 a cardboard buffer storage for storing a plurality of cardboards, and 
 a cardboard conveyor for conveying the cardboards from the cardboard buffer storage to the food product supply area, 
   wherein the cardboard extracting device is configured to extract cardboards from the cardboard store and move the cardboards into the cardboard buffer storage, and wherein the cardboard conveyor is configured to remove the cardboards from the cardboard buffer storage and convey the cardboards to the food product supply area.   
     
     
         18 . Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 ,
 wherein the cardboard extracting device is configured to successively extract a respective uppermost cardboard from the cardboard stack and move the respective uppermost cardboard from the cardboard stack into the cardboard buffer storage; or   wherein the cardboard extracting device is configured to jointly extract a group of cardboards comprising a predetermined number of cardboards from the cardboard stack and move the group of cardboards jointly from the cardboard stack into the cardboard buffer storage.   
     
     
         19 . Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 ,
 wherein the cardboard extracting device includes a separation device that is movable between a passive position and a separation position, wherein the separation device is configured to separate cardboards of the cardboard stack above an extraction height from cardboards of the cardboard stack below the extraction height.   
     
     
         20 . Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 19 ,
 wherein the cardboard extracting device comprises a blocking member, the blocking member being movable between a release position and a blocking position, wherein the blocking member, in the blocking position, is configured to block a movement of cardboards below the extraction height towards the cardboard buffer storage.   
     
     
         21 . Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 19 ,
 wherein the cardboard extracting device comprises an entrainer, the entrainer being configured to move the separated cardboards into the cardboard buffer storage.   
     
     
         22 . Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 ,
 wherein the cardboard extracting device is configured to, during operation of the cardboard dispensing apparatus, extract at least one further cardboard from the cardboard store and move the at least one further cardboard into the cardboard buffer storage.   
     
     
         23 . Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 ,
 wherein the cardboard conveyor includes an upper conveyor,   the upper conveyor being arranged above the cardboards stored in the cardboard buffer storage,   and wherein the cardboard buffer storage includes a pressing device that is configured to selectively press the cardboards stored in the cardboard buffer storage against the upper conveyor for removing the cardboards from the cardboard buffer storage.   
     
     
         24 . Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 23 ,
 wherein the cardboard dispensing apparatus includes a controller,   the controller being configured to, during operation of the cardboard dispensing apparatus,
 constantly or—timed with the pressing device—intermittently or periodically drive the upper conveyor of the cardboard dispensing apparatus, 
 periodically control the pressing device for pressing the cardboards stored in the cardboard buffer storage against the upper conveyor to remove an uppermost cardboard from the cardboard buffer storage, and 
 periodically control the cardboard extracting device for moving at least one further cardboard into the cardboard buffer storage. 
   
     
     
         25 . A method for providing cardboards for use as a food product bottom support or as a food product packaging element at a food product supply area where food products, wherein the cardboards are provided using a cardboard dispensing apparatus, the method comprising the steps:
 Extracting a plurality of cardboards from a cardboard store and arranging the plurality of cardboards in a cardboard buffer storage,   removing the cardboards from the cardboard buffer storage and conveying the removed cardboards to the food product supply area.   
     
     
         26 . Method in accordance with  claim 25 ,
 wherein the plurality of cardboards in the cardboard buffer storage is restored, after a cardboard or a group of cardboards has been removed from the cardboard buffer storage, by moving a further cardboard or a further group of cardboards from the cardboard store into the cardboard buffer storage.   
     
     
         27 . Method in accordance with  claim 25 ,
 wherein, for removing the cardboards from the cardboard buffer storage, the cardboards stored in the cardboard buffer storage are periodically pressed against an upper conveyor.   
     
     
         28 . Method in accordance with  claim 25 ,
 wherein the cardboard store includes a cardboard extracting device for moving the cardboards from the cardboard store into the cardboard buffer storage,   wherein the cardboard extracting device is controlled for periodically moving a subsequent cardboard from the cardboard store into the cardboard buffer storage once a cardboard has been removed from the cardboard buffer storage; or   wherein the cardboard extracting device is controlled for periodically moving a group of cardboards comprising a predetermined number of cardboards from the cardboard store into the cardboard buffer storage.   
     
     
         29 . Method in accordance with  claim 28 ,
 wherein the cardboard extracting device is controlled for moving the group of cardboards from the cardboard store into the cardboard buffer storage after the predetermined number of cardboards has been removed from the cardboard buffer storage.   
     
     
         30 . Method in accordance with  claim 28 ,
 wherein the cardboards are lifted upwards in the cardboard store after the subsequent cardboard or the group of cardboards has been moved into the cardboard buffer storage.   
     
     
         31 . Food processing system including a slicing apparatus that is configured to cut off slices from a food product, a conveying apparatus for conveying the slices to a food product supply area, and including a cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 17 . 
     
     
         32 . Food processing system in accordance with  claim 31 ,
 in particular wherein the food processing system includes a second cardboard dispensing apparatus,   wherein a controller of the food processing system is configured to switch to the respective other of the cardboard dispensing apparatus and the second cardboard dispensing apparatus when the cardboard store of the cardboard dispensing apparatus or the second cardboard dispensing apparatus has been emptied.   
     
     
         33 . A cardboard dispensing apparatus for providing cardboards for use as a food product bottom support or as a food product packaging element at a food product supply area where food products are provided by a conveying apparatus,
 the cardboard dispensing apparatus comprising:
 a cardboard store for storing cardboards that form a cardboard stack in the cardboard store, 
 a cardboard extracting device for extracting cardboards from the cardboard store, and 
 a cardboard conveyor for conveying the cardboards to the food product supply area, 
   wherein the cardboard extracting device is configured to extract cardboards from the cardboard store and move the cardboards into the cardboard conveyor, wherein the cardboard extracting device includes a separation device configured to separate only a respective uppermost cardboard of the cardboard stack by lifting the uppermost cardboard with respect to the remaining cardboards of the cardboard stack, the separation device comprising a suction device configured to apply a negative pressure to a rear upper portion of a respective uppermost cardboard for lifting at least a rear end portion thereof, and   wherein the cardboard extracting device comprises an entrainer the entrainer being configured to move the respective uppermost cardboard into the cardboard conveyor by engaging the lifted rear end portion thereof.   
     
     
         34 . Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 33 ,
 wherein the cardboard extracting device comprises a blocking member, the blocking member being movable between a release position and a blocking position, wherein the blocking member, in the blocking position, is configured to block a movement of the remaining cardboards located below a respective uppermost cardboard.   
     
     
         35 . Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 33 ,
 wherein the cardboard extracting device comprises at least one hold-down element positioned laterally with respect to the suction device and configured to hold a respective lateral rear end portion of the uppermost cardboard down below the height level of the lifted rear end portion thereof.   
     
     
         36 . Cardboard dispensing apparatus in accordance with  claim 35 ,
 wherein the cardboard extracting device comprises at least two hold-down elements positioned on both sides of the suction device.   
     
     
         37 . A method for providing cardboards for use as a food product bottom support or as a food product packaging element at a food product supply area where food products are provided by a conveying apparatus,
 wherein the cardboards are provided using a cardboard dispensing apparatus, the method comprising the steps:
 applying a negative pressure to a respective uppermost cardboard for lifting at least a rear end portion thereof, 
 engaging the lifted rear end portion of the uppermost cardboard for moving it towards the food product supply area, and 
 conveying the uppermost cardboard to the food product supply area. 
   
     
     
         38 . Method in accordance with  claim 37 ,
 in particular wherein the method further comprises:
 blocking a movement of the remaining cardboards located below a respective uppermost cardboard. 
   
     
     
         39 . Method in accordance with  claim 37 ,
 holding a respective lateral rear end portion of the uppermost cardboard down below the height level of the lifted rear end portion thereof.   
     
     
         40 . Method in accordance with  claim 39 ,
 wherein the uppermost cardboard is held down at two lateral rear end portions situated on both sides of where the negative pressure is applied.