Abstract: A flavouring dispenser for dispensing compacted doses of flavouring comprises a flavouring dosage unit configured to dispense a dose of flavouring and a plurality of compacting hoppers, each configured to receive and hold a dose of flavouring dispensed from the flavouring dosage unit and to subsequently dispense the dose of flavouring to a dispense position. The flavouring dosage unit and the plurality of compacting hoppers are configured such that the flavouring dosage unit sequentially supplies a dose of flavouring to each of the plurality of compacting hoppers.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for separating excess slack out from a mixture of product and slack. For example, the slack could be a food product coating. According to one aspect, there is provided a hopper for diverting excess slack away from a mixture of product and slack, the hopper comprising a gate moveable between open and closed positions, wherein the gate is configured such that: when the gate is in the open position a first path is provided for contents of the hopper, comprising a mixture of product and slack, to exit the hopper; and when the gate is in the closed position the first path is closed by the gate so that product is retained in the hopper and a second path, different from the first path, is provided for slack to exit the hopper.

Abstract: A method of processing fish portions determines at a control unit a target weight of a cut fish portion; inspects a fish portion using an inspection unit to determine a mass distribution of said fish portion and providing said mass distribution to the control unit; calculates a cutting plan of the poultry fish portion based on the target weight and the mass distribution using the control unit; uses a mechanical gripper so as to grip the fish portion and arrange said poultry fish portion for execution of the cutting plan; and cuts the fish portion using a cutting unit in accordance with the cutting plan so as to produce a cut fish portion in accordance with the target weight. A system for processing fish portions is configured to perform the foregoing method, among others.

Abstract: A method of processing poultry portions determines at a control unit a target weight of a cut poultry portion; inspects a poultry portion using an inspection unit to determine a mass distribution of said poultry portion and providing said mass distribution to the control unit; calculates a cutting plan of the poultry portion based on the target weight and the mass distribution using the control unit; uses a mechanical gripper so as to grip the poultry portion and arrange said poultry portion for execution of the cutting plan; and cuts the poultry portion using a cutting unit in accordance with the cutting plan so as to produce a cut poultry portion in accordance with the target weight. A system for processing poultry portions is configured to perform the foregoing method, among others.

Abstract: There is provided a lifting apparatus (16) comprising a lifting frame (16a) configured to be mechanically coupled to a packaging machine (12), and configured to couple with a feed device (14), wherein the lifting frame (16a) is configured to translate, raise and lower the feed device (14) relative to the packaging machine (12), and a packaging system comprising a packaging machine (12) with said lifting apparatus (16) wherein said packaging machine (12) is configured to detachably couple to a feed device (14), wherein the mass of the packaging machine (12) acts to counterbalance at least a portion of the mass of the feed device (14) whilst the feed device (14) is being translated, raised or lowered relative to the packaging machine (12). There is further provided methods of operating said packaging system for installing to and removing from the packaging machine (12) the feed device (14).

Abstract: A method of removing a foreign object from a food piece detects the location of a foreign object in a food piece (10); conveys the food piece to a cutting tool (42); and operates the cutting tool to cut around the detected location of the foreign object and subsequently to engage and eject the foreign object from the food piece.

Abstract: A sealing tool module (100) is provided. The sealing tool module (100) comprises a housing; a heat-sealing plate (120); and a first actuator for use in moving said heat-sealing plate between a retracted position and a heat-sealing position, the first actuator being movably mounted with respect to the housing; wherein the first actuator is a first shaft on the end of which the heat-sealing plate (120) is mounted, the first shaft being axially movable relative to the housing; and the first shaft comprises a channel configured to guide wiring through the housing and to the rear of the heat-sealing plate (120). A sealing tool assembly (1) for heat sealing a cover film to a container is also provided.

Abstract: There is provided a leak detection system for detecting breaches in sealed food containers. The leak detection system comprises air-sample testing equipment configured to test the composition of an air sample provided to the air-sample testing equipment. At least one pressing member is provided configured to, in use, apply pressure to the sealed food container located in an air-sampling region. At least one air-sampling port is located in the air-sampling region. An air sample conduit is provided extending between the at least one air-sampling port and the air-sample testing equipment. In use, the at least one air-sampling port takes an air sample from the air-sampling region at least during or after the at least one pressing member applies pressure to the sealed food container in the air-sampling region and communicates said air sample through the air sample conduit to the air-sample testing equipment.

Abstract: A flavouring dispenser for dispensing doses of flavouring is provided. The flavouring dispenser comprises a flavouring chamber for containing flavouring; a dosing plate having an aperture therethrough; and a dispense opening. The dosing plate is movable relative to the dispense opening between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the aperture communicates with the flavouring chamber for receiving a predetermined dose of flavouring, and in the second position the aperture communicates with the dispense opening for dispensing the dose of flavouring.

Abstract: A blending apparatus for coating product in flavouring is provided. The blending apparatus comprises a product dispenser configured to dispense a falling stream of product, a flavouring dispenser configured to dispense a falling stream of flavouring, and a deflection surface. The deflection surface is configured to deflect at least one of the falling stream of product and falling stream of flavouring, thereby bringing the falling stream of product and the falling stream of flavouring together. A method for coating product in flavouring is also provided. The method comprises the steps of dispensing a falling stream of product from a product dispenser, dispensing a falling stream of flavouring from a flavouring dispenser, deflecting the falling stream of product and the falling stream of flavouring using a deflection surface so as to bring the falling stream of product and the falling stream of flavouring together, thereby coating the product in the flavouring.

Abstract: A flavouring dispenser for dispensing doses of flavouring is provided. The flavouring dispenser comprises a flavouring chamber for containing flavouring; a dosing plate having an aperture therethrough; and a dispense opening. The dosing plate is movable relative to the dispense opening between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position the aperture communicates with the flavouring chamber for receiving a predetermined dose of flavouring, and in the second position the aperture communicates with the dispense opening for dispensing the dose of flavouring.

Abstract: There is provided a leak detection system for detecting breaches in sealed food containers. The leak detection system comprises air-sample testing equipment configured to test the composition of an air sample provided to the air-sample testing equipment. At least one pressing member is provided configured to, in use, apply pressure to the sealed food container located in an air-sampling region. At least one air-sampling port is located in the air-sampling region. An air sample conduit is provided extending between the at least one air-sampling port and the air-sample testing equipment. In use, the at least one air-sampling port takes an air sample from the air-sampling region at least during or after the at least one pressing member applies pressure to the sealed food container in the air-sampling region and communicates said air sample through the air sample conduit to the air-sample testing equipment.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling a poultry packaging system includes a first receiving unit operable to receive a plurality of orders for poultry product, wherein the poultry product is either a whole or a portion of a poultry bird; a second receiving unit operable to receive at least one measurable parameter of at least one poultry bird from a measurement unit; a recommendation unit operable to determine which of the plurality of received orders best corresponds to the received at least one measurable parameter, and a control unit operable transmit a signal to a poultry processing system such that the poultry processing system processes the at least one poultry bird in accordance with the determined order.

Abstract: A batching system (200) for use in a food packaging system comprises a batching table (202) having a plurality of filling stations (206) positioned around an axis of a predefined delivery position. A weigher (204) is operable to provide food product in predefined batches at the delivery position; and a conveyor (230) is provided for transporting said batches provided from the weigher (204) to at least one of said plurality of filling stations.

Abstract: A method of removing a foreign object from a food piece is provided. The method comprises detecting the location of a foreign object in a food piece (10); conveying the food piece to a cutting tool (42); operating the cutting tool to cut around the detected location of the foreign object and subsequently to engage and eject the foreign object from the food piece.

Abstract: A container sealing apparatus is provided, comprising a sealing tool having a lower tool half and an upper tool half; a feed lane for transferring one or more containers to and away from means for transferring containers on to the lower tool half of the sealing tool; and a lifting mechanism for moving the lower tool half towards the upper tool half. The container sealing apparatus also comprises an elongate container guide extending along the feed lane and sealing tool to laterally locate containers as they are transported along the teed lane and sealing tool, and control apparatus adapted to adjust the lateral position of at least the part of said container guide extending along said feed lane.

Abstract: A multi-head weigher has a plurality of heads operable to hold and discharge product; first and second discharge chutes arranged to receive product discharged from respective first and second subsets of the plurality of heads and each operable to selectively deliver said product to a first location or a second location; and a combinational weight determining system operable to determine a combination of one or more heads which meets a target criterion, and to discharge product from the determined combination through their respective discharge chute(s) to the first location. When a predetermined condition has occurred, the combinational weight determining system can discharge product from that head(s) to the second location via the discharge chute arranged to receive product from that head(s), when said discharge chute is not being used to deliver product to the first location.

Abstract: The application relates to a twin lane tray sealer (100) comprising a pair of conveyors aligned with respective lanes for conveying trays to a heat sealing tool (6) and a pair of transfer mechanisms (66) each for transferring a known plurality of trays together and at a known separation from the respective conveyors to the heat sealing tool wherein the heat sealing tool (6) comprises a plurality of individually operable heaters (61a, 61b), each aligned with a respective tray in the tool in use. Control means is utilized to determine if a tray is missing from a group of trays transferred by the transfer mechanism. If a tray is determined as missing the control means is configured to not activate the heater aligned with the position of the determined missing tray in the tool.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for grading food pieces is described. The method comprises feeding individual food pieces in sequence to a weighing machine having a plurality of weigh hoppers, each food piece being fed to a respective weigh hopper; determining the weights of the food pieces in the hoppers; and dispensing the food pieces from the weighing machine in different manners depending upon the relationship between the weight of each food piece and at least one predetermined range of weights such that food pieces with weights falling within the predetermined range are dispensed in the same manner different from the manner in which those with weights falling outside the predetermined range are dispensed.

Abstract: The present application relates to tray sealing apparatus (100) comprising a heat sealing tool (6), a pair of laterally spaced transfer mechanisms (66) for transferring trays to and away from the heat sealing tool along corresponding laterally spaced tray feed lanes, film supply apparatus for supplying respective heat sealable films to the sealing tool one in alignment with each tray feed lane. The sealing tool comprises a pair of lower support members (61a, 61b), each aligned with a respective one of the tray feed lanes and on to which one or more trays can be transferred. The tray sealing apparatus further comprises a common upper plate (65) having heaters aligned respectively in use with each tray on the lower support members; and means for selectively moving the lower support members towards the upper plate so as to bring the tray(s) on that lower support member into contact with the corresponding film, whereby the upper plate heat seals the film to the tray(s).