Abstract: Portioning system 10 includes a scanner 200 for scanning work products 13 being carried on the conveyor 12. A cutter system 17 includes an array or manifold cutter 18 and single cutter 19 for cutting the work products into desired sized end pieces. The cutter assemblies 18 and 19 are carried on respective carriages 16 and 26 to move the cutters as required along predetermined cutting paths as controlled by control system 220.

Abstract: Calibrating the operation of a cutter used in a portioning system to cut workpieces into portions, wherein the workpiece is carried along a driven conveyance device past a scanner and then to a cutting apparatus. The calibration method employs a correction algorithm to correct for variables or limitations in the condition of one or more components of the portioning system and/or variations or limitations in the operation or operational capabilities of the portioning system. The correction algorithm may also factor in the physical condition, configuration, or composition of the workpieces being portioned, as well as whether the workpieces move on the conveyance device prior to and/or during the portioning operation.

Abstract: A method and system (10) are provided for automatically portioning workpieces (14) using a rotating blade (22) passing through narrow gap (20) formed between the ends of adjacent conveyors (12) and (18). A scanning system (16) scans the workpieces (14) to physically characterize the workpieces and control the operation of the blade (22), including its rotational speed. The portioning of the workpiece can be carried out in accordance with one or more directly-controlled characteristics (parameter/specifications), such as a cutting path of the blade (22), the rotational speed of the blade (22), and the speed of the conveyor (12). The directly-controlled characteristics may be varied until an acceptable set of one or more indirectly-controlled characteristics is achieved, including, for example, the weight of the cut portions, the quality of the cuts achieved by the cutting blade, and the throughput of the portioning system (10).

Abstract: A system for measuring physical properties of a workpiece in motion which includes a conveyance assembly for conveying the workpiece, a scanning assembly for scanning the workpiece, and a measurement assembly for measuring at least one physical property of the workpiece while the workpiece is in motion.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for automatically portioning workpieces, such as food products, by simulating portioning the workpieces in accordance with one or more directly controlled characteristics (parameters/specifications) and/or indirectly controlled characteristics (parameters/specifications). The workpiece is scanned to obtain scanning information, then simulating portioning of the workpiece is carried out in accordance with the one or more directly controlled characteristics (parameters/specifications), thereby to determine the one or more indirectly controlled characteristics of the one or more final pieces to be portioned from the workpiece. The simulated portioning of the workpiece is performed for multiple combinations of one or more directly controlled characteristics until an acceptable set of one or more directly controlled characteristics and/or one or more indirectly controlled characteristics is determined.

Abstract: A system (100) for cutting work product (104) into portions (P) and unloading the portions includes a conveyance system (102) for carrying the workpieces and portions, as well as a scanner (110) for scanning the work products. A cutter system (120) composed of cutter assemblies (122) carried by carrier systems (124) may be arranged in an array or series along the conveyance system for cutting, trimming, and portioning the work products (104) into end pieces (P) of desired sizes or other physical parameters. An unloading system (130) composed of one or more unloading assemblies/units/apparatus (132) are carried by the same carrier systems (124) used to carry the cutter assemblies (122) to pick up the portioned pieces (P) and either move them to a different location or replace the portioned workpieces back onto the conveyance system after the trim of the workpiece has been removed.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for automatically portioning workpieces, such as food products, by simulating portioning the workpieces in accordance with the one or more desired shapes of the final piece(s) as a directly controlled physical characteristic (parameter/specification) as well as one or more resulting indirectly controlled physical characteristics (parameters/specifications). The desired shape(s) of the final piece(s) are defined by a plurality of manipulatable reference coordinates. A workpiece is scanned to obtain scanning information, then portioning of the workpiece is simulated in accordance with the desired shape(s) of the final piece(s) defined by the directly controlled reference coordinates, thereby to determine the one or more indirectly controlled physical characteristics of the one or more final pieces to be portioned from the workpiece.

Abstract: Portioning system 10 includes a scanner 200 for scanning work products 13 being carried on the conveyor 12. A cutter system 17 includes an array or singular manifold cutter 18 and single cutter 19 for cutting the work products into desired sized end pieces. The cutter assemblies 18 and 19 are carried on respective carriages 16 and 26 to move the cutters as required along predetermined cutting paths as controlled by control system 220.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for automatically portioning workpieces, such as food products, by simulating portioning the workpieces in accordance with one or more directly controlled characteristics (parameters/specifications) and/or indirectly controlled characteristics (parameters/specifications). The workpiece is scanned to obtain scanning information, then simulating portioning of the workpiece is carried out in accordance with the one or more directly controlled characteristics (parameters/specifications), thereby to determine the one or more indirectly controlled characteristics of the one or more final pieces to be portioned from the workpiece. The simulated portioning of the workpiece is performed for multiple combinations of one or more directly controlled characteristics until an acceptable set of one or more directly controlled characteristics and/or one or more indirectly controlled characteristics are determined.

Abstract: A method for determining the boundary between abutting food product in a food processing system uses scan data of the food product to identify a perimeter of the abutting food product. Optionally, data from scanning the food product is first tested to determine or predict if more than one article is present. A perimeter of the abutting food product is generated from the scan data, and the perimeter information is manipulated to identify or estimate the boundary between the product. For example, the boundary may be eroded until it separates into two portions. The two portions are then expanded, constrained by the original perimeter, such that a region of interest includes overlapping portion that includes the boundary. The region of interest is analyzed to locate the boundary. In another method, a parametric shape is fit to the image to identify the individual articles. In another method, a shortest line or surface separating the perimeter into two substantial portions is found.

Abstract: A method for determining the boundary between abutting food product in a food processing system uses scan data of the food product to identify a perimeter of the abutting food product. Optionally, data from scanning the food product is first tested to determine or predict if more than one article is present. A perimeter of the abutting food product is generated from the scan data, and the perimeter information is manipulated to identify or estimate the boundary between the product. For example, the boundary may be eroded until it separates into two portions. The two portions are then expanded, constrained by the original perimeter, such that a region of interest includes overlapping portion that includes the boundary. The region of interest is analyzed to locate the boundary. In another method, a parametric shape is fit to the image to identify the individual articles. In another method, a shortest line or surface separating the perimeter into two substantial portions is found.

Abstract: Processing a work piece by first scanning the work piece. The work piece is modeled to determine its weight, outer perimeter and/or how the work piece could be divided into portions of specific areas and perimeters based on desired portion weights of desired areas and perimeters. The modeled work piece and/or the modeled portions are compared with the one or more desired perimeter configurations. The deviation of the modeled outer perimeter size of the work piece and/or portions from the desired perimeter configuration(s) is calculated. Based on such calculations, one or more steps in processing the work piece and/or portions therefrom is carried out. Such one or more steps may include modeling the work piece again, using different modeling criteria or options, if the calculated deviation is outside an acceptable range.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for cutting a workpiece (100) includes a conveyor (30) for advancing the workpiece. A drive mechanism (26) is disposed above the conveyor (30) and is selectively moveable in one or more directions. A cutter (50) is attached to the drive mechanism (26) to move with the drive mechanism (26) relative to the conveyor (30). The cutter 50 is adapted to intermittently cut the workpiece (100) to form a pattern that comprises a plurality of sequential cut and uncut sections.

Abstract: Processing a work piece by first scanning the work piece. The work piece is modeled to determine its weight, outer perimeter and/or how the work piece could be divided into portions of specific areas and perimeters based on desired portion weights of desired areas and perimeters. The modeled work piece and/or the modeled portions are compared with the one or more desired perimeter configurations. The deviation of the modeled outer perimeter size of the work piece and/or portions from the desired perimeter configuration(s) is calculated. Based on such calculations, one or more steps in processing the work piece and/or portions therefrom is carried out. Such one or more steps may include modeling the work piece again, using different modeling criteria or options, if the calculated deviation is outside an acceptable range.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically portioning workpieces, such as meat products, into pieces having acceptable process time (e.g., acceptable cook time) are provided. The method includes generally five steps. First, measurement data of a workpiece carried on a conveyor are obtained. Second, a tentative cut path to portion the workpiece into one or more portions is defined based on the measurement data. Third, each portion is divided into one or more virtual sections and process-time data (i.e., cook-time data) for each virtual section is calculated according to a predefined process-time algorithm. Fourth, it is determined whether the process-time data of each of all the virtual sections of the portion to be cut from the workpiece fall within predefined process-time constraints. If no, fifth, the tentative cut path is redefined, and the method returns to the third step until the process-time data for all the virtual sections fall within the predefined process-time constraints.

Abstract: An enhancement for use with a sawing system for allowing an operator to communicate with a computer control to more efficiently carry out the cutting operations in a manual manner. The enhancement of the invention computes optimized cuts, controls a stop block for use during the cutting operations, and detects manual strokes of the saw. The computer system interacts with the operator to prompt the operator to input defect-free lengths of the material and when to manually carry out the cutting operations, thereby providing an overall enhancement to the manual sawing system.