Abstract: A food cutting guide for safely holding a food item and allowing for essentially uniform thickness cuts to be made through the food item has a base with a pair of opposing jaws pivotally attached to the base. Each jaw has a series of spaced apart teeth such that the jaws articulate between a closed position wherein the teeth of each jaw intermesh with one another and an open position wherein the teeth do not so intermesh. A spring mechanism holds the jaws in a normally closed position while an actuation trigger articulates the jaws to the open position against the bias of the spring mechanism. A guard plate is located at an end of the pair of jaws to protect a user's hand from errant knife travel.

Abstract: A volume determining method for an object on a construction site is disclosed. The method may include moving a mobile camera along a path around the object while orienting the camera repeatedly onto the object. The method may include capturing a series of images of the object from different points on the path and with different orientations with the camera, the series being represented by an image data set; performing a structure from motion evaluation with a defined algorithm using the series of images and generating a spatial representation; scaling the spatial representation with help of given information about a known absolute reference regarding scale; defining a ground surface for the object and applying it onto the spatial representation; and calculating and outputting the absolute volume of the object based on the scaled spatial representation and the defined ground surface.

Abstract: A food slicing machine is provided for slicing food products such as bacon, cheese or cooked meat for sale as groups of slices in separate packs. The food slicing machine includes a cutter for cutting slices from the food product and a controller for controlling the thickness of the slices. The machine cuts slices according to a first value of a slicing parameter until the controller determines when the amount of food product remaining to be sliced in an end portion of the food product is less than a predetermined group weight threshold. The controller causes a slice to be cut according to a second, different value of the slicing parameter from the end portion for addition to an under-weight group of slices, so that its weight at least equals the predetermined group weight threshold.

Abstract: The device is used to slice, store, display or transport cakes. It is primarily composed of four elements; a cutter, a holder, an alignment tray and a holder tray which combine for performing various features of the invention. The device is useful for birthdays, general storage, restaurants or parties.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling portions of products, in particular food products, includes a product conveyor which conveys the portions sequentially along a conveying direction and at least one sensor which serves to determine the weight of the conveyed portions. The apparatus includes an automatic weight compensation unit which is arranged in the vicinity of the product conveyor and which serves additionally to place at least one single product on a portion in dependence on the determined weight of the portion.

Abstract: The disclosure describes a method for cutting a food product into slices for producing portions by taking into account the target weight thereof. Information about a remainder of the food product to be sliced is used to control corresponding actuators for a successive food product to be sliced.

Abstract: A food slicing and weighing system produces stacks of slices of food product. Each stack has a total number of slices or a weight greater than a predetermined minimum stack weight. The food slicing and weighing line comprises a slicing unit and a weighing unit. The slicing unit has a blade for cutting slices off a log of food and a control arrangement comprising a controller for setting the thickness of the slices. The weighing unit has a surface supported by a load sensor. The surface is positioned at the location the slices are cut off the log, each slice dropping onto the surface as each slice is cut from the log. The load sensor senses the weight of the slices as each slice is dropped onto the surface and provides a signal to the controller. The controller determines from the signal a measured combined weight of a number of slices less than the total number of slices and then a target thickness for a next slice to be added to the stack of slices based on the measured combined weight.

Abstract: There is disclosed relates to a food processing apparatus with a scanner with a scanning unit for determining properties of a food product, in particular a food bar, with at least two substantially parallel separately drivable conveyor tracks for supplying the food products to the scanner, and with a control unit for controlling the drive of the conveyor tracks. According to the disclosure, the control unit is adapted to separately control the drive of the conveyor tracks to convey at least one food product of a first conveyor track and at least one food product of a further conveyor track sequentially through a scanning area of the scanner. The disclosure further relates to a method for scanning food products.

Abstract: An output conveyor for a high speed slicing apparatus having four deceleration conveyors that receive slices from a jump conveyor. Each deceleration conveyor laterally position slices in an output lane. The deceleration conveyors have a pivotal axis for matching an elevation of an end of said deceleration conveyor with an elevation of an upstream conveyor. The output conveyor also comprises four weighing conveyors for weighing slices received from upstream components. The weighing conveyors each comprise a removable carrying unit for turning a conveyor belt and a drive unit for driving the carrying unit.

Abstract: An improved slicer having a reciprocating blade is disclosed. The use of a reciprocating blade allows the configuration and functionality of the slicer to be modified to address many of the deficiencies of current rotary slicers. The slicer operates without manual intervention, and includes the capability to automatically stack the sliced products. In other words, the food product to be sliced is placed on the slicer, and the slicer automatically slices the food product and stacks the sliced product, in a configuration that is presentable to the customer. In some embodiments, the machine is designed to have certain zones that can be cleaned or replaced, while the rest of the machine is never contaminated. In addition, the reciprocating blade is inexpensive and easily replaceable, thereby eliminating the need to sharpen the blade.

Abstract: A system for cutting blocks of food product into bars of substantially equal weight. The system includes a cutter conveyor configured to receive incoming blocks of food product and move the blocks along an in-line processing path in a plane for cutting; a programmable logic controller coupled to the cutter conveyor; and, multiple stations associated with the cutter conveyor. One such station is a camera vision system configured to create an image of the slab portion, and further including a camera controller coupled to the vision system and the PLC, and configured to determine an optimized cut solution of the slab portion from the image and data related to the food product, and is configured to provide the cut solution to the PLC. The PLC is configured to control the cutting of the food product, based on the optimized cut solution, into bars of substantially equal weight.

Abstract: A system for cutting blocks of food product into bars of substantially equal weight. The system includes a cutter conveyor configured to receive incoming blocks of food product and move the blocks along an in-line processing path in a plane for cutting; a programmable logic controller coupled to the cutter conveyor; and, multiple stations associated with the cutter conveyor. One such station is a camera vision system configured to create an image of the slab portion, and further including a camera controller coupled to the vision system and the PLC, and configured to determine an optimized cut solution of the slab portion from the image and data related to the food product, and is configured to provide the cut solution to the PLC. The PLC is configured to control the cutting of the food product, based on the optimized cut solution, into bars of substantially equal weight.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling portions of products, in particular food products, includes a product conveyor which conveys the portions sequentially along a conveying direction and at least one sensor which serves to determine the weight of the conveyed portions. The apparatus includes an automatic weight compensation unit which is arranged in the vicinity of the product conveyor and which serves additionally to place at least one single product on a portion in dependence on the determined weight of the portion.

Abstract: A system for cutting blocks of food product into bars of substantially equal weight. The system includes a cutter conveyor configured to receive incoming blocks of food product and move the blocks along an in-line processing path in a plane for cutting; a programmable logic controller coupled to the cutter conveyor; and, multiple stations associated with the cutter conveyor. One such station is a camera vision system configured to create an image of the slab portion, and further including a camera controller coupled to the vision system and the PLC, and configured to determine an optimized cut solution of the slab portion from the image and data related to the food product, and is configured to provide the cut solution to the PLC. The PLC is configured to control the cutting of the food product, based on the optimized cut solution, into bars of substantially equal weight.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and a device for portioning a substance, e.g. dough for making bread or pastry. The device operates on an elongated body of the substance and separates pieces there from in accordance with an image received from an image generating camera. Accordingly, portioning of the dough occurs without having to compress the dough into a measuring chamber as it is required in traditional portioning of dough.

Abstract: Proposed are a method and a device for consolidation of a number n of items, whose weight varies within predefined limits, in a container to a single unit with a predefined target weight. For this purpose, n?1 portions are combined and the weight of all of the n?1 portions is determined. Then the difference between the target weight of the n portions on the one hand and the weight of the n?1 portions on the other is determined. Ultimately, an nth portion with a precise weight is cut-off from a piece, where the weight equals the weight of the nth portion of the difference. For this purpose, the device is provided with a first and a second insertion station, a scale, a computer, and a portioning and cutting device.

Abstract: An output conveyor for a high speed slicing apparatus having four deceleration conveyors that receive slices from a jump conveyor. Each deceleration conveyor laterally position slices in an output lane. The deceleration conveyors have a pivotal axis for matching an elevation of an end of said deceleration conveyor with an elevation of an upstream conveyor. The output conveyor also comprises four weighing conveyors for weighing slices received from upstream components. The weighing conveyors each comprise a removable carrying unit for turning a conveyor belt and a drive unit for driving the carrying unit.

Abstract: A system, suitable for high-speed operation, by which raw product (45), such as a slab of meat, can be accurately processed, such as by slicing into segments of desired weight, comprises a product profiling apparatus (15). The product profiling apparatus (15) measures the profile of the physical process. The product profiling apparatus (15) includes line lasers (75, 85) for directing a line of light across the upper and lower surfaces of the product (45) and visual image cameras (80, 90) directed toward the profile surface to capture, at fixed increments, the product profile. The product may also be weighed and the product density determined from the overall profile measurements. A controller (150) receives this data, and instructs the physical process accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for slicing a food bar, which has a certain mass per unit length variation over its length, into food portions which, for example, each consist of N food slices and are to have a defined preset weight mM, having a blade and a support device on which the food bar lies and can be advanced in the direction of the blade, the size of this advance determining the thickness of the food slice. In addition, the invention relates to a method which has means which calculates a prediction of the mass per unit length variation of the still unsliced food bar and, based thereon, adjusts the number N and/or the thickness Ds of the food slices of the portion being sliced or the next portion to be sliced such that the actual weight approximates to the preset weight as closely as possible.

Abstract: Apparatus for supplying food dough including a hopper to which a large block of food dough is supplied, a cutting apparatus located at a lower opening port of the hopper to cut the block into small blocks that have substantially the same volume, a dough feeder having a plurality of rollers that are arranged in a V to form the small blocks into a sheet of food dough, a transferring conveyor to transfer the small blocks to the dough feeder, a feeding conveyor that conveys the sheet of the food dough formed by the dough feeder of a constant thickness, a weighing conveyor for measuring the weight of a part of the sheet that is supplied by the feeding conveyor as the sheet is being conveyed, and a cutting apparatus for cutting the sheet of the food dough when the measurement of the weighing conveyor corresponds to a preset value.

Abstract: A material handling system for a table saw that controls the orientation and speed of material as it moves through the system. The material handling system includes an idler device having upper and lower support surfaces configured to maintain a piece of processed material in the processing path until it substantially passes the upper support surface. The material handling system includes a ramp configured to deliver a piece of processed material from the processing path to a return conveyor.

Abstract: A water jet cutter for separation of a trim strip from a moving paper, cardboard, tissue or other type of fiber web, in a machine for the production and/or conversion of the fiber web, including at least one nozzle whose water jet is directed onto the fiber web. An advantage of the present invention is to simplify the construction of the device while maintaining at least equal operational reliability, and to enable installation above a pulper in order to eliminate the necessity for removal and extraction systems.

Abstract: A tree harvesting apparatus and method is particularly adapted for use in crowded housing and industrial areas where there is concern for relatively heavy cut tree portions causing damage when allowed to free fall to the ground. The tree harvesting apparatus and method enables a cut portion of a tree such as a tree top to be weighed after being cut but before it is lowered or allowed to free fall to the ground dependent on its weight. A camera mounted on the harvesting apparatus enables the cutting and weighing operation to be observed by an operator on the ground. The tree harvesting apparatus mounts on the outer end of a boom which in turn mounts on a turntable which can rotate 360°, thus making the apparatus and method useful for harvesting a plurality of trees from one location of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method for optimizing yield from a slicing apparatus, includes scanning and weighing a carcass, slab or loaf upstream of a slicing head of the slicing apparatus. The carcass, slab or loaf weight is divided by a desired pre-selected portion weight to determine the number of slices to be made. A remainder portion is allocated to an intermediate position along the carcass, slab or loaf to be sliced from the carcass, slab or loaf before a butt end portion, gripped by a gripper of the slicing apparatus, reaches the slicing head. The butt end portion is pre-arranged to be the desired pre-selected portion weight or at least an acceptable pre-selected portion weight. The butt end portion can then be released by the gripper as a desired or acceptable weight portion.

Abstract: A device and method for computerized product slicing are disclosed. The device includes a blade, an openable product holder capable of engaging/retaining therein the product and of communication with a product sensor, the product sensor which detects presence of product in proximity to the product holder and causes it to close upon the product, a slicing mechanism, and a weighing module designed and constructed to collect, retain and weigh slices of product and to communicate weight thereof to a CPU which accepts a data input from a user. The CPU is essentially responsible for control of the device and for display of data on a display included in the device. A method including the sequence of actions performed by the device is further disclosed.

Abstract: In a rectangular composite shingle unit including (a) a top sheet having a lower butt portion which is longitudinally divided into spaced tabs and an upper undivided headlap portion having a horizontal line of markings immediately above the butt portion indicating nailable sites for attachment of the shingle unit to a roof deck and (b) a continuous, elongated backer strip underlying the tabs and nail markings of the headlap which is aligned in offset or flush position along the longitudinal margin of the butt portion and which extends from the bottom edges of the tabs to the top area of the nail line markings; the improvement which comprises a backer strip having a plurality of extended projections on the top longitudinal margin of said backer which projections are spaced apart and vertically extend upwardly beyond the nail line markings and underlay the headlap portion of the top sheet.

Abstract: A device and method for computerized product slicing are disclosed. The device includes a blade, an openable product holder capable of engaging/retaining therein the product and of communication with a product sensor, the product sensor which detects presence of product in proximity to the product holder and causes it to close upon the product, a slicing mechanism, and a weighing module designed and constructed to collect, retain and weigh slices of product and to communicate weight thereof to a CPU which accepts a data input from a user. The CPU is essentially responsible for control of the device and for display of data on a display included in the device. A method including the sequence of actions performed by the device is further disclosed.

Abstract: A cutter, preferably a cheese cutter, for cutting food into consumer-size chunks. The cutter comprises a feed conveyor, slab drive apparatus for driving a slab along the feed conveyor, and a cutting harp adjacent the discharge end of the feed conveyor. The cutting harp has cutting devices which make cuts extending across an opening. A slab discharged from the conveyor passes through the central opening, and the cutting devices cut the food product in the direction of advance of the slab. Transverse harp drive apparatus drives the harp transverse to the direction of advance of the slab, severing chunks of product from the slab. A take-away conveyor takes the severed chunks away from the cutting harp, to a weighing device which weighs the chunks. A controller receives weights from the weighing device, and sends adjustment instructions to the slab drive apparatus to adjust subsequent weights of product cut from such slabs.

Abstract: A control for a weigh scale associated with a continuously moving conveyor which is capable of mathematically positioning the sample period on each product weight waveform. The control first triggers on a predetermined sensed weight. The control determines a first inflection point on the weight waveform defined as the “maximum positive slope.” Once the maximum positive slope is found, the control begins recording weight samples at a sampling rate. The control checks the weight waveform of sampled weights for a slope which is a first pre-selected percentage of the maximum slope but negative in slope value. This point is determined as the “weight-off-scale” point. When the weight-off-scale point is reached, then the control looks backward through the recorded data of weight samples to find another point which has a slope which is a second preselected negative percentage of the maximum positive slope. This point is defined as the “end sample position.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting cheese blocks (1) into portions (13) conveys the cheese along a linear processing path. Longitudinal cutters (6,7) for dividing the depth and width of the cheese block, with separation of layers when the depth is divided, create sets (120) of longitudinal sticks (12) conveyed side-by-side. These are presented to a guillotine cutter (8) which, on the basis of measured length and weight of the set (120), makes successive transverse cuts dividing the stick set (120) into successive sets (130) of portions (13) which are then separated from one another for packaging. A control processor (CP) uses measured block weight and dimensional information to determine an optimal disposition of cuts taking account of product standard criteria (e.g. maximum permissible deviation from and maintenance of an average portion weight) together with minimized wastage.

Abstract: A paper machine includes a traveling belt for carrying a fiber web, and a cutting device disposed below the belt for cutting the fiber web into smaller pieces. The cutting device has an inlet and an outlet. A guiding device guides the fiber web from the belt to the inlet of the cutting device. A pulper is connected with the outlet of the cutting device for receiving the smaller pieces of fiber web from the cutting device. The traveling belt may be in the form of, e.g., a wire, felt or water impervious belt. The cutting device may be in the form of, e.g., a shredder, fluffer, water jet cutter, laser cutter and/or roll cutter.

Abstract: An electric food slicer (1) comprising a main body (4) with a base region (2), a disc-like rotary cutting blade (6) supported on the main body (4), weighing means (66) disposed on the base region (2) adjacent to the blade (6) at a position where sliced food will collect, and visual display means (50) to give a visual indication of the weight of food collected on the weighing means (66).

Abstract: A slicing machine includes a machine frame having a food loaf delivery path arranged in a longitudinal direction, and a cutting assembly arranged in the delivery path. The cutting assembly has two longitudinally directed reciprocating blades facing upstream in the delivery path. In operation, the loaf is pressed through the cutting assembly which cuts the loaf into quarter sections. A slicing blade is arranged in the delivery path downstream of the cutting assembly, the slicing blade arranged to slice the sectioned food loaf transversely to the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for cutting a piece of fresh whole-muscle meat into several slices having the same thickness and weight, which comprises a loading and pre-pressing unit (1) for accommodating and pressing the piece of fresh whole-muscle meat and a grading unit (2) for determining the thickness and the volume of the slices. The invention is also fitted with a slicing unit (3) arranged between the loading and pre-pressing unit (1) and the grading unit (2) to cut the piece of fresh whole-muscle meat (13) into slices (14) as determined by the grading unit (2).

Abstract: A bacon slicing system (10) includes a conveying system (20). The conveying system (20) is mounted for sliding between a first and second lateral position. The conveyor belt (65) of the conveying system (20) is rotatable in a longitudinal direction which is generally perpendicular to the lateral movement of the conveying system (20).

Abstract: The invention involves a method and apparatus for automatic portioning of objects. More specifically, the invention utilizes both weighing and imaging data in order to calculate an estimated weight distribution of objects being processed. One or more weighing units, which weigh one or more parts of the objects, are installed before and/or after a cutting unit to obtain the weighing data. A computer system controls cutting based on the imaging data and the weighing data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for cutting a piece of meat into a predetermined number of steaks. To allow the piece of meat to be cut in a rapid and simple manner with small losses of raw material, the piece of meat is placed in a mould whose bottom, cover and side walls substantially enclose the piece of meat, the piece of meat is subjected to a pressure in such a way that the bottom, the cover or at least one of the walls is movable and at least partly pressed into the mould until the piece of meat is so compressed as to fill substantially the entire space between the bottom, side walls and cover of the mould. The cutting elements are inserted into the mould through slots provided in the side walls, cover and/or bottom of the mould, whereby the piece of meat subjected to pressure is cut into a predetermined number of steaks by the cutting elements. The invention also relates to a cutting apparatus.

Abstract: A computer controlled method and apparatus for meat slabbing according to updated information from the meat product and/or the slab cut from the meat product. Such information may include the weight and fat content of the cut slab. This information may be used to reoptimize the slabbing of the meat product and also may be used to further process the cut slab. Such processing might include marking the location of fat to be trimmed, trimming the fat from the slab, portioning the slab and sorting the slab in accordance with preselected parameters.

Abstract: A high speed food loaf slicing machine slices two food loaves simultaneously, using one cyclically driven knife blade; the slices are stacked or shingled in groups on a receiving conveyor located below the slicing station. Independent loaf feed drives are provided; slices cut from one loaf may be thicker than slices from the other. Each loaf feed drive includes two "short" conveyors each driven at a predetermined speed; the conveyor speeds may be different. In each machine cycle the receiving conveyor is moved down to accommodate an increasing number of slices; when a slicing cycle is completed, the receiving conveyor rapidly discharges the slice groups onto a deceleration conveyor and moves back up to start a new slicing operation. The loaf feed drives are reversed at the end of a slicing cycle, stopped, and then reversed again before the next slicing cycle.

Abstract: A versatile high speed slicing machine moves first and second food loaves along parallel loaf paths into a slicing station where both loaves are sliced by a cyclically driven knife blade. There are independent loaf feed drives so that slices cut from one loaf may be thicker than slices from the other. The conveyor/transfer system onto which food loaves are deposited as cut includes a receiver located below the slicing station; a lift mechanism moves the receiver down during slicing so that slices always fall about the same distance after being cut. The receiver includes a plural-belt horizontal receiver conveyor with recieving pin wheels located between the belts that periodically discharges groups of food loaf slices onto a deceleration conveyor, from which the groups are fed onto a multi-belt scale conveyor. The scale conveyor is aligned with two receiver weighing grids, each grid including plural grid elements interleaved one-for-one with the scale conveyor belts.

Abstract: A food product slicer comprises a housing having a bilevel profile which includes a raised portion having a first aperture therein and a horizontal planar portion having a second aperture therein; a slicing blade mounted for rotation on a drive shaft extending through the first aperture; a compartment on the bottom side of the housing defined by a wall member; a scale including a platter, mounted on a post extending through the second aperture; a load cell mounted in the compartment and engaging the post extending through the second aperture; and an electronic control for operating the scale and slicer, mounted in the housing outside of the compartment. The platter is located below the slicing blade such that the food product sliced by the slicing blade is deposited on the platter, and the post is mounted to the center of the platter, such that a food product portion deposited on the platter will measure substantially the same weight on each corner of the platter.

Abstract: A versatile high speed slicing machine moves first and second food loaves along parallel loaf paths into a slicing station where both loaves are sliced by a cyclically driven knife blade. There are independent loaf feed drives so that slices cut from one loaf may be thicker than slices from the other. The conveyor/transfer system onto which food loaves are deposited as cut includes a receiver located below the slicing station; a lift mechanism moves the receiver down during slicing so that slices always fall about the same distance after being cut. The receiver includes a horizontal conveyor that periodically discharges groups of food loaf slices onto a deceleration conveyor, from which the groups are fed onto a multi-belt scale conveyor. The scale conveyor is aligned with two receiver grids, each grid including plural grid elements interleaved one-for-one with the scale conveyor belts. In each machine cycle a group of food loaf slices is deposited on a grid and weighed.

Abstract: A stacker-cutter-weigher apparatus for supplying a continuous supply of a product having a preselected weight which comprises extruding a continuous stock of polymeric material having a substantially stable cross-sectional area, cutting the stock into finite sections, and placing the sections on a scale. The measured weight is sensed by a central control which adjusts the length of the next section so as to adjust the weight thereof. A further adjustment occurs as each section is placed on the scale. This provides a final product having a substantially preselected weight.

Abstract: A bloom is heated and rolled by the flying shear system so as to produce a semi-finish rolled billet having a reduced cross section. A CLSI value, which is indicative of the uniform length of each of a number of product billets that can be cut from the length of the semi-finish rolled billet while maintaining predetermined optimum head and tail scrap lengths, is then calculated by the flying shear system. The cross section of the semi-finish rolled billet is corrected, so as to produce a finish rolled billet having an adjusted length, when the CLSI value is not within a safety billet length range, to thereby obtain a new CLSI value that falls within the safety billet length range. A flying shear cuts the semi-finish rolled billet or the finish rolled billet into the number of product billets when the CLSI value is within the safety billet length range.

Abstract: An automatic slicing system for slicing a comestible product and forming a uniform stack of slices of the sliced product, wherein the sytem is preferably used in small grocery stores and delis. The slicer comprises a rotary slicer blade having an operational cutting edge for slicing a comestible product. A product feed member is positioned on one side of the slicer blade for holding and moving the comestible product into engagement with the slicer blade. The product feed member oscillates the comestible product between a first position wherein the comestible product is on one side of the operational cutting edge not in engagement therewith, and a second position wherein the comestible product is on another side of the operational cutting edge not in engagement therewith, such that as the comestible product moves from the first position the second position a slice of comestible product is removed therefrom.

Abstract: A method is described for obtaining constant weight portions or slices from sliced food products wherein in each case individual slices or portions of several slices with exactly predeterminable weight can be formed in real time operation during the cutting process by detecting the cut surface area, taking account of the specific weight and computing the required feed of the product.

Abstract: The thickness of slices cut by an automatic slicing machine is controlled to produce a draft of slices having a predetermined weight. Desired thickness is determined in accordance with the cross-sectional density of the food product being sliced, which is obtained from the weight and thickness of the most recently cut slice or slices. This information is combined with a desired weight for each of the remaining slices to be cut in the draft to control the rate of advance of the food product into a continuously rotating knife so as to obtain the proper thickness.

Abstract: The thickness of slices cut by an automatic slicing machine is controlled to produce a draft of slices having a predetermined weight. Desired thickness is determined in accordance with the cross-sectional density of the food product being sliced, which is obtained from the weight and thickness of the most recently cut slice or slices. This information is combined with a desired weight for each of the remaining slices to be cut in the draft to control the rate of advance of the food product into a continuously rotating knife so as to obtain the proper thickness.

Abstract: The slicing machine, primarily for sliced meats, has a code reader, particularly a bar code reader, available in the vicinity of its goods slicing carriage which reliably determines the goods code for the sliced goods during the slicing process and fetches a programmed price per unit weight from a data memory of a weighing device. The price per unit weight is fed to a processor which determines the price of the goods being weighed or the retail price from the weight measurement. The delivery tray of the slicing machine can be a weighing tray of a weighing device built into the slicing machine. An indicator and/or a charge slip printer can then automatically print the total price that must be paid.

Abstract: An automatic slicing machine includes a dynamic weigher for weighing slices in a draft as they are being cut. Information from the weigher is converted into a digital value and is used to control the thickness of subsequently cut slices to produce drafts at a target weight. After the cutting of a draft is completed, its weight is checked in a check weigher. The check weigher communicates the weights of individual drafts back to a programmable controller in the slicer. The controller computes a new target weight to correct any deviation of the final weight from the set point for weight control. This automatically calculated correction eliminates manual adjustment by the machine operator and assures that subsequent drafts have an acceptable weight.