Abstract: A food processing system and method for cutting a food item into cut food item portions includes a conveyor, an imaging system, a cutting device, and a controller. The conveyor conveys the food item past the imaging system allowing the imaging system to image the food item and image data is obtained. The controller receives the imaging data and determines the location of defective areas on the basis thereof. Then a distribution of portion cuts over the food item dividing the food item into food item portions is determined on the basis of at least the determined location of defective areas and a desired portion size and/or weight. The cutting device cuts the food item according to the determined distribution of portion cuts.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting surface characteristics on food objects conveyed by a conveyor has a first imaging device for capturing two-dimensional image data (2D) and a second imaging device for capturing three-dimensional image data (3D) of a food object. A image processing unit is configured to utilize either the 2D or 3D image data in determining whether a potential defect is present on the surface of the food object. The image processing unit determines a surface position of a potential defect, and utilizes the 2D or 3D image data in determining whether an actual defect is present on the surface of the food object at the indicated surface position. The apparatus has an output unit for outputting defect related data in case both of the 2D and the 3D image data indicate that an actual defect is present on the surface of the food object at the indicated surface position.

Abstract: A device for removing straps from boxes, such as a strap encircling a box, includes at least one tentacle or gripping device for creating contact to a strap which is to be removed from a box, at least one first guide for guiding the strap away from the tentacle or gripping device, and at least one first guide drive for driving the first guide. A strap to be removed may be cut before or during the time a tentacle or gripping device engages with the strap.

Abstract: A pin bone removal apparatus is provided for removing pin bones in fish fillets while a conveyor conveys the fish fillets at a first conveying speed. A plurality of pin bone removal units is provided, each having a pin bone roller for pulling the pin bones from the fish fillets. The apparatus includes a closed-loop rail structure on which the pin bone removal units are slideable attached, where the closed-loop rail structure comprises a processing section and a returning section. The processing section is where at least one of the plurality of pin bone removal units is moved parallel to the fish fillets at a second conveying speed and engages with the surface of the fish fillets. After the pin bone removal the at least one pin bone removal unit is recirculated along the returning section.

Abstract: An infeed system is arranged for receiving and turning incoming food products before entering a processing machine. The food products are arranged so a longitudinal axis of the food products is essentially parallel to a conveying direction of the incoming food products. The system comprises a pair of conveyor structures having at least two side by side arranged endless belts extending from an infeed end of the infeed system to an outfeed end of the infeed system. The belts are twisted towards the outfeed end so at the outfeed end the conveyor structures are arranged side by side. At the infeed end, the incoming food products are received and clamped between the belts of the conveyor structures and advanced from the infeed end towards the outfeed end while simultaneously rotating the received food products around said longitudinal axis of the food products.

Abstract: A fish decapitating apparatus includes a fish holder configured to receive a fish with the belly side facing up at an in-feed station, a cutting station and a conveying apparatus configured to convey the fish in the fish holder from the in-feed station to the cutting station. The fish holder includes opposingly arranged guide members moveable in a hinge like manner. The guide members are configured to clamp the fish behind the collar bones such that the collar bones rest on an outer side of the guide members in the clamped state with the fish head sticking out from the fish holder. The fish decapitating apparatus includes a measuring device configured to measure the position of the collar bones when in the clamped position, and a control unit configured to automatically adjust the position of the cutting station during cutting in accordance with the measured position of the collar bones.

Abstract: A slicer apparatus for slicing food items includes a conveying means for conveying a food item to be cut along a conveying path, where a gap is provided extending across the conveying path; at least one cutting blade. A cutting land is arranged in and along the gap, and the cutting land comprises a recess on at least one side such that during cutting the at least one cutting blade at least partly extends into the recess. A first moving means is connected to the at least one cutting blade for moving the at least one cutting blade in distance relative to the cutting land. A second moving means is connected to the at least one cutting blade for moving the at least one cutting blade angularly relative to the conveying path. A third moving means is connected to the cutting land for adjusting at least an angular position of the cutting land around its longitudinal axis. The third moving means is configured to independently adjust the at least angular position of the cutting land around its longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A trimming system for fish which is placed with belly sides on opposite sides of a supporting structure. A force supplying means applies opposite forces onto the belly sides towards the supporting structure. A profile measuring means determines the profile of the belly sides, and a cutting means trims the belly sides. Opposite forces are supplied by the force supplying means while the belly sides are measured by the profile measuring means, and the opposite forces are supplied while the belly sides are simultaneously trimmed.

Abstract: Knife arrangement for use in for example a slicer apparatus for slicing meat, and in particular fish meat, wherein the knife arrangement comprises two reciprocating knives 40, 40?, each knife 40, 40? has a blade 54 with a sharp edge 55 and an opposite edge 56, and blade material between said edges, where adjacent a first end 57 of each knife 40, 40? an engagement member 58 is arranged, which engagement member 58 protrudes perpendicular to the plane of the blade 40, 40?.

Abstract: Slicer apparatus of the type used for slicing in particular fish fillets, where the apparatus comprises a conveying path, and cutting means arranged in said conveying path, where the cutting means comprises a set of moveable reciprocating knives and a cutting land, where the cutting means further comprises means for moving the knives relative to the cutting land and the surface of the conveyor path, wherein the cutting means are arranged on a common member which member may be rotated through a predetermined arch about a horizontal axis, perpendicular to the conveyor path's transport direction.

Abstract: A machine has stations for continuous fish filleting. Decapitated gutted fish are placed with backs upwards and fronts foremost. A first station engages the fish and centers the fish relative to a vertical plane. Lower sides of the fish are arranged on opposite sides of the plane. A second station detects and registers vertical extents of lower edges and backs of the fish. A third station fixates backs of the fish and cuts slits in the backs. The slits extend at least along either side of protruding back fins. A fourth station has articulated cutters arranged on either side of the vertical plane for trimming parts of lowermost sides and edges of the fish. A fifth station has upper cutters positioned along the vertical plane for cutting meat free from vertebrae. A sixth station cuts vertically on either side of the vertebrae. A seventh station directs fillets outward.

Abstract: A machine has stations for continuous fish filleting. Decapitated gutted fish are placed with backs upwards and fronts foremost. A first station engages the fish and centers the fish relative to a vertical plane. Lower sides of the fish are arranged on opposite sides of the plane. A second station detects and registers vertical extents of lower edges and backs of the fish. A third station fixates backs of the fish and cuts slits in the backs. The slits extend at least along either side of protruding back fins. A fourth station has articulated cutters arranged on either side of the vertical plane for trimming parts of lowermost sides and edges of the fish. A fifth station has upper cutters positioned along the vertical plane for cutting meat free from vertebrae. A sixth station cuts vertically on either side of the vertebrae. A seventh station directs fillets outward.

Abstract: Slicer apparatus of the type used for slicing in particular fish fillets, where the apparatus comprises a conveying path, and cutting means arranged in said conveying path, where the cutting means comprises a set of moveable reciprocating knives and a cutting land, where the cutting means further comprises means for moving the knives relative to the cutting land and the surface of the conveyor path, wherein the cutting means are arranged on a common member which member may be rotated through a predetermined arch about a horizontal axis, perpendicular to the conveyor path's transport direction.

Abstract: Laminated composite material usable to make articles of manufacture, such as boots or other sports articles in particular. The laminate is a new basic material particularly directed to articles of manufacture having drastic mechanical requirements and which are very inexpensive and lightweight. The laminate has a sandwich structure having a core between two layers. More particularly, the core and the two layers are composites, and at least a portion of the fibers of the core have a mechanical strength significantly lower than that of at least a portion of the fibers of one and/or the, other layers. In a particular embodiment, the laminate has a thickness of 3 mm or less. The layers are sheets of carbon fabric embedded in an epoxy resin, and the core is made from non-woven polyamide micro-fibers having a thickness equal to 0.32 mm. The invention also relates to the manufacture of the laminate.

Abstract: A liner having a single foot entry for a rigid shell sport boot, constituted of an upper enveloping the foot and the malleoli and of a top portion of the upper that covers the user's lower leg. The top portion of its upper has a composite structure formed of a plurality of comfort elements coupled together and fixed to a relatively thin support envelope that extends on the exterior, and each comfort element is made from a material having a specific density and degree of firmness that are different from those of the element to which it is coupled. The differentiation of the characteristics of the elements with respect to one another allows transmitting the impulses from the user's lower leg to the boot shell in preferred predetermined directions in correspondence with selected support zones on the lower leg.