Abstract: A method for weighing and portioning items utilizing a robot device. The robot device includes a grip, e.g., a suction cup, to remove an item from a delivery station to a receiving area for placement into a particular batch. The method involves placing the items at delivery station according their weight and the weight of items already moved to a receiving area, selecting the items for a batch from the combination of items available for movement to the batch, and selective batching of the items in weight-determined and, optionally, type-determined groups.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for increasing the capacity and precision of a portion cutter wherein the items to be portion cut are positioned abutting each other. In particular are provided means for identifying a boundary between consecutive items to be cut when the items are placed on a conveyor abutting each other with little or no gab between the items. At least one characteristic is measured for each of the items, and at least one process parameter is controlled in order to achieve predetermined product portions from the items based on the measured characteristic.

Abstract: A method for weighing and portioning items utilizing a robot device. The robot device includes a grip, e.g., a suction cup, to remove an item from a delivery station to a receiving area for placement into a particular batch. The method involves placing the items at delivery station according their weight and the weight of items already moved to a receiving area, selecting the items for a batch from the combination of items available for movement to the batch, and selective batching of the items in weight-determined and, optionally, type-determined groups.

Abstract: A method for monitoring and tracking the processing of a plurality of meat items which originated from an animal, with the processing utilizing instructions, such as instructions from a customer. The method comprises the steps of registering one or more of an identification of one piece of meat from the plurality of meat items, an identification of a supplier of the one piece of meat, and an identification of the animal from which the one piece of meat originated; allocating the one piece of meat to one of a plurality of workstations; registering an identification of the workstation; processing the one piece of meat into a plurality of meat cuttings at the workstation utilizing the instructions; and further processing one or more of the plurality of meat cuttings, wherein traceability is established between the one or more of the plurality of meat cuttings and one or more of the one piece of meat, the supplier, and the animal from which the one piece of meat originated.

Abstract: A trim table for use by trimming and/or cutting of food products, such as chicken or fish, has conveyors (2, 12) for feeding products to a number of operator stands (O1 . . . O8), each of which receivers (14, 24R, 28R) for receiving products (10), a cutting table (16, 24C, 28C) for trimming and/or cutting the products (10) into product pieces (10a, 10b) and sorters (6, 20), and further, transport of the cut or trimmed products (10a, 10b). One or more of the operator stands (O1 . . . O8) are provided with mechanisms (18, 24, 28) for automatic transferal of the products (10) from the receivers (14, 24R, 28R) onto the cutting table (16, 24C, 28C). By a trim table, the products are brought to the operator, so that the operator is spared from having to repeatedly lift products as has necessary in the past. As a result, the operator's working position is significantly improved, just as the work place at the trim table according to the invention is also improved ergonomically.

Abstract: A trim table for use by trimming and/or cutting of food products, such as chicken or fish, has conveyors (2, 12) for feeding products to a number of operator stands (O1 . . . O8), each of which receivers (14, 24R, 28R) for receiving products (10), a cutting table (16, 24C, 28C) for trimming and/or cutting the products (10) into product pieces (10a, 10b) and sorters (6, 20), and further, transport of the cut or trimmed products (10a, 10b). One or more of the operator stands (O1 . . . O8) are provided with mechanisms (18, 24, 28) for automatic transferal of the products (10) from the receivers (14, 24R, 28R) onto the cutting table (16, 24C, 28C). By a trim table, the products are brought to the operator, so that the operator is spared from having to repeatedly lift products as has necessary in the past. As a result, the operator's working position is significantly improved, just as the work place at the trim table according to the invention is also improved ergonomically.

Abstract: A system for collecting items is configured based on the realization that operators for manually moving the items from position bins to packing material can be positioned in only selected areas on both sides of the conveyor, with batch-forming areas being located on each side only at locations opposite the operator area on the opposite side. For instance, a first operator can serve the first two positions from a first side of the conveyor and a second operator can serve the following two positions from the second side of the conveyor and so on. This arrangement leaves free space, e.g., for packing material, for the second operator on the second side of the conveyor opposite the first operator's two positions.

Abstract: A method of batching out items in a weight controlled manner from an incoming flow of the items, the items having non-uniform weights, by allocating the items to a plurality of receiver stations. The method includes the steps of determining weight of individual items, determining preferential allocation of each individual item to a consequently selected receiver station based on accumulated weight of items already located in the selected receiver station and preset operational conditions, portioning-out the items by transferring each individual item to the allocated selected receiver station, calculating efficiency of ongoing portioning-out process using relevant parameters, calculating simulated efficiency of a portioning-out process in which allocation of each individual item to a consequently selected receiver station is based on further operational conditions, and recommending change of one or more of the preset operational conditions based on the simulated efficiency.

Abstract: A batcher apparatus having a weighing station (4) for arriving items and a sorting-out station (6) with transfer mechanism for selectively transferring the weighed items to a plurality of receiver stations (18, 18′, 18″). According to the invention two or more receiver stations may be used as substations (18′, 18″) being allocated items weightwise belonging to the same batch (26), whereby it is possible to allocate to each batch item, which are selected not only based on their weight, but additionally based on other criteria such as type of item in connection with co-batching of different types of poultry parts to be batched separately in subbatches which are then merged into the full batch. Also, items may be allocated to one substation or another in order to thereafter be acted upon in a specific manner, e.g. for some items to be turned or marked.

Abstract: For a weight controlled building up of batches of foodstuff pieces, the pieces are supplied serially with mutual spacing and are weighed-in on a dynamic weigher using a “single weighing algorithm”. Quite similar weighers are known operating for “summation or flow weighing”, which does not require the supplied pieces to be supplied one by one while making use of a special algorithm. With the invention these technics are combined with the aim of handling an unorderly supply flow, in which there are both separated and non-separated pieces, in that by means of a detector it is determined whether the pieces are sufficiently separated for being “single weighed” for batching purposes, while the pieces will otherwise be flow weighed e.g. for the formation of large batches.