Abstract: A safety apparatus for protecting an operator of an electrically powered saw from the blade during operation, the saw being of the type including a cutting table through which the blade passes, comprising: an image processing arrangement operable to sense, within a predefined three-dimensional sensing zone, the presence of a glove worn by the operator which has a colour distinguishable by the image sensor from the colour of an object being cut by the blade, the three-dimensional sensing zone being located in a cutting path of the blade; and an electronic controller communicable with the image sensor and operable to control an arresting mechanism to arrest movement of the blade responsive to the coloured glove being detected within the three-dimensional sensing zone.

Abstract: There is provided an emergency braking apparatus for stopping travel of the blade of an electrically powered saw of the type incorporating a cutting table through which the blade of the saw passes during a cutting operation. The apparatus comprises a braking jaw and a movable jaw spaced apart from the braking jaw for reception of the blade of the saw between the braking jaw and the movable jaw. The apparatus also comprises a driver for driving the movable jaw from a retracted position into contact with a side face of the blade to force an opposite side the blade against the braking jaw and thereby clamp the blade between the braking jaw and the movable jaw, a pressure chamber for holding a fluid at a predetermined pressure, and an actuator operable in response to an emergency braking signal to release the pressurised fluid in the pressure chamber to drive the driver against the movable jaw whereby the movable jaw is driven into contact with the side face of the blade.

Abstract: A carcass cutting system including a belt positioned below a conveyor such as to stabilise a carcass during imaging and/or cutting operations. An offset section of conveyor track in the region of the belt may be utilized to urge the carcass against the belt. Imagining may use an optical imaging system, an X-ray imaging system, a laser scanning camera, a time of flight camera or a Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry system. Imaging information may be used to calculate cutting paths and/or weight distribution of carcass portions. Cutting may be performed by a robotic cutter using a circular saw or a circular knife.