Patents Assigned to Valka Ehf
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Patent number: 11897703Abstract: A conveyor system, comprising a first conveyor assembly having: an input end; an output end; and a conveyor belt arranged to convey an object from the input end toward the output end in a direction of travel. The conveyor system comprises a fluid projection mechanism, the fluid projection mechanism being arranged to provide a fluid suitable for providing a lifting force to a conveyed object as the conveyed object passes over the fluid projection mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: VALKA EHFInventors: Hilmar Erlingsson, Úlfar Arnórsson, Ívar Meyvantsson, Helgi Hjálmarsson
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Publication number: 20220250856Abstract: A conveyor system, comprising a first conveyor assembly having: an input end; an output end; and a conveyor belt arranged to convey an object from the input end toward the output end in a direction of travel. The conveyor system comprises a fluid projection mechanism, the fluid projection mechanism being arranged to provide a fluid suitable for providing a lifting force to a conveyed object as the conveyed object passes over the fluid projection mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2020Publication date: August 11, 2022Applicant: VALKA EHFInventors: Hilmar ERLINGSSON, Úlfar ARNÓRSSON, Ívar MEYVANTSSON, Helgi HJÁLMARSSON
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Patent number: 11357237Abstract: This disclosure relates to apparatuses and methods for processing and grading food articles. For example, provided herein is a system for grading a portioned food article, in which the system includes: a first conveyor; a first receiving conveyor and a second receiving conveyor, defining a space therebetween; at least one spray-removal robot; and a third receiving conveyor. The spray-removal robot may include at least one valve with a nozzle, in which the valve ejects fluid through the nozzle to impact a food article being moved on the first conveyor toward the third receiving conveyor, such that at least one portion of the food article is moved by the impact through the space between the first receiving conveyor and the second receiving conveyor, and such that at least one portion of the food article is moved by the first receiving conveyor and the second receiving conveyor to the third receiving conveyor.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: VALKA EHFInventors: Helgi Hjálmarsson, Einar Bjorn Jonsson, Hannes Gunnarsson, Ingolfur Harri Hermannsson, Jon Eiriksson
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Patent number: 11344036Abstract: This disclosure concerns methods for processing and grading food articles including x-raying the food articles a first time and taking a 3D image of the food articles.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2016Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Valka EHFInventors: Helgi Hjalmarsson, Einar Bjorn Jonsson, Hannes Gunnarsson, Ingolfur Harri Hermannsson, Jon Eiriksson
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Patent number: 11259531Abstract: This disclosure concerns methods for processing and grading food articles including x-raying the food articles a first time and taking a 3D image of the food articles.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2018Date of Patent: March 1, 2022Assignee: Valka EHFInventors: Helgi Hjalmarsson, Einar Bjorn Jonsson, Hannes Gunnarsson, Ingolfur Harri Hermannsson, Jon Eiriksson
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Patent number: 9095147Abstract: A food processing apparatus for detecting and cutting tough tissues from food items such as fish, meat, or poultry. At least one x-ray machine associated to a first conveyor for imaging incoming food items on the first conveyor based on a generated x-ray image indicating the location of the tough tissues in the food items. A vision system supplies second image data of the food items subsequent to the imaging by the x-ray machine. The second image data including position related data indicating the position of the food items on the second conveyor prior to the cutting. A mapping mechanism determines an estimated coordinate position of the food items on the second conveyor by utilizing the x-ray image and tracking position data. The processor compares the estimated coordinate position of the food items to the actual position on the second conveyor based on the second image data.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2011Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: VALKA EHFInventors: Helgi Hjalmarsson, Einar Bjorn Jonsson
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Patent number: 9079223Abstract: A method is provided for allocating a first item from a group of items to a receiver selected from a group of receivers. The method includes obtaining characteristic property information for the group of items and obtaining capacity information for the group of receivers. According to the method, a characteristic property of the first item which is to be allocated and a characteristic property of a selected second item within the group of items are used in consideration of possible options for allocating said first and second items to the group of receivers. Taking into account the respective capacities of receivers in the group of receivers, it is then determined which receiver should be selected for allocation of the first item thereto.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2010Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: VALKA EHF and REYKJAVIK UNIVERSITYInventors: Yngvi Bjornsson, Einar Bjorn Jonsson, Helgi Hjalmarsson
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Publication number: 20120307013Abstract: A food processing apparatus for detecting and cutting tough tissues from food items such as fish, meat, or poultry. At least one x-ray machine associated to a first conveyor for imaging incoming food items on the first conveyor based on a generated x-ray image indicating the location of the tough tissues in the food items. A vision system supplies second image data of the food items subsequent to the imaging by the x-ray machine. The second image data including position related data indicating the position of the food items on the second conveyor prior to the cutting. A mapping mechanism determines an estimated coordinate position of the food items on the second conveyor by utilizing the x-ray image and tracking position data. The processor compares the estimated coordinate position of the food items to the actual position on the second conveyor based on the second image data.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 4, 2011Publication date: December 6, 2012Applicant: VALKA EHFInventors: Helgi Hjalmarsson, Einar Bjorn Jonsson
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Publication number: 20120150339Abstract: A method is provided for allocating a first item from a group of items to a receiver selected from a group of receivers. The method includes obtaining characteristic property information for the group of items and obtaining capacity information for the group of receivers. According to the method, a characteristic property of the first item which is to be allocated and a characteristic property of a selected second item within the group of items are used in consideration of possible options for allocating said first and second items to the group of receivers. Taking into account the respective capacities of receivers in the group of receivers, it is then determined which receiver should be selected for allocation of the first item thereto.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 28, 2010Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicants: Reykajavik University, Valka EhfInventors: Yngvi Bjornsson, Einar Bjorn Johnsson, Helgi Hjalmarsson
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Patent number: 7967149Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for grading food articles by building up portions based on at least one characteristic, e.g. number of food articles, or weight of food articles. A first conveyor conveys the articles along a closed-loop conveying path, where the conveyor has a number of article holders attached to the conveyor for holding and preserving the initial position of the food articles during the conveying. The exact position of the food articles in the article holders is determined. A processor in a combination with a removing means uses this exact position to control the releasing of the food articles from the article holders into pre-fixed locations the containers and in that way controls the location of the food articles in the containers.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2007Date of Patent: June 28, 2011Assignee: Valka EHFInventor: Hjálmarsson Helgi
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Publication number: 20090238670Abstract: The invention relates to a gripper for a robotic arm which is specially designed for fresh food products. The invention also relates to a method, a device and a system which arranges food products fully automatically onto a conveyor, e.g. in-feed conveyor to an IQF freezer, or into a tray or a box. The gripper unit comprises penetration mechanism for penetrating into the articles that are to be picked up, thereby providing an engagement between the gripper unit and the articles while rearranging the positions of the articles, whereby the position of the penetration mechanism into the articles is operated in such a way that one end of the articles becomes at least partially freely hanging.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2007Publication date: September 24, 2009Applicant: VALKA EHFInventors: Hjalmarsson Helgi, Bjorn Jonsson Einaar
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Publication number: 20090057098Abstract: This invention relates to an article distribution apparatus for distributing a stream of conveyed food articles from a conveyor conveying the food articles to one or more receiving stations, where two or more receiving arms are used for successively receiving and displacing the food articles from the conveyor to the one or more receiving stations. In a receiving position the first receiving arm is arranged at the end of the conveyor and forms an extension of the conveyor and the conveying path of the food articles for receiving one or more of the food articles. After receiving one or more food articles from the conveyor the first receiving arm is moved from the receiving position to the one or more receiving stations, the receiving position subsequently being replaced by the second receiving arm for receiving one or more of the subsequent food articles.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2007Publication date: March 5, 2009Applicant: VALKA EHFInventor: Hjalmarsson Helgi
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Publication number: 20090026119Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for grading food articles based on at least one characteristic of the food articles. The grading comprises building up portions of the food articles in containers or grading the food articles onto one or more receiving areas, wherein the arrangement of the food articles during the grading is preserved. According to the invention, determining means determines one or more characteristic parameters indicating the characteristics of the food articles. A first conveyor conveys the food articles along a closed-loop conveying path, where the conveyor comprising a number of article holders is attached to the conveyor for holding the food articles during the conveying along the closed-loop conveying path. An arranging means arranges the food articles onto the article holders, where the article holders preserve the arrangement of the food articles in the article holders during the conveying.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2007Publication date: January 29, 2009Applicant: VALKA EHFInventor: Hjalmarsson Helgi
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Patent number: 7368670Abstract: The invention is a method of automatically feeding and transporting food products from an in-feed device to a combination weigher, which automatically selects from a number of portions of known weight the optimum combination of portions to create a batch of fixed weight with minimum give-away The method consists mainly of ensuring that the raw material being processed, which typically consists of fresh and unfrozen food products of various kinds that are fragile and have the tendency to stick to the equipment underlay, especially fresh fish, poultry and meat products, fruit and vegetable products and other unfrozen food products of this type, is fed onto at least one or an unlimited number (n) of independent, endless movable conveyors (14a , 14b, . 14n) or (53) and (54-58) which are movable as a whole in both directions along their longitudinal plane independently and transport the product evenly, accurately and securely by means of these conveyors to a combination weigher (16) or (52).Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2005Date of Patent: May 6, 2008Assignee: Valka EhfInventor: Helgi Hjálmarsson
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Patent number: 7323643Abstract: This invention relates to an in-feed control and dispersion apparatus, in the field of fresh food product industry. The apparatus receives a product from an in-feed device and delivers it to one or more receiver units. The apparatus includes a first product dispersion device, a weighing device and a second product dispersion device. Each first and second product dispersion device includes a base structure with a multiple through holes or slots, through which one or more associated moveable protruding structures move. During use of the apparatus, the top surface of the protruding structure is never moved lower than the bottom surface of the base structure.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2004Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Valka EhfInventor: Helgi Hjálmarsson
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Publication number: 20070039763Abstract: The invention relates to an in-feed control and dispersion apparatus and a method, in the field of fresh food product industry, and more particularly in the field of fish and poultry food industries, where the apparatus by executing the method receives product from an individual in-feed device, typically from bulk, and delivers it to a receiver unit of any kind. The apparatus (4.10) comprises mainly a first product dispersion device (4.1), a weighing means (4.4) and a second product dispersion device (4.5), whereas the first and second product dispersion device (4.1, 4.5) consist mainly of a base structure (2.5) which has a multiply of through holes or slots (2.6), up through which one or more moveable protruding structures (2.11-2.13) extends. The method is based on keeping the amount of product in the first disperser(4.1) at a similar level by controlling the product delivered from the individual in-feed device. The first disperser delivers product to weighing means (4.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2004Publication date: February 22, 2007Applicant: VALKA EHFInventor: Helgi Hjalmarsson