Abstract: A blade assembly includes a support frame, a cutting blade, a motor to drive the cutting blade, a support shaft operatively coupled to the support frame to permit pivotal movement of the support frame, and an actuator operatively coupled to the support frame to reciprocally move the slicing assembly between an extended position and a retracted position. When the slicing assembly is in the extended position, a plane of the cutting blade is substantially co-planar with a cutting plane of the food product, and the cutting blade slices the food product. Conversely, when the slicing assembly is in the retracted position, the plane of the cutting blade is disposed at a predetermined angle away from the cutting plane of the food product, and the cutting blade does not contact the food product.

Abstract: A conveyor system includes a frame, a plurality of rollers, a driving mechanism, a plurality of endless belts, and a lifting assembly. The plurality of rollers is rotatably attached to the frame. The driving mechanism is configured to rotate the plurality of rollers. The plurality of endless belts surrounds the plurality of rollers. The lifting assembly includes a plurality of surface and an actuator. The actuator is configured to move the plurality of surfaces between a raised position disposed above the plurality of belts and a lowered position disposed below the plurality of belts.

Abstract: A food processing system includes a driving pulley, a driven pulley, a motor, a belt, and an actuator. The motor is configured to rotate the driving pulley. The belt is connected with the driving pulley and the driven pulley. The driving pulley is configured to rotate the belt. The belt is configured to rotate the driven pulley. The actuator is connected with the driven pulley. The actuator is configured to move the driven pulley relative to the belt between an extended position and a retracted position.

Abstract: A cartridge for a food processing machine includes a base member, a stock roller drag brake, a nip roller, and a chute. The stock roller drag brake is rotatably attached to the base member. The nip roller is rotatably attached to the base member. The chute is attached to the base member.

Abstract: A food product slicing apparatus includes a frame and upper and lower drive assemblies. The upper drive assembly includes a belt configured to engage an upper surface of a food product block to be sliced, a plate pivotally mounted to the frame, front and rear wheels supporting the upper belt, the front wheel rotatably mounted to the plate and a drive member engaged with the plate. When the drive member is engaged, the plate and the front roller pivot relative to the frame and to the rear wheel. The lower drive assembly includes a belt configured to engage a bottom surface of the food product block.

Abstract: A food processing machine includes a slicing device, a slicing conveyor, a classifier device, and an exposed load cell device. The slicing device is adapted to slice a food product. The slicing conveyor is adapted to move the food product sliced by the slicing device. The classifier device is adapted to classify the food product sliced by the slicing device. The exposed load cell device is adapted to weigh the food product sliced by the slicing device. The exposed load cell device is located between the slicing conveyor and the classifier device. The exposed load cell device is permanently exposed providing accessible cleaning.

Abstract: A blade assembly includes a support frame, a cutting blade, a motor to drive the cutting blade, a support shaft operatively coupled to the support frame to permit pivotal movement of the support frame, and an actuator operatively coupled to the support frame to reciprocally move the slicing assembly between an extended position and a retracted position. When the slicing assembly is in the extended position, a plane of the cutting blade is substantially co-planar with a cutting plane of the food product, and the cutting blade slices the food product. Conversely, when the slicing assembly is in the retracted position, the plane of the cutting blade is disposed at a predetermined angle away from the cutting plane of the food product, and the cutting blade does not contact the food product.

Abstract: A conveyor system includes a frame, a plurality of rollers, a driving mechanism, a plurality of endless belts, and a lifting assembly. The plurality of rollers is rotatably attached to the frame. The driving mechanism is configured to rotate the plurality of rollers. The plurality of endless belts surrounds the plurality of rollers. The lifting assembly includes a plurality of surface and an actuator. The actuator is configured to move the plurality of surfaces between a raised position disposed above the plurality of belts and a lowered position disposed below the plurality of belts.

Abstract: A cartridge for a food processing machine includes a base member, a stock roller drag brake, a nip roller, and a chute. The stock roller drag brake is rotatably attached to the base member. The nip roller is rotatably attached to the base member. The chute is attached to the base member.

Abstract: A food processing machine includes a first frame, a plurality of in-feed cartridges, and at least one motor. The plurality of in-feed cartridges are connected with the first frame in spaced-apart relation. Each in-feed cartridge includes a base member and a belt member moveably disposed around the base member. The at least one motor is connected with the belt members and configured to drive the belt members of the plurality of in-feed cartridges around their respective base members. The plurality of in-feed cartridges are disconnectable with the first frame and reconfigurable so that any number of the plurality of in-feed cartridges can be reconnected with the first frame in varying spaced-apart relation.

Abstract: A food processing machine includes a slicing device, a slicing conveyor, a classifier device, and an exposed load cell device. The slicing device is adapted to slice a food product. The slicing conveyor is adapted to move the food product sliced by the slicing device. The classifier device is adapted to classify the food product sliced by the slicing device. The exposed load cell device is adapted to weigh the food product sliced by the slicing device. The exposed load cell device is located between the slicing conveyor and the classifier device. The exposed load cell device is permanently exposed providing accessible cleaning.

Abstract: In one aspect, a food product tray includes a pan including a top surface, a front end and a rear end, at least one side member extending upward from the pan, and a gate positioned near the front end of the pan. The gate is moveable between a blocking position, in which a top edge of the gate is positioned above the top surface of the pan, and a non-blocking position, in which the top edge is either at or below the top surface of the pan. During movement of the gate, the gate rotates relative to the front end of the pan about an axis displaced from the gate. In one aspect, a slicing apparatus includes a food product tray including a gate movable along an arcuate path defined by an axis displaced from the gate and a radius between the arcuate path and the axis.

Abstract: A food processing machine includes a first frame, a plurality of in-feed cartridges, and at least one motor. The plurality of in-feed cartridges are connected with the first frame in spaced-apart relation. Each in-feed cartridge includes a base member and a belt member moveably disposed around the base member. The at least one motor is connected with the belt members and configured to drive the belt members of the plurality of in-feed cartridges around their respective base members. The plurality of in-feed cartridges are disconnectable with the first frame and reconfigurable so that any number of the plurality of in-feed cartridges can be reconnected with the first frame in varying spaced-apart relation.

Abstract: A food processing system includes a driving pulley, a driven pulley, a motor, a belt, and an actuator. The motor is configured to rotate the driving pulley. The belt is connected with the driving pulley and the driven pulley. The driving pulley is configured to rotate the belt. The belt is configured to rotate the driven pulley. The actuator is connected with the driven pulley. The actuator is configured to move the driven pulley relative to the belt between an extended position and a retracted position.

Abstract: An apparatus for acquiring a profile of a food product for use in subsequent processing of the food product includes a scanning area and one or more product drives for driving a product through the scanning area in a longitudinal direction. First line lasers project one first transverse laser line transversely to the longitudinal direction on the first surface and two first cameras arranged to capture different, overlapping first transverse image portions of the first transverse laser line. A reference laser projects a beam on the first surface that indicates a transverse reference position, and the two first cameras also capture the reference position. A control system uses the transverse reference position to combine the different first transverse image portions captured by the two first cameras to calculate a first profile of the first surface at multiple positions along a length of the first surface as the product is driven through the scanning area.

Abstract: A food product slicing apparatus includes a frame and upper and lower drive assemblies. The upper drive assembly includes a belt configured to engage an upper surface of a food product block to be sliced, a plate pivotally mounted to the frame, front and rear wheels supporting the upper belt, the front wheel rotatably mounted to the plate and a drive member engaged with the plate. When the drive member is engaged, the plate and the front roller pivot relative to the frame and to the rear wheel. The lower drive assembly includes a belt configured to engage a bottom surface of the food product block.

Abstract: An apparatus for acquiring a profile of a food product for use in subsequent processing of the food product includes a scanning area and one or more product drives for driving a product through the scanning area in a longitudinal direction. First line lasers project one first transverse laser line transversely to the longitudinal direction on the first surface and two first cameras arranged to capture different, overlapping first transverse image portions of the first transverse laser line. A reference laser projects a beam on the first surface that indicates a transverse reference position, and the two first cameras also capture the reference position. A control system uses the transverse reference position to combine the different first transverse image portions captured by the two first cameras to calculate a first profile of the first surface at multiple positions along a length of the first surface as the product is driven through the scanning area.

Abstract: An apparatus for acquiring a profile of a food product for use in subsequent processing of the food product includes a scanning area and one or more product drives for driving a product through the scanning area in a longitudinal direction. First line lasers project one first transverse laser line transversely to the longitudinal direction on the first surface and two first cameras arranged to capture different, overlapping first transverse image portions of the first transverse laser line. A reference laser projects a beam on the first surface that indicates a transverse reference position, and the two first cameras also capture the reference position. A control system uses the transverse reference position to combine the different first transverse image portions captured by the two first cameras to calculate a first profile of the first surface at multiple positions along a length of the first surface as the product is driven through the scanning area.

Abstract: A food product slicing apparatus includes a tray configured to support food product blocks. A cavity is provided for receiving unsliced ends of food product blocks, and a removal member is used to eject the ends from the cavity. Upper and lower drive assemblies are provided for moving the blocks to a slicing station. The height of the upper drive assembly is adjustable relative to the lower drive assembly. A plurality of output conveyors receive stacks of sliced food product from the slicing station. The output conveyors are parallel and convey the stacks of sliced food product along linear and parallel paths.

Abstract: An apparatus for acquiring a profile of a food product for use in subsequent processing of the food product includes a scanning area and one or more product drives for driving a product through the scanning area in a longitudinal direction. First line lasers project one first transverse laser line transversely to the longitudinal direction on the first surface and two first cameras arranged to capture different, overlapping first transverse image portions of the first transverse laser line. A reference laser projects a beam on the first surface that indicates a transverse reference position, and the two first cameras also capture the reference position. A control system uses the transverse reference position to combine the different first transverse image portions captured by the two first cameras to calculate a first profile of the first surface at multiple positions along a length of the first surface as the product is driven through the scanning area.