Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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 of each other, and transport the product evenly, accurately and securely by means of these conveyors to a combination weigher (16) or (52).

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fast and simultaneously an accurate method and apparatus for generating at least one batch by using at least one batch by using at least one coarse flow and one fine flow of items, wherein the items is the fine flow form a sequence of n-items. The weight of the n-number of items is registered and stored with one or more weighing means. This gives a weight distribution for the items that is utilized in selecting one or more items from the sequence so that a batch weight with a minimum overweight is obtained.

Abstract: The invention involves a method and apparatus for automatic portioning of objects. More specifically, the invention utilizes both weighing and imaging data in order to calculate an estimated weight distribution of objects being processed. One or more weighing units, which weigh one or more parts of the objects, are installed before and/or after a cutting unit to obtain the weighing data. A computer system controls cutting based on the imaging data and the weighing data.