Abstract: A blocker apparatus (20) for blocking a stream (22) of high-pressure fluid includes a blocking member in the form of a sphere or ball (30), or a rod (160) receivable within a partially surrounding seat (34/162) at the forward end of a seat carrier (40) to rotate in the seat. The seat carrier (40) is extended and retracted by an actuator (32) to place the blocking member within the path of the stream (22) and/or remove the blocking member from the path of the high-pressure stream. The blocking member is replaced by simply lifting the blocking member (30/160) off of the seat (34/162) and lowering a new blocking member into the seat.

Abstract: A system for cutting a three-dimensional portion from a foodstuff includes a conveyor for carrying a foodstuff to be portioned, a scanner located adjacent to the conveyor for scanning the foodstuff, a computer coupled to the scanner for receiving scan information to determine one or more cutting paths for the foodstuff, and a cutter for portioning the foodstuff according to the determined cutting path(s). The computer performs generally four steps: (i) receiving scan information from the scanner; (ii) building a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff based on the received scan information; (iii) fitting at least one desired shape, which is stored in the memory of the computer, onto the built three-dimensional map; and (iv) determining one or more cutting paths for portioning the foodstuff to produce one or more portioned foodstuffs corresponding to the at least one desired shape.

Abstract: A blocker apparatus (20) for blocking a stream (22) of high-pressure fluid includes a blocking member in the form of a sphere or ball (30), or a rod (160) receivable within a partially surrounding seat (34/162) at the forward end of a seat carrier (40) to rotate in the seat. The seat carrier (40) is extended and retracted by an actuator (32) to place the blocking member within the path of the stream (22) and/or remove the blocking member from the path of the high-pressure stream. The blocking member is replaced by simply lifting the blocking member (30/160) off of the seat (34/162) and lowering a new blocking member into the seat.

Abstract: A blocker apparatus (20) for blocking a stream (22) of high-pressure fluid includes a blocking member in the form of a sphere or ball (30), or a rod (160) receivable within a partially surrounding seat (34/162) at the forward end of a seat carrier (40) to rotate in the seat. The seat carrier (40) is extended and retracted by an actuator (32) to place the blocking member within the path of the stream (22) and/or remove the blocking member from the path of the high-pressure stream. The blocking member is replaced by simply lifting the blocking member (30/160) off of the seat (34/162) and lowering a new blocking member into the seat.

Abstract: A blocker apparatus (20) for blocking a stream (22) of high-pressure fluid includes a blocking member in the form of a sphere or ball (30), or a rod (160) receivable within a partially surrounding seat (34/162) at the forward end of a seat carrier (40) to rotate in the seat. The seat carrier (40) is extended and retracted by an actuator (32) to place the blocking member within the path of the stream (22) and/or remove the blocking member from the path of the high-pressure stream. The blocking member is replaced by simply lifting the blocking member (30/160) off of the seat (34/162) and lowering a new blocking member into the seat.

Abstract: The powered endless belt (14) of a lower conveyor (12) transports workpieces (16) past a scanning station (18) and then past a slicing station (20), whereat the workpieces are sliced into desired thickness by a powered blade (23). An upper hold-down conveyor (24) includes a powered belt (26) that assists in holding the workpieces stationary and stable as workpieces travel past the slicing station (20). In this regard, the belt is of a compliant construction and is operated at a low enough tension to enable it to substantially conform to the contour of the upper surface of the workpiece, thereby to apply a substantially uniform load about the entire upper surface area of the workpiece.

Abstract: A system for cutting a three-dimensional portion from a foodstuff. The system includes a scanner for scanning the foodstuff, a computer coupled to the scanner for receiving information from the scanner to determine one or more cutting paths for the foodstuff, and a cutter for portioning the foodstuff according to the one or more determined cutting paths. The computer is configured to perform generally four steps: (i) receiving scan information of the foodstuff from the scanner; (ii) building a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff based on the received scan information of the foodstuff; (iii) fitting at least one desired shape, which is stored in memory of the computer, onto the three-dimensional map in the memory of the computer; and (iv) determining one or more cutting paths to be used in portioning the foodstuff so as to produce one or more portioned foodstuffs corresponding to the at least one desired shape.

Abstract: A system is provided for cutting a three-dimensional portion from a foodstuff. The system includes a conveyor for carrying a foodstuff to be portioned, a scanner located adjacent to the conveyor for scanning the foodstuff, a computer coupled to the scanner for receiving scan information from the scanner to determine one or more cutting paths for the foodstuff, and a cutter for portioning the foodstuff according to the one or more determined cutting paths.

Abstract: The portioning foodstuffs in three dimensions includes generating a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff, and then comparing the generated three-dimensional map of the foodstuff with the desired shape as stored in the memory of a computer. The computer determines the particular cutting path in three dimensions in order to arrive at the predetermined shape. This is followed by cutting in one direction to fix at least one dimension of the foodstuff, determining whether the foodstuff is within the tolerance limits or whether the foodstuff portion has moved during the first cutting operation. If so, the foodstuff is rescanned to generate a two-dimensional image of the foodstuff, followed by cutting the foodstuff to arrive at a portion trimmed along three dimensions.

Abstract: A method for portioning foodstuffs in three dimensions includes scanning the foodstuff to be portion, generating a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff, then comparing the generated three-dimensional map of the foodstuff with the desired shape which is stored in the memory of a computer. A computer then determines a particular cutting path in three dimensions in order to arrive at the predetermined shape, followed by a cutting in one direction to fix at least one dimension of the foodstuff, then determining whether the foodstuff is within the tolerance limits. The foodstuff is thereafter cut along its other dimensions to arrive at a portion trimmed along three dimensions.

Abstract: A system is provided for cutting a three-dimensional portion from a foodstuff. The system includes a conveyor for carrying a foodstuff to be portioned, a scanner located adjacent to the conveyor for scanning the foodstuff, a computer coupled to the scanner for receiving scan information from the scanner to determine one or more cutting paths for the foodstuff, and a cutter for portioning the foodstuff according to the one or more determined cutting paths.

Abstract: The powered endless belt (14) of a lower conveyor (12) transports workpieces (16) past a scanning station (18) and then past a slicing station (20), whereat the workpieces are sliced into desired thickness by a powered blade (23). An upper hold-down conveyor (24) includes a powered belt (26) that assists in holding the workpieces stationary and stable as workpieces travel past the slicing station (20). In this regard, the belt is of a compliant construction and is operated at a low enough tension to enable it to substantially conform to the contour of the upper surface of the workpiece, thereby to apply a substantially uniform load about the entire upper surface area of the workpiece.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for portioning foodstuffs in three dimensions. A step in portioning according to the present invention includes scanning the foodstuff to be portion. Followed by a step of generating a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff. Followed by a step of comparing the generated three-dimensional map of the foodstuff with the desired shape which is stored in the memory of a computer. The computer will then be able to determine the particular cutting path in three dimensions in order to arrive at the predetermined shape. Followed by a step of cutting in one direction to fix at least one dimension of the foodstuff. Followed by a step of determining whether the foodstuff is within the tolerance limits or whether the foodstuff portion has moved during the first cutting operation. If the foodstuff portion has moved, the foodstuff will be rescanned. Followed by a step of generating a two-dimensional image of the foodstuff.

Abstract: A conveyor 12 includes an infeed/scanning section (18) and a cutting/outfeed section (22). Both sections have an endless belt (70) and (180) each driven by a friction drive roller (100) and (200). Adequate frictional load is applied between the endless belts and corresponding drive rollers by tension assemblies, each having a tensioning roller (86), (188) rotatably mounted on a pivot frame structure (112), (220) allowing the weight of the tensioning roller to be applied to the return run of the endless belts. Dampeners (130) (270) are integrated with the tensioning rollers (86) (188) to dampen vibrations in the endless belts (70) (180).

Abstract: A conveyor (22) moves workpieces (WP) past a scanning station (40) to ascertain one or more physical parameters of the workpiece (WP) and to a portioning station (24) wherein the workpiece (WP) is portioned into desired smaller portions. Thereafter, the conveyor (22) carries a portioned workpiece (WP) to an unloading station (26) where one or more pickup devices (28) removes specific portioned workpieces (PP) from the conveyor and places the portioned workpieces onto take away conveyors (30) for other locations remote from the first conveyor. A control system, composed in part of a computer (42), keeps track of the locations of the workpieces (WP) on the conveyor (22) and also optionally on the take away conveyor (30) so that portioned pieces (PP) are placed at specific desired locations remote from the conveyor (22) by the pickup devices (28).

Abstract: A conveyor 12 includes an infeed/scanning section (18) and a cutting/outfeed section (22). Both sections have an endless belt (70) and (180) each driven by a friction drive roller (100) and (200). Adequate frictional load is applied between the endless belts and corresponding drive rollers by tension assemblies, each having a tensioning roller (86), (188) rotatably mounted on a pivot frame structure (112), (220) allowing the weight of the tensioning roller to be applied to the return run of the endless belts. Dampeners (130) (270) are integrated with the tensioning rollers (86) (188) to dampen vibrations in the endless belts (70) (180).

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the temperature of workpieces transported on a conveyor is disclosed. In one broad aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a translatable assembly which has a pick-up tool for picking up workpieces and a temperature-sensing device which is in proximity to the pick-up tool for measuring the temperature of the workpiece. Other embodiments are disclosed, including eliminating the pick-up tool, provided the temperature sensing device travels with the workpiece. Scanners can be utilized to designate the largest of the workpieces to be measured or for detecting overlapping workpieces. Feedback temperature control is achieved by varying a parameter, such as conveyor speed or a heat engine temperature. Also, a modeling module can be incorporated to assist with temperature control of the workpieces.

Abstract: A conveyor belt assembly (10) for conveying an object to be portioned (54) by a fluid jet (52) is disclosed. The conveyor belt assembly (10) includes a conveyor belt formed from at least a first and a second picket (12) each having a length comprised of a sequence of geometrically shaped links (20) disposed transversely across the conveyor belt. The pickets (12) are disposed in a nested relationship to each other. The pickets (12) include upper edge portions (22) that form a conveying surface (42) for supporting and advancing the object to be portioned (54). The upper edge portions (22) are tapered in the upward direction to reduce dispersion of the fluid jet (52) during impingement of the fluid jet (52) on the conveying surface (42).

Abstract: A conveyor (22) moves workpieces (WP) past a scanning station (40) to ascertain one or more physical parameters of the workpiece (WP) and to a portioning station (24) wherein the workpiece (WP) is portioned into desired smaller portions. Thereafter, the conveyor (22) carries a portioned workpiece (WP) to an unloading station (26) where one or more pickup devices (28) removes specific portioned workpieces (PP) from the conveyor and places the portioned workpieces onto take away conveyors (30) for other locations remote from the first conveyor. A control system, composed in part of a computer (42), keeps track of the locations of the workpieces (WP) on the conveyor (22) and also optionally on the take away conveyor (30) so that portioned pieces (PP) are placed at specific desired locations remote from the conveyor (22) by the pickup devices (28).

Abstract: A conveyor (22) moves workpieces (WP) past a scanning station (40) to ascertain one or more physical parameters of the workpiece (WP) and to a portioning station (24) wherein the workpiece (WP) is portioned into desired smaller portions. Thereafter, the conveyor (22) carries a portioned workpiece (WP) to an unloading station (26) where one or more pickup devices (28) removes specific portioned workpieces (PP) from the conveyor and places the portioned workpieces onto take away conveyors (30) for other locations remote from the first conveyor. A control system, composed in part of a computer (42), keeps track of the locations of the workpieces (WP) on the conveyor (22) and also optionally on the take away conveyor (30) so that portioned pieces (PP) are placed at specific desired locations remote from the conveyor (22) by the pickup devices (28).