The invention provides methods and systems for molding three-dimensional products from a mass of foodstuff. The systems include a rotatable drum provided with mold holders that accept removable molds that are filled with the mass of foodstuff to form the three-dimensional products. The method includes use of the system to fill removable molds in filling operations to form the three-dimensional products.

A method of creating batches for food items conveyed by a conveyor means, comprises measuring an image profile for a food item, processing the measured image profile for the food item, cutting the food item into a plurality of portions based on the processed measured image profile, and distinguishing the portions within the partial batch from the remaining portions. The number of portions from one or more of subsequent food items needed to complete the partial batch is such that it fulfils the pre-defined batch-criteria taken from the same or similar area of the food items from where the partial batch originates.

The safety system for a machine (1), provided with a blade (12), comprises: means (2) for detecting a dangerous condition for the safety of an operator; and a cutting-off apparatus (2) adapted to cut off the blade (12), following the detection of the dangerous condition.

A slit forming device according to an aspect includes a damper configured to pass through a plurality of stations arranged on a circumference, a slit forming blade disposed on an outer circumference side or an inner circumference side of a slit forming station among the plurality of stations, and a damper rotating part capable of rotating the damper about a vertical line such that a slit forming surface of a work faces the slit forming blade in the slit forming station.

A cutting apparatus for cutting a food object includes at least one cutting blade, an actuator arranged for moving the cutting blade before and during cutting, and an element comprising a receiving section arranged for receiving and abutting the cutting blade, and a supporting section arranged for supporting a food object before and during cutting. During cutting, the supporting section is arranged for being displaced, such as displaced by elastic deformation, by the cutting blade with respect to a position of the supporting section prior to cutting. During moving of the cutting blade, the cutting blade is arranged for displacing the supporting section subsequent to the cutting blade abutting the receiving section. The cutting blade and the element are arranged for being continuously in contact with each other.

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.

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.

A system and a method for separating a fore end of a half pig carcass by making a first cut between ribs three and four up to the shoulder blade followed by a second cut through the rest of the carcass. The first cut is made using a regular knife blade, the second cut is made using a scissor blade.

A vacuum rotary knife is fluidly connectable to a vacuum source conduit. The rotary knife includes an annular blade and a knife head. The knife head supports the blade for rotation about a rotational axis. The knife head presents a vacuum port fluidly connectable to the conduit. The vacuum port is spaced from the blade such that the knife head defines a suction pathway extending between the blade and the vacuum port.

A method is provided of pressing an irregularly shaped, elongated loaf of an elastic material into a strand with a cross-section which is constant along its longitudinal extension. The method includes disposing the loaf in a form tube of the slicing machine, and determining basic data of the loaf before pressing, the basic data comprising at least physical basic data of the loaf before pressing. The method further includes determining a target length change of the loaf between an unpressed state and a pressed state, determining a target cross-sectional change of the loaf between the unpressed state and the pressed state, and pressing the loaf in the form tube in at least one cross direction to the longitudinal extension by a cross press stamp and in a longitudinal pressing direction of the form tube by a longitudinal press stamp, according to the target length change and the target cross-sectional change.