A folding-diverter assembly is provided to: selectively divert a substrate-product combination advancing from a first direction in a predetermined path based upon the substrate-product combination weighing a predetermined weight; advance the substrate-product combination in a second direction, opposite from the first direction; and fold a flap of the substrate-product combination partially over a top surface of the substrate-product combination. A semi-circular conveyor assembly is configured to advance the substrate-product combination in the second direction at a first portion of the semi-circular conveyor assembly, and along a semi-circular advancing path such that the substrate-product combination is advanced in the first direction at a second portion of the semi-circular conveyor assembly.

The invention relates to a method for applying a consumable treating liquid to an individual meat product, comprising the steps of placing an individual meat product on a carrier; moving the meat product towards a liquid applier; applying a consumable treating liquid to a meat product; forcing excess liquid towards the bottom of the meat product and/or the carrier, and controllably removing the excess liquid from the meat product and/or the carrier by a liquid remover. The invention also provides a device for applying a consumable treating liquid to an individual meat product.

A slaughtered animal meat handling device and a method for transporting meat products from a receiving area to a discharge area device are provided. The device includes at least one supply conveyor, a suction transporter and at least one return conveyor. Meat products that are not engaged by the suction transporter are transported away from the transfer area towards the receiving area by the return conveyor. The meat products are reintroduced onto the supply conveyor away for the transfer area, for again being transported towards the transfer area. The supply conveyor and the return conveyor provide a circulation of meat products. By reintroducing the meat products onto the supply conveyor away from the transfer area, the chance of getting the meat products correctly positioned on the supply conveyor with respect to a suction opening of the suction transporter is increased.

A system and method for removing a bone from a primal or sub primal meat cut that includes a conveyance system having a continuous conveyor extending along a path of conveyance from an upstream point at the loading end to a downstream point at the discharge. The system includes a pair of opposing support surfaces projecting vertically upward from a first position of the continuous conveyor along the path of conveyance whereby each of the opposing support surfaces of the pair inwardly extend one toward the other, from an upper level downward vertically to a lower level. Each opposing support surface of the pair has a downward slope and each opposing surface of the pair converges at a recessed valley at the lower level.

A method for formatting food products on a conveyor device includes a) receiving the food products in a plurality of parallel conveyor tracks, some of which include product gaps; b) outputting the food products into the parallel conveyor tracks in a specific product format; c) detecting the product supply in the conveyor tracks incoming on the input side individually for each of the conveyor tracks; and d) filling the product gaps in the conveyor tracks with food products, so that on the output side all of the parallel conveyor tracks are supplied with the food products. The product gaps are also filled with food products from a product buffer in that at least one of the food products is transferred from the product buffer to the conveyor track only when an odd number of product gaps exist in one of the conveyor tracks.

A method and a system for automatically tracking a food item in a processing facility involves a food item that is received in a check-in position where a check-in image is captured, and a unique identification insignia, UII is generated based on the check-in image. The food item is handled and moved to a check-out position where a check-out image is captured. To facilitate automatic tracking of the food items, a recognition process is carried out to establish if a check-out image can be assigned to the created UII, and a data-record is, in that case, generated with the recognized UII.

The present invention relates to a device for composing a series of satays, being a series of food elements pierced by a skewer, comprising: a food surface for supporting food elements; at least one skewer holder, the skewer holder being provided with at least one skewer holder element suitable for temporarily gripping a skewer, the device comprising the following: a gripping arm with at least one food gripper, configured to pick up food elements from the food surface with the food gripper and to thread them onto a skewer in the skewer holder element.

The conveying apparatus (1) for an industrial slicing machine comprises: a lower conveyor (2) designed to drag restingly a food product in a feed direction (D); and an upper conveyor (4) of floating type arranged above the lower conveyor (2) and comprising a frame (40) that carries a motor-driven conveyor belt (41), adapted to push in the feed direction (D) the product dragged by the lower conveyor (2) and closed in a loop around a plurality of linkage devices (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) mounted on the frame. The belt (41) defines two active branches (42, 43) facing the lower conveyor (2), adapted to contact above and push the product and connected together by a recessed branch (44) that defines a concavity (C) facing the lower conveyor (2).

A food product gathering and dispensing system is disclosed. The food product is generally a flat disc shaped article dispensed onto a consumable strip of food product conveyer material. The food product is fed to single, or series related, spools that wind up the consumable conveyer material and food product into a removable roll or stack. The roll or stack is placed into a dispenser pack, optionally subject to further environmental treatment, and refrigeration. The pack is then installed within a refrigerated dispenser system where the food product and consumable material are collectively unwound and/or separated, as the food product is fed into a processing system, i.e., a cooking device. The consumable conveyer material is collected and separately discarded.

A substrate insertion system is configured for insertion of a substrate under a product being carried on a conveyor. A pre-perforated substrate and a method of inserting the pre-perforated substrates under products carried on a conveyor are also provided. Furthermore, a method is described including the construction and operation of a substrate insertion system.