The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method and a fishing vessel for tracing items such as fish. The object is specifically to trace smaller items like pelagic fish, such as mackerel and herring or salmon. The tracing apparatus and method uses at least one image means to provide tracing of each item in a batch, where image data is linked to an ID number of the batch.

The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method and a fishing vessel for tracing items such as fish. The object is specifically to trace smaller items like pelagic fish, such as mackerel and herring or salmon. The tracing apparatus and method uses at least one image means to provide tracing of each item in a batch, where image data is linked to an ID number of the batch.

Provided is a method and a system for automatically tracing food items transported by a transporting mechanism such as a conveyor, where data attribute is acquired for the food items at at least one first position. The acquired data attribute is associated to the food items. A second data attribute of the same type(s) as the first data attribute is acquired at a second position and associated to the food items. A correlation is performed between the first data attribute and the second data attribute to determine if the data attributes match to determine if food items match. The correlation is performed within a pre-defined correlation window around an estimated arrival point at said second position.

Provided is a method and a system for automatically tracing food items transported by a transporting mechanism such as a conveyor, where data attribute is acquired for the food items at at least one first position. The acquired data attribute is associated to the food items. A second data attribute of the same type(s) as the first data attribute is acquired at a second position and associated to the food items. A correlation is performed between the first data attribute and the second data attribute to determine if the data attributes match to determine if food items match. The correlation is performed within a pre-defined correlation window around an estimated arrival point at said second position.

A card dispensing system for dispensing cards along a conveying surface which conveys sliced products downstream of a slicer for packaging the sliced products. A hopper contains a stack of cards which are withdrawn from the hopper by a suction force provided via at least one suction cup. The suction cup is moveable vertically to retrieve and remove the card from the hopper. The suction cup is moveable laterally to move the card into a receiving position where a card clamp on a clamp carriage arrives to receive the card. Suction force on the card is released when the card clamp clamps down on the card. The clamp carriage moves the card from the receiving position to the staging position where a nip engages with the card to feed the card through a junction in the conveyor line just as a food product passes over the junction.

A packaging compliance method comprising: associating a packaging label having a unique first digitally readable element with a unique record in a database; the unique record in the database containing information about an item of produce; applying the packaging label directly to the item of produce or packaging containing the item of produce; packing two or more items of produce into a container having a container label; the container label having a container digitally readable element to determine the required items of produce that should be located within the container; reading all of the unique first digitally readable elements located within the container to obtain the information from the unique records associated with the unique first digitally readable elements; reading the container digitally readable element to obtain information on the required items of produce that should be located within the container; comparing the information from the unique records associated with the read unique first digitally readable elements and information of the required items of produce that should be located within the container to determine if the container contains the required items of produce; rejecting the container if the container does not contain the required items of produce to complete packaging compliance.

A method of branding indicia onto an outer surface of at least one food item, including the steps of: positioning at least one food item on a top surface of a conveyor, conveying food item(s) toward a branding station comprising a laser, wherein the branding station comprises an upper member spaced from the top surface of the conveyor, and wherein the upper member comprises an aperture; conveying food item(s) into the space between the upper member and the top surface of the conveyor; and branding indicia onto the outer surface of the food item(s) with the laser through the aperture.

A method of branding indicia onto an outer surface of at least one food item, including the steps of: positioning at least one food item on a top surface of a conveyor, conveying food item(s) toward a branding station comprising a laser, wherein the branding station comprises an upper member spaced from the top surface of the conveyor, and wherein the upper member comprises an aperture; conveying food item(s) into the space between the upper member and the top surface of the conveyor; and branding indicia onto the outer surface of the food item(s) with the laser through the aperture.

A rotary introducer is provided for introducing a trackable element and/or contaminant onto a flow path of a food-transit system without adjusting a flow-rate. The introducer comprises an inlet and an outlet which is communicable with a food-transit conduit; and a pair of rotatable driving/drivable members. In a trackable-element receiving condition, the inlet is open to receive a trackable element in the device cavity, and the outlet is closed by at least one of the driving/drivable member. However, in a discharge condition, the outlet is open such that a trackable-element discharge force is directed radially inwardly through the outlet to discharge the trackable element from the device cavity, thus enabling outlet to close. A food-transit system using the rotary introducer and a method of introducing a trackable element and/or contaminant into food-transit system without adjusting a flow-rate of foodstuffs therethrough are also provided.

The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method and a fishing vessel for tracing items such as fish. The object is specifically to trace smaller items like pelagic fish, such as mackerel and herring or salmon. The tracing apparatus and method uses at least one image means to provide tracing of each item in a batch, where image data is linked to an ID number of the batch.