An example bulk material dispensing apparatus includes: a frame; a hopper supported in the frame, the hopper configured to contain a bulk material for dispensing by the dispensing apparatus and having a hopper outlet; a feeding unit interconnected with the hopper outlet, the feeding unit configured to receive the bulk material from the hopper outlet and comprising: a feeding tube; and an auger disposed in the feeding tube, the auger configured to rotate to drive the bulk material received from the hopper outlet to be dispensed from a dispensing outlet; and a controller interconnected with the auger, the controller configured to: receive a dispensing request specifying a quantity of bulk material to dispense; and control the auger to rotate to dispense the quantity of bulk material.

An example bulk material dispensing apparatus includes: a frame; a hopper supported in the frame, the hopper configured to contain a bulk material for dispensing by the dispensing apparatus and having a hopper outlet; a feeding unit interconnected with the hopper outlet, the feeding unit configured to receive the bulk material from the hopper outlet and comprising: a feeding tube; and an auger disposed in the feeding tube, the auger configured to rotate to drive the bulk material received from the hopper outlet to be dispensed from a dispensing outlet; and a controller interconnected with the auger, the controller configured to: receive a dispensing request specifying a quantity of bulk material to dispense; and control the auger to rotate to dispense the quantity of bulk material.

A portion control system includes an optical scanner, a cutting device, and a controller. The optical scanner generates a three-dimensional coordinate map of a bulk product disposed on a platform. The controller receives a target weight for a target portion to be excised from the bulk product. The controller determines a density of the bulk product and calculates a target volume of the target portion to be excised based on the target weight and the density. The controller determines, based at least on the three-dimensional coordinate map of the bulk product and the target volume, a cut path through the bulk product that is disposed on the platform, and controls the cutting device to cut the bulk product along the cut path to sever the target portion from a remainder of the bulk product.

A portion control system includes an optical scanner, a cutting device, and a controller. The optical scanner generates a three-dimensional coordinate map of a bulk product disposed on a platform. The controller receives a target weight for a target portion to be excised from the bulk product. The controller determines a density of the bulk product and calculates a target volume of the target portion to be excised based on the target weight and the density. The controller determines, based at least on the three-dimensional coordinate map of the bulk product and the target volume, a cut path through the bulk product that is disposed on the platform, and controls the cutting device to cut the bulk product along the cut path to sever the target portion from a remainder of the bulk product.

A coffee bean grinding machine with which a taste of coffee can be enjoyed. A coffee bean grinding machine including: a grinder configured to grind coffee beans; and a control device configured to control the grinder, in which the grinder has a plurality of types of particle sizes that can be set for producing ground coffee beans, and the control device controls the production of the ground coffee beans while changing the set particle size of the grinder according to the plurality of set particle sizes.

A coffee bean grinding machine with which a taste of coffee can be enjoyed. A coffee bean grinding machine including: a grinder configured to grind coffee beans; and a control device configured to control the grinder, in which the grinder has a plurality of types of particle sizes that can be set for producing ground coffee beans, and the control device controls the production of the ground coffee beans while changing the set particle size of the grinder according to the plurality of set particle sizes.