A method and system are provided for automatically portioning workpieces, such as food products, by simulating portioning the workpieces in accordance with the one or more desired shapes of the final piece(s) as a directly controlled physical characteristic (parameter/specification) as well as one or more resulting indirectly controlled physical characteristics (parameters/specifications). The desired shape(s) of the final piece(s) are defined by a plurality of manipulatable reference coordinates. A workpiece is scanned to obtain scanning information, then portioning of the workpiece is simulated in accordance with the desired shape(s) of the final piece(s) defined by the directly controlled reference coordinates, thereby to determine the one or more indirectly controlled physical characteristics of the one or more final pieces to be portioned from the workpiece. The simulated portioning of the workpiece is performed for multiple combinations of directly controlled shapes as defined by the modified or edited reference coordinates and indirectly controlled physical characteristics until an acceptable set of a directly controlled shape and resulting one or more indirectly controlled physical characteristics is determined.

A method and system are provided for automatically portioning workpieces, such as food products, by simulating portioning the workpieces in accordance with the one or more desired shapes of the final piece(s) as a directly controlled physical characteristic (parameter/specification) as well as one or more resulting indirectly controlled physical characteristics (parameters/specifications). The desired shape(s) of the final piece(s) are defined by a plurality of manipulatable reference coordinates. A workpiece is scanned to obtain scanning information, then portioning of the workpiece is simulated in accordance with the desired shape(s) of the final piece(s) defined by the directly controlled reference coordinates, thereby to determine the one or more indirectly controlled physical characteristics of the one or more final pieces to be portioned from the workpiece. The simulated portioning of the workpiece is performed for multiple combinations of directly controlled shapes as defined by the modified or edited reference coordinates and indirectly controlled physical characteristics until an acceptable set of a directly controlled shape and resulting one or more indirectly controlled physical characteristics is determined.

A conveyor belt support system for a conveyor having a belt movable along a frame includes a plurality of support slats each extending substantially along a longitudinal axis of the belt. The plurality of support slats is adjustable in position relative to the belt. A processing machine for scanning and portioning a workpiece includes a scanning station configured to scan a workpiece to ascertain at least one physical parameter of the workpiece, a portioning station configured to portion the scanned workpiece, a conveyor for moving the workpiece beneath the scanning station and the portioning station that includes a belt with an open form moveable along a frame, and the conveyor belt support system located beneath at least the scanning station.

To slice meat loafs (100) with cross sections that vary across their longitudinal extension into accurately weighted slices (101), it is known to bring the loaf (100) into a defined shape with a uniform cross section across its length inside a forming tube (2) by means of pressing before it is sliced.

According to the invention, the pressing is performed in the longitudinal direction (L, 10) and the transversal direction (Q, 11) in a predefined order and in particular in multiple pressing steps (+Q, +L), which also comprise relieving strokes (Q, L) for the purpose of reducing the force exertion for pressing, on the one hand, and, on the other, for keeping the tissue structure of the loaf (100) intact.

The present invention relates to a device for weighing dough, comprising an endless conveyor, for conveying a plurality of endless or continuous dough pieces extending essentially in parallel lanes on said conveyor in a direction of conveyance, a weighing-unit, arranged under the endless conveyor, characterised in that the weighing unit comprises multiple weighing rows, spread over the width of the conveyor, each row comprising at least one rectangular weighing section, for independently of the other weighing sections weighing a different dough piece of said plurality of endless or continuous dough pieces. The invention further relates to a method for operating such device.

The present invention relates to a device for weighing dough, comprising an endless conveyor, for conveying a plurality of endless or continuous dough pieces extending essentially in parallel lanes on said conveyor in a direction of conveyance, a weighing-unit, arranged under the endless conveyor, characterised in that the weighing unit comprises multiple weighing rows, spread over the width of the conveyor, each row comprising at least one rectangular weighing section, for independently of the other weighing sections weighing a different dough piece of said plurality of endless or continuous dough pieces. The invention further relates to a method for operating such device.

The invention relates to a food-processing device for cutting food products (2) into slices (6), the slices (6) preferably together forming a portion, in particular for cutting pieces of meat or pieces of cheese. The food-processing device according to the invention comprises a cutting device (1) for cutting the slices (6) from the food products (2), and a conveyor (AS, 12-18) for receiving the cut slices (6) after a cutting operation, wherein the conveyor (AS, 12-18) is preferably arranged in the line of fall of the slices (6), so that the cut slices (6) fall from the cutting device (1) onto the conveyor (AS, 12-18). The invention provides that the conveyor (AS, 12-18) is a discontinuous conveyor, which conveys the deposited slices (6) discontinuously, in contrast to a conveyor belt. Furthermore, the invention comprises a corresponding operating method.

In order to avoid a decrease of cycle frequency of a packaging machine within a packaging line caused by a previous interruption of a slicer's on-slice operation, e.g. during its loading, special residual buffers for additional buffering of portions compared to normal operation may be released by a controller shortly before the interruption. For example, non-buffer positions for portions on buffer bands may be released, or portion positions on non-buffer bands may be released.

The present disclosure relates to a method and device for processing food. The device comprises at least two food slicing devices adapted to each produce partial portions, and a combination device disposed downstream of each food slicing device to combine the partial portions to a multi-type portion. A sensor assembly may be provided to determine at least one property of the partial portions, wherein a control device is provided to control the operation of the food slicing devices based on the properties of the respective partial portions to adjust the weight of the partial portions. A control device is alternatively provided to synchronize the timing of the slicing operation of the food slicing devices. A buffering device is alternatively provided between at least one food slicing device and the combination device to retain and release partial portions based on a control signal from a control device.

The present disclosure relates to a method and device for processing food. The device comprises at least two food slicing devices adapted to each produce partial portions, and a combination device disposed downstream of each food slicing device to combine the partial portions to a multi-type portion. A sensor assembly may be provided to determine at least one property of the partial portions, wherein a control device is provided to control the operation of the food slicing devices based on the properties of the respective partial portions to adjust the weight of the partial portions. A control device is alternatively provided to synchronize the timing of the slicing operation of the food slicing devices. A buffering device is alternatively provided between at least one food slicing device and the combination device to retain and release partial portions based on a control signal from a control device.