A slicing machine for slicing meat strands that have a cross section that varies over a longitudinal extension in large numbers and as quickly as possible into weight precise slices. In one embodiment, two meat strands are received adjacent to each other in a respective form tube and pushed against a respective separately adjustable stop plate independently from each other by a controlled longitudinal press plunger and compressed in the longitudinal direction. In addition, a cross section of the form tubes may be reduced in a first transversal direction jointly and in a second transversal direction independently from each other and thus the respective meat strand is transversally compressed to a constant cross section prior to slicing.

A slicing machine for slicing meat strands that have a cross section that varies over a longitudinal extension in large numbers and as quickly as possible into weight precise slices. In one embodiment, two meat strands are received adjacent to each other in a respective form tube and pushed against a respective separately adjustable stop plate independently from each other by a controlled longitudinal press plunger and compressed in the longitudinal direction. In addition, a cross section of the form tubes may be reduced in a first transversal direction jointly and in a second transversal direction independently from each other and thus the respective meat strand is transversally compressed to a constant cross section prior to slicing.

An apparatus for balancing a wheel includes a tool that is mechanically coupled to an arm. The tool includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a face surface that forms an arc between the leading and trailing edges. The apparatus includes an arm control module that actuates the arm to position the leading edge of the tool a predetermined distance from an edge of a deck to receive a wheel weight. The apparatus includes a cutting apparatus for separating the wheel weight from a supply feed of wheel weight material. The apparatus includes a sensor that detects presence or absence of the wheel weight on the tool.

An apparatus for balancing a wheel includes a tool that is mechanically coupled to an arm. The tool includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a face surface that forms an arc between the leading and trailing edges. The apparatus includes an arm control module that actuates the arm to position the leading edge of the tool a predetermined distance from an edge of a deck to receive a wheel weight. The apparatus includes a cutting apparatus for separating the wheel weight from a supply feed of wheel weight material. The apparatus includes a sensor that detects presence or absence of the wheel weight on the tool.

A system for cutting a three-dimensional portion from a foodstuff includes a conveyor for carrying a foodstuff to be portioned, a scanner located adjacent to the conveyor for scanning the foodstuff, a computer coupled to the scanner for receiving scan information to determine one or more cutting paths for the foodstuff, and a cutter for portioning the foodstuff according to the determined cutting path(s). The computer performs generally four steps: (i) receiving scan information from the scanner; (ii) building a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff based on the received scan information; (iii) fitting at least one desired shape, which is stored in the memory of the computer, onto the built three-dimensional map; and (iv) determining one or more cutting paths for portioning the foodstuff to produce one or more portioned foodstuffs corresponding to the at least one desired shape.

A system for cutting a three-dimensional portion from a foodstuff includes a conveyor for carrying a foodstuff to be portioned, a scanner located adjacent to the conveyor for scanning the foodstuff, a computer coupled to the scanner for receiving scan information to determine one or more cutting paths for the foodstuff, and a cutter for portioning the foodstuff according to the determined cutting path(s). The computer performs generally four steps: (i) receiving scan information from the scanner; (ii) building a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff based on the received scan information; (iii) fitting at least one desired shape, which is stored in the memory of the computer, onto the built three-dimensional map; and (iv) determining one or more cutting paths for portioning the foodstuff to produce one or more portioned foodstuffs corresponding to the at least one desired shape.

A food product slicing apparatus includes a frame and upper and lower drive assemblies. The upper drive assembly includes a belt configured to engage an upper surface of a food product block to be sliced, a plate pivotally mounted to the frame, front and rear wheels supporting the upper belt, the front wheel rotatably mounted to the plate and a drive member engaged with the plate. When the drive member is engaged, the plate and the front roller pivot relative to the frame and to the rear wheel. The lower drive assembly includes a belt configured to engage a bottom surface of the food product block.

A food product slicing apparatus includes a frame and upper and lower drive assemblies. The upper drive assembly includes a belt configured to engage an upper surface of a food product block to be sliced, a plate pivotally mounted to the frame, front and rear wheels supporting the upper belt, the front wheel rotatably mounted to the plate and a drive member engaged with the plate. When the drive member is engaged, the plate and the front roller pivot relative to the frame and to the rear wheel. The lower drive assembly includes a belt configured to engage a bottom surface of the food product block.

The invention relates to a method for the simultaneous multiple track cutting of several food products, in which the products are cut by means of a common cutting apparatus, in particular a high performance slicer, which has at least one cutting blade which rotates about a blade axis in a cutting plane and/or revolves about a central axis in a planetary motion manner and to which the products are supplied in multiple tracks, and in which blank cuts are carried out in at least a passive track and/or in which the supply of the respective product is suspended at least at times, while the respective product is sliced in at least one other active track.

The invention relates to a method for the simultaneous multiple track cutting of several food products, in which the products are cut by means of a common cutting apparatus, in particular a high performance slicer, which has at least one cutting blade which rotates about a blade axis in a cutting plane and/or revolves about a central axis in a planetary motion manner and to which the products are supplied in multiple tracks, and in which blank cuts are carried out in at least a passive track and/or in which the supply of the respective product is suspended at least at times, while the respective product is sliced in at least one other active track.