A cutting device includes a cutter, a drive mechanism, a counting module, a determination module, and a detection module. The cutter has a movable piece that is configured to cut a medium. The drive mechanism is configured to change a position or posture of the movable piece. The counting module is configured to count a number of times the position or posture of the movable piece changes. The determination module is configured to variably determine a reference speed according to the number of times. The detection module is configured to detect an operation error of the cutter according to a comparison result between a speed at which the position or posture of the movable piece is changed and the reference speed.

A sheet processing apparatus includes a puncher, a first sensor positioned upstream of the puncher in the conveyance direction, a second sensor positioned upstream of the first detection position in the conveyance direction, a drive source configured to drive the puncher, a controller configured to control the drive source. The controller executes a control mode including a first process of controlling a rotation speed of the puncher on a basis of a detection result of the second sensor and a second process of controlling the rotation speed of the puncher on a basis of a detection result of the first sensor. In the control mode, the controller does not stop rotation of the puncher in a period between the punching process on the preceding sheet and a punching process on the succeeding sheet.

A method of removing a foreign object from a food piece detects the location of a foreign object in a food piece (10); conveys the food piece to a cutting tool (42); and operates the cutting tool to cut around the detected location of the foreign object and subsequently to engage and eject the foreign object from the food piece.

A method of removing a foreign object from a food piece detects the location of a foreign object in a food piece (10); conveys the food piece to a cutting tool (42); and operates the cutting tool to cut around the detected location of the foreign object and subsequently to engage and eject the foreign object from the food piece.

The disclosure relates to a filling machine (1) for filling a package (2) of a web of packaging material with a food product. The filling machine (1) comprises a jaw system (3) adapted to seal the package (2) after being filled with the food product. The jaw system (3) is equipped with means (4) for providing a unique mark (5) on the package (2). The filling machine (1) further comprises a sensor (7) arranged downstream of the jaw system (3) which is adapted to detect the mark (5) on the package (2), and a cutting knife (8) adapted to cut the package (2) from the web of packaging material. The cutting knife (8) is movably arranged in the filling machine (1), such that the cutting knife (8) can be adjusted in relation to the package (2) based on the detected mark (5) before cutting the package (2) from the web of packaging material. The disclosure also relates to a method for filling a package (2) of a web of packaging material with a food product.

The disclosure relates to a filling machine (1) for filling a package (2) of a web of packaging material with a food product. The filling machine (1) comprises a jaw system (3) adapted to seal the package (2) after being filled with the food product. The jaw system (3) is equipped with means (4) for providing a unique mark (5) on the package (2). The filling machine (1) further comprises a sensor (7) arranged downstream of the jaw system (3) which is adapted to detect the mark (5) on the package (2), and a cutting knife (8) adapted to cut the package (2) from the web of packaging material. The cutting knife (8) is movably arranged in the filling machine (1), such that the cutting knife (8) can be adjusted in relation to the package (2) based on the detected mark (5) before cutting the package (2) from the web of packaging material. The disclosure also relates to a method for filling a package (2) of a web of packaging material with a food product.

A separator (10) for separating waste (820) from product (810; 2302) in a pre-cut substrate (2600) having one or more cut lines. An inlet feeder feeds the substrate (2600) into the separator (10) along a material path. A separation edge (2500) is disposed in a location downstream of the inlet feeder and defines a line below the plane of the material path. A plurality of punch tools (30; 1800; 1900; 2000) above the plane of the material path, upstream of the separation edge (2500), each has an actuator configured to position the tool in an extended configuration with a contact end of the punch tool (30; 1800; 1900; 2000) disposed below the separation edge (2500), and a retracted configuration with the contact end disposed above the plane of the material path. A controller commands each actuator to position the corresponding punch tool (30; 1800; 1900; 2000) contact end synchronized with the position of the pre-cut substrate (2600) to cause the separation edge (2500) to separate the waste (820) from the product (810; 2302) along the cut lines.

A separator (10) for separating waste (820) from product (810; 2302) in a pre-cut substrate (2600) having one or more cut lines. An inlet feeder feeds the substrate (2600) into the separator (10) along a material path. A separation edge (2500) is disposed in a location downstream of the inlet feeder and defines a line below the plane of the material path. A plurality of punch tools (30; 1800; 1900; 2000) above the plane of the material path, upstream of the separation edge (2500), each has an actuator configured to position the tool in an extended configuration with a contact end of the punch tool (30; 1800; 1900; 2000) disposed below the separation edge (2500), and a retracted configuration with the contact end disposed above the plane of the material path. A controller commands each actuator to position the corresponding punch tool (30; 1800; 1900; 2000) contact end synchronized with the position of the pre-cut substrate (2600) to cause the separation edge (2500) to separate the waste (820) from the product (810; 2302) along the cut lines.

A system 10 for analyzing and trimming pork bellies and other three-dimensional food and non-food products which are to be subsequently portioned or sliced so as to achieve an optimum harvest of slices from the food product bearing in mind achieving a maximum yield together with a desired quality level of the portions/slices. The system 10 includes a conveyor 12 for carrying the workpieces (WP) to be trimmed prior to subsequent slicing of the workpiece past a scanning system 14 for scanning the workpiece WP to ascertain the physical characteristics of the workpiece, including, for example, its three-dimensional shape as well as its position on the conveyor.

A cutting station 16 trims the workpiece WP into a desired two-dimensional shape which represents an optimum shape for the workpiece that seeks to maximize the harvest of slices from the workpiece while maintaining a desired quality level for the slices. A slicing station uses high speed cutters or slicers for portioning/slicing the workpiece into portions/slices which have been simulated by a processing system 18 employing a processor or computer 20.

A method of processing poultry portions determines at a control unit a target weight of a cut poultry portion; inspects a poultry portion using an inspection unit to determine a mass distribution of said poultry portion and providing said mass distribution to the control unit; calculates a cutting plan of the poultry portion based on the target weight and the mass distribution using the control unit; uses a mechanical gripper so as to grip the poultry portion and arrange said poultry portion for execution of the cutting plan; and cuts the poultry portion using a cutting unit in accordance with the cutting plan so as to produce a cut poultry portion in accordance with the target weight. A system for processing poultry portions is configured to perform the foregoing method, among others.