A method of creating batches for food items conveyed by a conveyor means, comprises measuring an image profile for a food item, processing the measured image profile for the food item, cutting the food item into a plurality of portions based on the processed measured image profile, and distinguishing the portions within the partial batch from the remaining portions. The number of portions from one or more of subsequent food items needed to complete the partial batch is such that it fulfils the pre-defined batch-criteria taken from the same or similar area of the food items from where the partial batch originates.

In one respect, the invention is a coring machine for removing portions of food item blanks, the coring machine including a plate assembly for holding the food item blanks and a pair of coring assemblies, each having a plurality of coring bits that are aligned with passages in the plate assembly.

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.

In an embodiment, an apparatus for processing meat product and a method of using same is provided. A first station includes a scanner which scans features of a meat product. A second station side straps the meat product in accordance with information received from the scan of the features. The second station includes a support, and spaced-apart knifes disposed on opposite sides of the support. Each knife has an axis of rotation that is normal to the longitudinal axis of the support. A position of each knife relative to the support in a direction normal to the longitudinal axis can be varied. A controller is programmed to control movement of each knife in accordance with the information received from the scanner.

In order to be able to slice product pieces, whose cross-section varies along their length, into weight-accurate slices, after pressing to a uniform product caliber it is possible to measure these realistically in terms of cross-sectional area and length and not in a pumped up state of the machine. On the one hand, this is promoted by the fact that even before pressing, a cross-press stamp is set to a forming tube cross-section oriented to the unpressed product piece. On the other hand, this is promoted by the fact that after pressing, by lowering pressing force to a substantially lower holding force, it is possible to deform back the deformed, pumped up machine parts before measuring the product caliber.

The present invention relates to a magazine turret attachment for a portioning machine for dividing a strand-like product into individual portions and a portioning machine having such a magazine turret attachment. The magazine turret attachment includes a turret base rotatable about a rotation axis which has at least one chute extending through the turret base and the chute axis of which extends at least approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the turret base; and at least one first chute module which may be reversibly arranged on the turret base in the area of the first chute and which is provided with only one chute extending through said first chute module and the chute axis of which extends coaxially to the chute axis of the first chute of the turret base and the cross-section of which corresponds at least approximately to the cross-section of the at least one chute of the turret base in order to form a first reception chute for a strand-like product.

In order to avoid underweight of slices when slicing a loaf into slices, thickness adjustments specified for slicing are adjusted depending on different pre-known parameters, from loaf to loaf and/or from slice to slice within one and the same loaf, preferably also across the boundary between two loaves optimized as early as possible so that existing weight conditions with regard to actual weight of the slices are maintained, in particular no more underweight slices are produced and/or the minimum average weight of the slices required for the entire batch is maintained.

In order to be able to slice product pieces, whose cross-section varies along their length, into weight-accurate slices, after pressing to a uniform product caliber it is possible to measure these realistically in terms of cross-sectional area and length and not in a pumped up state of the machine. On the one hand, this is promoted by the fact that even before pressing, a cross-press stamp is set to a forming tube cross-section oriented to the unpressed product piece. On the other hand, this is promoted by the fact that after pressing, by lowering pressing force to a substantially lower holding force, it is possible to deform back the deformed, pumped up machine parts before measuring the product caliber.

An animal ribcage primal cut having a bone array located therein is portioned into one or more sub primal cuts, each having at least one bone located therein. The primal cut is scanned at scanning station 14 while being conveyed on a conveyor 12 to determine the physical characteristics of the primal cut. A processor 18 determines how to portion the primal cut into desired sub primal cuts in accordance with desired physical characteristics of the sub primal cut and production requirements for the sub primal cuts. A controller controls a cutter to divide the primal cut into one or more sub primal cuts according to the determination previously made on how to portion the primal cut into desired sub primal cuts.

A method is provided of pressing an irregularly shaped, elongated loaf of an elastic material into a strand with a cross-section which is constant along its longitudinal extension. The method includes disposing the loaf in a form tube of the slicing machine, and determining basic data of the loaf before pressing, the basic data comprising at least physical basic data of the loaf before pressing. The method further includes determining a target length change of the loaf between an unpressed state and a pressed state, determining a target cross-sectional change of the loaf between the unpressed state and the pressed state, and pressing the loaf in the form tube in at least one cross direction to the longitudinal extension by a cross press stamp and in a longitudinal pressing direction of the form tube by a longitudinal press stamp, according to the target length change and the target cross-sectional change.