A first conveyor for conveying foodstuff, a second conveyor separated from the first conveyor by a gap of free space, a top camera positioned above the gap and above the first conveyor and the second conveyor, a bottom camera positioned below the gap and below the first conveyor and the second conveyor, wherein the top camera and the bottom camera capture images of the foodstuff in the gap between the first conveyor and the second conveyor for analysis.

A poultry part harvesting, sorting, and packaging apparatus and system utilizes an arrangement of hoppers to batch poultry parts removed by cut-up machines and deposits the batches onto a transportation conveyor. Each batch is contained within a separate zone on the conveyor, and the system tracks the location of batches and open spaces on the conveyor to deliver the batches to user defined locations.

A system and method include a first computer vision system to capture first image data from a product travelling on a first conveyor table in a food processing facility and a second computer vision system to capture second image data from a person working at the first conveyor table to detect a condition associated with the product from the first image data based at least on a variation in texture and/or color in the first image data, detect an actual cycle time associated with the person from the second image data based at least on body positions identified from the second image data, and take action based on the condition and the cycle time.

A handling installation for handling food items, includes a conveying device, and at least one separating device downstream from the conveying device. The separating device has at least one conveying space through which the food items can be conveyed and at least one deflecting device positionable to at least partially protrude into the conveying space to deflect at least one first food item at least partially away from at least one second food item in order to increase the spacing between at least the first food item and the second food item to separate a food cluster. Alternatively, a rotating device for rotating and changing an orientation of the food item may be provided. Methods for handling food items and a food processing installation may include the handling installation.

The invention relates to an apparatus (10), designed and configured to acquire and analyse product-specific data for products (12) of the food processing industry, comprising a conveyor (11), which is gap-free in the transport plane, for transporting separated products (12) in transport direction T from an intake end to a discharge end, an X-ray unit (13) having at least one X-ray source (14) and at least one X-ray camera (15) for acquiring product-specific data, wherein X-ray source (14) and X-ray camera (15) are assigned to the conveyor (11) in such a manner that the products (12) can be guided along between the X-ray source (14) and the X-ray camera (15), as well as a control unit (16) which is connected to the X-ray unit (13) and is designed and configured to receive and analyse the product-specific data, forming a first data set, acquired by said X-ray unit (13), which is characterised in that at least one optical camera (17) is assigned to the same conveyor (11) between its intake end and discharge end, by means of which, in addition to the X-ray unit (13), product-specific data of the products (12) transported on said conveyor (11) can be acquired, wherein the optical camera (17) is connected to a control unit (18) which is designed and configured to receive and analyse the product-specific data, forming a second data set, acquired by the optical camera (17). The invention also relates to a system (29) comprising such an apparatus (10) as well as a method for processing products (12) of the food processing industry.

Systems and methods are described that provide a fast and simple way of processing meat or food products. Information is compiled and analyzed regarding the condition of a carcass, meat product, styling of the meat product and associated tray or package. Information is used in various processes, including determining which further processing steps are required. The information is also stored for future reference and analysis.

A first conveyor for conveying foodstuff, a second conveyor separated from the first conveyor by a gap of free space, a top camera positioned above the gap and above the first conveyor and the second conveyor, a bottom camera positioned below the gap and below the first conveyor and the second conveyor, wherein the top camera and the bottom camera capture images of the foodstuff in the gap between the first conveyor and the second conveyor for analysis.

A meat processing device comprises a meat processing unit and an external X-ray meat analyzer provided with a housing formed with an inlet connectable with an outlet of the processing unit. The housing provides complete shielding of personnel from X-rays except towards the inlet and is movable relative to the processing unit to a first position for analysis at which the unit outlet is collocated with the inlet and at which the processing unit completes the shielding of personnel from X-rays towards the inlet.

A system for measuring physical properties of a workpiece in motion which includes a conveyance assembly for conveying the workpiece, a scanning assembly for scanning the workpiece, and a measurement assembly for measuring at least one physical property of the workpiece while the workpiece is in motion.

Methods and systems using a vision system to process shrimp. The in-line or off-line vision system captures images of samples of shrimps. The processor produces a digital image of the shrimps in the samples. Shrimps exiting a peeler are imaged to determine the number of tail segments in or the percentage of full weight of each. The shrimps are classified by the number of intact segments, and quality, yield, and throughput computed from the classification results. The processor can control operational settings of the peeler based on the classification results. In a larger system including other shrimp-processing equipment besides the peeler, other points along the processing path can be imaged by camera or sensed by other sensors to determine processing quality and to make automatic operational adjustments to the equipment.