A METHOD OF CREATING BATCHES FOR FOOD ITEMS CONVEYED BY A CONVEYOR MEANS

Abstract

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.

Claims

1-13. (canceled)

14. A method of creating batches for food items conveyed by a conveyor means, comprising: measuring an image profile for a food item, processing the measured image profile for the food item, where the processing includes: dividing the image profile of the food item into at least one batch fulfilling a pre-defined batch-criteria, where each of the at least one batch includes two or more portions each of which fulfil a pre-defined portion-criteria, determining whether there is a partial batch that does not fulfill the pre-defined batch-criteria, where in case a partial batch is present, determining and registering the number of portions within the partial batch that fulfil the pre-defined portion-criteria, selecting an area within the food item where the partial batch originates from, cutting the food item into a plurality of portions based on the processed measured image profile, distinguishing the portions within the partial batch from the remaining portions, wherein the number of portions from one or more of subsequent food items needed to complete the partial batch such that it fulfils the pre-defined batch-criteria is taken from the same or similar area of the food items as where the partial batch originates from.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of selecting an area within the food item where the partial batch originates from comprises selecting said area within a predetermined area of the food item.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of selecting an area within the food item where the partial batch originates from comprises dynamically selecting an area, based on the image profile of said food item.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the number of portions from one or more subsequent food items needed to complete the partial batch is from food items having a partial batch that does not fulfill the pre-defined batch-criteria.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein the pre-defined batch-criteria includes a batch-weight target and/or a number of portions.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the pre-defined portion-criteria includes at least one of: a portion-weight, a thickness of the portions and a color of the portions.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of distinguishing the portions within the partial batch from the remaining portions comprises creating a spacing between the partial batch from the remaining batches so as to visually distinguishing the partial batch from the remaining batches.

21. The method according to claim 14, further comprising creating a spacing between the batches that fulfil the pre-defined batch-criteria.

22. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of distinguishing the portions within the partial batch from the remaining portions comprises separating the portions within the partial batch from the remaining portions.

23. A computer program product comprising computer readable instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to claim 14 when the computer program of said computer program product is executed on a suitable computer device.

24. An apparatus for creating batches for food items conveyed by a conveyor means, comprising: measuring means for measuring an image profile for a food item, a processor for processing the measured image profile for the food item, where the processing includes: dividing the image profile of the food item into at least one batch fulfilling a pre-defined batch-criteria, where each of the at least one batch includes two or more portions each of which fulfil a pre-defined portion-criteria, determining whether there is a partial batch that does not fulfill the pre-defined batch-criteria, where in case a partial batch is present, determining and registering the number of portions within the partial batch that fulfil the pre-defined portion-criteria, selecting an area within the food item where the partial batch originates from, a cutting device for cutting the food item into a plurality of portions based on the processed measured image profile, means for distinguishing the portions within the partial batch from the remaining portions, wherein the number of portions from one or more of subsequent food items needed to complete the partial batch such that it fulfils the pre-defined batch-criteria is taken from the same or similar area of the food items as where the partial batch originates from.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the means for distinguishing the portions within the partial batch from the remaining portions comprises a separator device adapted to separate the portions within the partial batch from the remaining portions.

26. The apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the step of distinguishing the portions within the partial batch from the remaining portions comprises spacing means adapted to create a space between the partial batch from the remaining batches so as to visually distinguishing the partial batch from the remaining batches. “means-plus-function” statement, it is not intended to narrow the claim so amended for purposes of patentability, but rather to place the claim in a form considered to be intended by the applicant from a foreign country where claim limitations described in terms of “means-plus-function” do not have the same effect as under U.S. practice. Thus, such amendments are intended to establish a full range of equivalents to the claim elements so amended under the U.S. doctrine of equivalents and beyond the range associated with “means-plus-function” expressions according to 35 U.S.C. 112(f), just as if the claim so amended was presented originally in its amended form. All rights are reserved to the original disclosed and claimed subject matter and any cancellation of claims is made without prejudice or disclaimer.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of a method according to the present invention of creating batches for food items conveyed by a conveyor means, and

[0056] FIG. 2 depicts graphically an example of implementing the method according to the present invention and as discussed in relation to FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a flow diagram of a method according to the present invention of creating batches for food items conveyed by a conveyor means.

[0058] In step S1 (101), an image profile is measured for a food item. The food item may be of any type, such as, but not limited to, any type of loin, fish fillet etc.

[0059] In step S2 (102), the measured image profile of the food item is processed, where the processing includes dividing the image profile of the food item into at least one batch fulfilling a pre-defined batch-criteria.

[0060] The pre-defined batch-criteria may include a batch-weight target and/or include a number of portions, e.g. four numbers of portions within a given batch.

[0061] Further, each of the at least one batch includes two or more portions which fulfil a pre-defined portion-criteria. The pre-defined portion-criteria may include a fixed weight, e.g. 100 g meat slice, and/or a colour of the portions and/or the thickness of the portions.

[0062] The processing further includes determining whether there is a partial batch present that does not fulfill the pre-defined batch-criteria, where in case a partial batch is present, determining and registering the number of portions within the partial batch that fulfil the pre-defined portion-criteria and selecting an area within the food item where the partial batch originates from. Accordingly, the partial batch is not randomly selected, e.g. at the end of the food item, but a certain area may be assigned for the partial batch.

[0063] In step S3 (103), the food item is cut into a plurality of portions based on the processed measured image profile.

[0064] In step S4 (104), the portions within the partial batch are distinguished from the remaining portions, wherein the number of portions from one or more of subsequent food items needed to complete the partial batch such that it fulfils the pre-defined batch-criteria is taken from the same or similar area of the food items as where the partial batch originates from.

[0065] In one embodiment, the number of portions from one or more subsequent food items needed to complete the partial batch is from food items having a partial batch that does not fulfill the pre-defined batch-criteria. This means that if e.g. the next subsequent food item may be divided into x number of batches that all fulfill the pre-defined batch criteria, e.g. four slices each weighing 100 g so that the batch is 400 g, then there will not be any partial batch and therefore this subsequent food item will not contribute in completing the partial batch. This may also apply to the second next food item etc. where no partial batch is present.

[0066] In another embodiment, the partial batch is completed from the one or more subsequent items, irrespective of whether the one or more next subsequent food items have a partial batch present that that does not fulfill the pre-defined batch-criteria or not. Referring to the example above, the next subsequent item where no partial batch that does not fulfill the pre-defined batch-criteria is present, one or more portions will still be cut from the food item within the same area to be added to the partial batch. This will then leave a partial batch that will be completed with one or more of the subsequent food items.

[0067] In one embodiment, the step of distinguishing the portions within the partial batch from the remaining portions comprises creating a spacing between the partial batch from the remaining batches for visually distinguishing the partial batch from the remaining batches. This may be done in various ways, e.g. by means of using spacing conveyors placed adjacent to each other where the speed of a conveyor placed downstream to the other conveyor is temporarily increased, and then decreased down to the same speed as the upstream conveyor. Also, this may facilitate separating the partial batch that does not fulfill the pre-defined batch-criteria from the remaining batches within the same food item.

[0068] In one embodiment, the spacing may also be created between the batches that fulfil the pre-defined batch-criteria, where this spacing may be different from the spacing for the batch that does not fulfill the pre-defined batch-criteria. As an example, referring to the example above, the spacing between the four portions within each batch may be 1 cm whereas the spacing between the batches that fulfill the pre-defined batch-criteria and the batch that does not fulfill the pre-defined batch-criteria may be 2 cm. This distance measure should of course not be construed to this 1 cm and 2 cm, but any distance measure may be utilized.

[0069] FIG. 2 depicts graphically an example of implementing the method according to the present invention and as discussed in relation to FIG. 1, where the food items are fish fillets, e.g. salmon fish fillets.

[0070] Shown are two fish fillets 200, 220 that are being conveyed in a conveying direction as indicated by arrow 230. The image profile of the fish fillet 200 shown here indicates that there are three batches 201-203 that fulfil a pre-defined batch criterion. The batch criterion may e.g. be that the number of portions within the batch is four 204-207, and where the pre-defined portions criteria may be that they are of the same or similar thicknesses (as discussed previously, the portion criteria may just as well be the weight of the portions, colour etc.).

[0071] In fish fillet 200, it is not possible to form four batches of four portions, because the partial batch in the middle area 204 of the fish fillet constitutes of only two portions 208, 209, i.e. two portions are needed to complete this batch. These portions however do fulfil the pre-defined portion criteria, e.g. have the correct thickness (or weight, colour etc.).

[0072] In this case, the middle area is assigned as the area where the partial batches originate from, but this area could just as well be the tail part of the fish fillets or the neck part/side.

[0073] The subsequent fish fillet 220 positioned at the upstream side also has three batches 210, 212 and 213 that fulfil the above mentioned pre-defined batch criteria, whereas within the same area 211 in between these three batches and within the same area as in fish fillet 200, there is a partial batch with two portions that cannot make up a full complete batch since two portions are missing. Accordingly, the two portions in fish fillet 220 can be utilized to complete the partial batch 204.

[0074] These fish fillets 200, 220 are cut into these portions as indicated here, where any type of computer controlled cutter may be used that instructs the cutting means to cut according to this pattern.

[0075] Subsequently the partial batch 204 may be separated from the fish fillet 200, and partial batch 211 may be separated from fish fillet 220. A combiner, e.g. a robotic arm, conveyor system or an operator, subsequently combine the partial batch 211 with the partial batch 204 and thus complete the batch of four portions.

[0076] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.