Method and arrangement for portion cutting of food items, and use of a cutting device in the arrangement

Abstract

An apparatus for portion cutting food items includes a first cutting device which comprises a cutting unit for the cutting of food items into strips. The apparatus includes one or more additional cutting devices, each comprising a cutting unit for cutting the strips into pieces of predetermined weight and dimensions. Measuring means are arranged in the first cutting device for scanning at least one of a shape, a structure and a dimension of the food item. The apparatus further comprises processor means with a control program for the planning of a portion-cutting profile on the basis of the scanning.

Claims

1. A method for portion cutting a food item into pieces having predetermined dimensions, comprising the steps of: using a first measuring device for performing a first measuring step of measuring a shape, structure, and/or dimension of the food item; using a result of said first measuring step for automatically determining a cutting sequence for cutting the food item into pieces having said predetermined dimensions, said cutting sequence including a strip cutting profile for cutting the food item into a plurality of strips, and also including a first piece cutting profile for cutting at least one of said strips into pieces having said predetermined dimensions; automatically cutting the food item into said strips at a first cutting device according to said strip cutting profile, the cutting of the food item into said strips being transversal to a feeding direction through said first cutting device; transporting the at least one of said strips to a second cutting device, wherein a first strip orientation of said strips relative to the feeding direction through said first cutting device is approximately right-angled to a second strip orientation of said strips relative to a feeding direction through said second cutting device; using a second measuring device for performing a second measuring step of measuring a shape, structure, and/or dimension of the at least one of said strips; using a result of said second measuring step for automatically determining a second piece cutting profile for cutting said at least one of said strips into pieces having said predetermined dimensions, wherein said second piece cutting profile is different than said first piece cutting profile; and automatically cutting said at least one of said strips into pieces having said predetermined dimensions at the second cutting device based on said second piece cutting profile, the cutting of said strips into said pieces being transversal to the feeding direction through said second cutting device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said second piece cutting profile is an alteration of said first piece cutting profile.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of automatically determining a portion-cutting profile is performed at the first cutting device, and wherein the step of automatically determining said second piece cutting profile is performed at the second cutting device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said second measuring device is located at said second cutting device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said portion cutting of the food item is into pieces having both predetermined dimensions and predetermined weight, and wherein said predetermined weight is utilized together with said predetermined dimensions by the step of automatically determining the cutting sequence to determine a cutting sequence for cutting the food items into pieces having the predetermined dimensions and predetermined weight.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said predetermined weight is also utilized together with said predetermined dimensions by the step of automatically determining the second piece cutting profile to obtain the pieces having the predetermined dimensions and predetermined weight.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said predetermined dimensions is also utilized together with said predetermined weight by the step of automatically determining the second piece cutting profile to obtain the pieces having the predetermined weight and predetermined dimensions.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said feeding direction through said second cutting device lies at approximately right-angles to said feeding direction through said first cutting device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first cutting device comprises a rotating knife transversal to said feeding direction through the first cutting device, and wherein said second cutting device comprises a rotating knife transversal to said feeding direction through said second cutting device.

10. A method for portion cutting a food item into pieces having predetermined dimensions, comprising the steps of: using a first measuring device for performing a first measuring step of measuring a shape, structure, and/or dimension of the food item; using a result of said first measuring step for automatically determining a cutting sequence for cutting the food item into pieces having said predetermined dimensions, said cutting sequence including a strip cutting profile for first cutting the food item into a plurality of strips, and also including a first piece cutting profile for cutting each one of said strips into pieces having said predetermined dimensions; automatically cutting the food item into said strips at a first cutting device according to said strip cutting profile, the cutting of the food item into said strips being transversal to a feeding direction through said first cutting device; transporting at least one of said strips to one of a plurality of second cutting devices, wherein a first strip orientation of said strips relative to the feeding direction through said first cutting device is approximately right-angled to a second strip orientation of said strips relative to a feeding direction through the one of the second cutting devices; using a further measuring device located at the one of the second cutting devices for performing a second measuring step of measuring a shape, structure, and/or dimension of said at least one of said strips; using a result of said second measuring step for automatically determining a second piece cutting profile for cutting said at least one of said strips into pieces having said predetermined dimensions, wherein said second piece cutting profile is different than said first piece cutting profile; and automatically cutting said at least one of said strips into pieces having said predetermined dimensions using the one of the second cutting devices, the cutting of said strips into said pieces being transversal to the feeding direction through the one of the second cutting devices, and wherein others of said strips are transported to others of said plurality of cutting devices.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said portion cutting of the food item is into pieces having both predetermined dimensions and predetermined weight, and wherein said predetermined weight is utilized together with said predetermined dimensions by the step of automatically determining the cutting sequence to determine a cutting sequence for cutting the food items into pieces having the predetermined dimensions and predetermined weight.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said predetermined weight is also utilized together with said predetermined dimensions by the step of automatically determining the second piece cutting profile to obtain the pieces having the predetermined dimensions and predetermined weight.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said feeding direction through the one of the second cutting devices lies at approximately right-angles to said feeding direction through said first cutting device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said first cutting device comprises a rotating knife transversal to said feeding direction through the first cutting device, and wherein the one of the plurality of second cutting devices comprises a rotating knife transversal to said feeding direction through the one of the second cutting devices.

15. A method for portion cutting a food item into pieces having a predetermined weight, comprising the steps of: using a first measuring device for performing a first measuring step of measuring a shape, structure, and/or dimension of the food item; using a result of said first measuring step for automatically determining a cutting sequence for cutting the food item into pieces having said predetermined weight, said cutting sequence including a strip cutting profile for first cutting the food item into a plurality of strips, and also including a first piece cutting profile for cutting at least one of said strips into pieces having said predetermined weight; automatically cutting the food item into said strips at a first cutting device according to said strip cutting profile, the cutting of the food item into said strips being transversal to a feeding direction through said first cutting device; transporting the at least one of said strips to a second cutting device, wherein a first strip orientation of said strips relative to the feeding direction through said first cutting device is approximately right-angled to a second striporientation of said strips relative to a feeding direction through said second cutting device; using a second measuring device for performing a second measuring step of measuring a shape, structure, and/or dimension of at least one of said strips; using a result of said second measuring step for automatically determining a second piece cutting profile for cutting said at least one of said strips into pieces having said predetermined weight, wherein said second piece cutting profile is different than said first piece cutting profile; and automatically cutting said at least one of said strips into pieces having said predetermined weight at the second cutting device based on said second piece cutting profile, the cutting of said strips into said pieces being transversal to the feeding direction through said second cutting device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said portion cutting of the food item is into pieces having both predetermined weight and predetermined dimensions, and wherein said predetermined dimensions is utilized together with said predetermined weight by the step of automatically determining the cutting sequence to determine a cutting sequence for cutting the food items into pieces having the predetermined weight and predetermined dimensions.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said feeding direction through said second cutting device lies at approximately right-angles to said feeding direction through said first cutting device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said first cutting device comprises a rotating knife transversal to said feeding direction through the first cutting device, and wherein said second cutting device comprises a rotating knife transversal to said feeding direction through said second cutting device.

19. A method for portion cutting a food item into pieces having predetermined dimensions, comprising the steps of: using a first measuring device for performing a first measuring step of measuring a shape, structure, and/or dimension of the food item; using a result of said first measuring step for automatically determining a cutting sequence for cutting said food item into pieces having said predetermined dimensions, said cutting sequence including a strip cutting profile for first cutting said food item into a plurality of strips, and also including a firstpiece cutting profile for cutting each one of said strips into pieces having said predetermined dimensions; automatically cutting said food item into said strips at a first cutting device according to said strip cutting profile, the cutting of the food item into said strips being transversal to a feeding direction through said first cutting device; transporting said strips toward a plurality of second cutting devices, wherein each one of said strips is further transported to a selected one of the plurality of second cutting devices, and wherein a first strip orientation of said strips relative to the feeding direction through said first cutting device is approximately right-angled to a second strip orientation of said strips relative to a feeding direction through said selected one of the plurality of second cutting devices; for each one of the strips, using a further measuring device located at the second cutting device for which the strip was selected for performing a second measuring step of measuring a shape, structure, and/or dimension of each one of the strips; for each one of said strips, using a result of said second measuring step for automatically determining a second piece cutting profile for cutting each one of said strips into pieces having said predetermined dimensions, wherein said second piece cutting profile is different than said first piece cutting profile; and automatically cutting said strips into pieces having said predetermined dimensions using the selected second cutting devices, the cutting of said strips into said pieces being transversal to the feeding direction through said selected second cutting devices.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said portion cutting of the food item is into pieces having both predetermined dimensions and predetermined weight, and wherein said predetermined weight is utilized together with said predetermined dimensions by the step of automatically determining the cutting sequence to determine a cutting sequence for cutting the food items into pieces having the predetermined dimensions and predetermined weight.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said predetermined weight is also utilized together with said predetermined dimensions by the step of automatically determining the second piece cutting profile to obtain the pieces having the predetermined dimensions and predetermined weight.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said feeding direction through the selected one of the plurality of second cutting devices lies at approximately right-angles to said feeding direction through said first cutting device.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said first cutting device comprises a rotating knife transversal to said feeding direction through the first cutting device, and whereinsaid selected one of the plurality of second cutting devices comprises a rotating knife transversal to said feeding direction through said selected on of the plurality of second cutting devices.

Description

(1) In the following, the invention is described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawing, where

(2) FIG. 1 shows an arrangement in one embodiment of the invention.

(3) From Danish utility model no. DK 96 00164 U3, a cutting apparatus is known for portion cutting of food items. Herein there is described a machine for portion cutting of food items which comprises a cutting unit for the cutting of the items, which by a first and second conveyor respectively are fed past the cutting unit. A scanning system for detecting the shape of the items is arranged at the first conveyor. The shape of the items is registered in computer means which, on the basis of the shape of the items and control of the transport speed of the first conveyor, can control the machine for the portion cutting of the items with a predetermined weight, length or size.

(4) As will appear from FIG. 1, in one embodiment of the invention an arrangement 1 for portion cutting of food items 2 into quadratic portions 4, especially meat products, comprises four cutting devices 10, 20, 30, 40, where a first cutting device 10 cuts the food items 2 into strips 3 and has three further cutting devices 20, 30, 40 placed downstream of said first cutting device for the cutting of the strips 3 into quadratic meat pieces 4, which can be sent further (not shown) for additional pre-processing, such as further cutting, packing and/or storage. These cutting devices can be of the type described in DK 96 00164 U3, but can naturally also be of another type, possibly with other forms of cutting units or scanning means, and the computer means can be individual for each individual cutting device or can be common to them all, possibly in communication with one another.

(5) The expression strips 3 is to be understood to comprise a cut-up food item which, independent of the thickness of the item, is a strip of varying width.

(6) As shown in FIG. 1, the first cutting device 10 has a first feeding direction indicated by an arrow 10R, and the three further cutting devices 20, 30, 40 have other feeding directions indicated respectively by the arrows 20R, 30R and 40R, where the other feeding directions lie parallel with one another and at right-angles to the feeding direction 10R, i.e. that they lie with feeding directions which are different from the first feeding direction 10R. It is obvious that if one can envisage that the other feeding directions 20R, 30R and 40R lie turned 180 degrees in relation to the first feeding direction 10R, they will also lie with feeding directions which differ from the first feeding directions 10R.

(7) The transfer of strips 3 between the first cutting device 10 and one or more of the subsequent cutting devices 20, 30, 40, which extend in a substantially parallel manner, can for example with said special portion cutting expediently be carried out manually in accordance with a planned portion-cutting profile on the basis of the measurement from the scanning means and/or be carried out by eye. Alternatively, transfer means such as conveyors with deflector means can be placed where the transfer and therewith the placing of the strip in the one or more of the further cutting devices is possibly controlled by the portion-cutting arrangement's computer means.

(8) The placing of the food item 2 at the feed-in to the first cutting device 10 is of importance for the scanning and the planning of the portion-cutting profile, which is carried out by the processing means on the basis of predetermined requirements and dimensions and/or weight of the meat pieces 4 submitted to the computer. A manual placing based on the shape of the item can further increase the accuracy of the arrangement and reduce the percentage of wastage, for the reason that the output item can as mentioned be uniform in shape, thickness and width. A placing of the items based on scanning and transfer of each of the items/strips 2,3 is naturally also an obvious possibility.

(9) The four cutting devices 10, 20, 30, 40 are placed in relation to one another in such a manner that the first cutting device 10 can receive the food items 2 to be cut, for the scanning and cutting of these into strips, which individually or several together are transferred to each of the three further cutting devices 20, 30, 40.

(10) With the invention it is realised that two or more of the further cutting devices can be cutting devices 30 with two or more tracks, as shown in the figure.

(11) The said special portion-cut items have dimensions with a length of less than twice the width and height, approx. 2525 mm and a weight of around 18-32 g, but others can naturally be defined by the arrangement according to the invention.

(12) In an arrangement according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, with a set-up which resembles that shown in FIG. 1, but without the cutting device 40, 130 items per minute can be cut on the cutting device 10, and thereafter the strips shall be distributed in three lines with 1-track cutting device 20 and a 2-track cutting device 30. When the 130 original items have such a size that they can each be cut into three strips 4, they become 390 strips in all. If the strips are distributed on the three tracks in a uniform manner, they become 130 strips per track per minute. When these strips can each be cut into three quadratic pieces, they become 1170 diced items per minute for three lines. If these diced items each weigh 22 g, the collective result is 25.74 kg per minute, which corresponds to 1544 kg per hour. On this basis it is calculated collectively that said arrangement can save 8 operators.