摘要:
The invention provides a slicing and conveying system (10) that includes a slicing blade (33) that cuts slices from a loaf (32), and an output conveyor (31) located below the slicing blade (33) for receiving the slices in a draft. A control system (62) automatically adjusts a lateral movement of the output conveyor (31) to form a laterally shingled draft of a consistent width in response to a sensed lateral dimension of the loaf (32) being sliced. The control system includes a displacement sensor (70) carried by a laterally adjustable guide assembly adjacent to the slicing blade (33). The displacement sensor (70) is signal-connected to a control (62). The control is signal-connected to the output conveyor (31) to control the lateral movement of the output conveyor according to the lateral dimension of the loaf (32) sensed by the displacement sensor (70). As an additional aspect, the slices can be shingled in the longitudinal direction to form a two dimensional footprint. A length sensor (162) can sense the length of the shingled draft and send a feedback signal to the control (62) to make adjustments to the longitudinal movement of the output conveyor (31) to adjust the degree of longitudinal shingling.
摘要:
A method of classifying slices or a portion cut from a food product according to an optical image of the slice. After a slice (17) is removed from a food product loaf the slice is passed into an image field of a digital image receiving device (34). A control (12) generates a pixel-by-pixel image data of the slice using input from the digital image receiving device. The control calculates a surface area of the slice from the data, and a fat content of the slice on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The fat content data is compared to at least one predetermined limit and the slice is classified accordingly.
摘要:
An improved orifice plate assembly for a loaf slicing machine, the orifice plate assembly (Fig. 3) located adjacent to a moving slicing blade includes a frame (1012) defining an opening (1013) and a first orifice-defining member (1022) and a second orifice-defining member (1023) slidably mounted together on the frame. An adjustment mechanism is operatively connected to the frame and to each of the first and second orifice-defining member, the adjustment mechanism changes the orifice dimension without substantially changing a centerline location of the orifice. The mechanism includes a stud (1024) fixed to the first orifice-defining member, and two links (1060, 1062) pivotally mounted to the frame and engaged to two rods fixed to the second orifice-defining member. Movement of the stud inwardly pivots the links to draw the second orifice-defining member toward the first orifice-defining member.
摘要:
A patty forming machine (300) includes a frame structure (302) supporting a compartment (318) which encloses a mechanical reciprocating device (270), the compartment (318) having a front wall (342). A mold plate (47) located outside of the front wall (342) includes cavities (46) for receiving food product for the formation of patties. At least one drive rod (350, 352) having a circular cross-section penetrates the front wall (342) and connects the mold plate (47) to the reciprocating device (270). The machine (300) also includes a vacuum bar assembly having a vacuum bar (106) for interleaving flexible paper sheets with formed patties. The vacuum bar (106) is driven by a reciprocating rod (450) having a round cross-section and penetrating through the front wall (342) of the housing (314) to operatively connect the vacuum bar (106) to the reciprocating device (270). Reciprocating knock-out rods (400) are guided both above and below the knock-out bar arms (64, 79), and tied together by a rod (474), for vertical reciprocating movement. Substantially sealed oil reservoirs (500) supply oil via wicks (102, 103) to the reciprocating mechanisms (72) which drive the knock-out arms (64, 79).
摘要:
A feed conveyor (14) is operable in a first direction to deposit a stream of articles (16) across a width of a downstream conveyor (18) operating along a second direction, the second direction being at an angle to the first direction. The feed conveyor (14) is an extendable conveyor (30) that is accurately controlled for circulating speed, extension speed and retraction speed, to deposit articles (16) transversely onto the downstream conveyor (18) in a lightly spaced, grid pattern. The extension and retraction speed are controlled by a first servomotor (62) and the conveying speed of the feed conveyor is controlled by a second servomotor (70).
摘要:
In accordance with one embodiment of the system, the system includes at least one product input scale (12), a slicing mechanism (14) for slicing the product after the product has been weighed on the at least one product input scale, and at least one product output scale (16) capable of weighing the product after slicing by the slicing mechanism (14) to determine a post-processing weight. A yield monitor (30) is connected to electronically receive weight information corresponding to the weight of product weighed by the at least one product input scale (12) and the at least one product output scale (16). The yield monitor (30) uses the received weight information to provide system yield data to a user via a screen (40), print-out, electronic data, etc... Preferably, the system also includes a makeweight scale (22) that is disposed at a makeweight station. The makeweight scale (22) is connected to electronically communicate makeweight data to the yield monitor (30).
摘要:
A sheet interleaver is provided for a slicing machine that includes a slicing plane for slicing an elongated food product and a sheet from web material beneath the elongated product. The interleaver includes a supply of web material, a drawing station, a feed station, and a controller. The drawing station has a first driver for drawing web material from the supply. The feed station has a second driver for receiving web material from the drawing station and driving the web material through a cutting nip into the slicing plane. The controller is in signal-communication with at least one of the first and second drivers to drive web material at select differential speeds by the first and second drivers such that tension between the drawing station and the feed station is controlled to allow a slackened length of web material between the drawing station and the feed station.