Apparatus and Methods for Cutting Food Products into Portions

Abstract

Processing apparatus and methods are provided for use in the division of a food product log( 32 ) into separate portions prior to cooking of the portions. The apparatus includes a machine ( 2 ) for cutting portions from an end of the product log, a controller ( 34 ) for controlling the operation of the cutting machine, and a sensing arrangement ( 30 ) for generating a signal dependent on a cross-sectional dimension of the product at the end. The controller is arranged to determine the thickness of the next portion to be cut from the end by the cutting machine ( 2 ) with reference to the signal from the sensing arrangement and to the value of a cook-out parameter related to the proportion of the end of the product which is formed by at least one constituent of the product. The thickness is calculated with a view to the portion achieving a predetermined target weight after it has been cooked.

1 . Processing apparatus for use in the division of a food product log into separate portions prior to cooking of the portions, the apparatus including:
 a machine for cutting portions from an end of the product log;   a controller for controlling the operation of the cutting machine; and   a sensing arrangement for generating a signal dependent on a cross-sectional dimension of the product at the end,   wherein the controller is arranged to determine the thickness of the next portion to be cut from the end by the cutting machine with reference to said signal and to the value of a cook-out parameter related to the proportion of the end of the product which is formed by at least one constituent of the product, with a view to the portion achieving a predetermined target weight after it has been cooked.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one constituent is selected from fat, lean, bone and water. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the signal generated by the sensing arrangement comprises an area signal dependent on the cross-sectional area of the end. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting machine is arranged to cut a plurality of food products into portions simultaneously. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the cutting machine has a plurality of output lanes for conveying corresponding lines of portions cut from respective food products. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is operable to vary the rate at which portions from each of the plurality of products are outputted by the cutting machine independently of the rates for the other products. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is arranged to take into account variation in the cooking performance associated with different lanes through a cooker downstream of the cutting machine in calculating the thickness of the next portion to be cut by adjustment of respective cook-out parameter values. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the or each cook-out parameter value is adjustable in response to user input. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing arrangement comprises a detector operable to generate a content signal dependent on the proportion of the end of the product which is formed by at least one constituent of the product, and the controller is arranged to determine the value of the respective cook-out parameter with reference to the content signal. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is arranged to receive a feedback signal from a weighing device downstream of a cooker, and adjust the or each cook-out parameter value with reference to the feedback signal, so as to minimize deviation from the predetermined target weight for cooked portions. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is operable to generate an output signal for transmission to a cooker downstream of the cutting machine, which signal relates to at least one performance characteristic of the cooker and/or at least one characteristic of a product to be sliced or being sliced, to adjust the operation of the cooker. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is arranged to receive a cooker input signal from a cooker downstream of the cutting machine, which signal relates to at least one performance characteristic of the cooker, and the controller is operable to adjust the or each cook-out parameter value with reference to the cooker input signal. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one performance characteristic of the cooker is selected from: the speed of the conveyor carrying the food portions through the cooker; the power of the cooker; differences in the cooker performance with respect to different lanes through the cooker; and the positions of microwave waveguides in the cooker. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one performance characteristic of the cooker is selected from: the speed of the conveyor carrying the food portions through the cooker; the power of the cooker; differences in the cooker performance with respect to different lanes through the cooker; and the positions of microwave waveguides in the cooker. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing arrangement comprises at least one of: a light detection arrangement; an x-ray analysis arrangement; an MRI arrangement; and an ultrasound analysis arrangement. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cutting machine is a slicing machine for cutting slices from the end face of a product. 
     
     
         17 . A food processing system comprising apparatus of  claim 1  in combination with a cooker. 
     
     
         18 . A method of controlling processing apparatus to divide a food product log into separate portions prior to cooking of the portions, the apparatus including a machine for cutting portions from an end of the product log, a controller for controlling the operation of the cutting machine, and a sensing arrangement, wherein the method comprises the steps of:
 outputting a signal from the sensing arrangement to the controller dependent on a cross-sectional dimension of the product at the end; and   determining with the controller the thickness of the next portion to be cut from the end by the cutting machine with reference to said signal and to the value of a cook-out parameter related to the proportion of the end of the product which is formed by at least one constituent of the product, with a view to the portion achieving a predetermined target weight after it has been cooked.   
     
     
         19 . A method of  claim 18  carried out using an apparatus of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . A method of  claim 18  carried out using a food processing system of  claim 17 .