Dual Scale Weighing System for Producing Drafts of Sliced Products of Desired Weights

Abstract

A method for weighing sliced products to generate product batches of a pre- determined weight. A slicer slices products which are disposed onto a slice scale located beneath the output end of the slicer. An intermediate weight is measured at a pre-determined point in the slicing process. The intermediate weight information is used to calculate the minimum number of completion slices, based on thicknesses of the slices, needed to meet the target weight. The competed draft is transferred to a check sale where a final draft weight is measured and compared to a sum of the intermediate weight and the weight of the completion slices. Comparison of the weight is used to adjust slicing parameters for more precise targeting of the desired weight of the next draft. Completion slices may be adjusted in thickness to minimize the giveaway weight.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A dual scale weighing system for producing drafts of desired weights, the drafts being sliced by a slicer upstream of the weighing system along a food processing line, the dual scale weighing system comprising:
 a slice scale with a conveying surface, the slice scale disposed beneath a discharge end of the slicer;   a check scale with a conveying surface, the check scale disposed downstream of the slice scale; and   a data management system in operative communication with the slice scale, the check scale, and the slicer;   wherein the slice scale communicates information on a weight of an intermediate draft.   
     
     
         22 . The dual scale weighing system of  claim 21 , wherein the check scale communicates a weight of a final draft to the data management system. 
     
     
         23 . The dual scale weighing system of  claim 21 , wherein the data management system calculates a completion weight by comparing a desired weight with the weight of the intermediate draft. 
     
     
         24 . The dual scale weighing system of  claim 23 , wherein the data management system calculates a difference between the weight of a final draft and the sum of the completion weight and the weight of the intermediate draft. 
     
     
         25 . The dual scale weighing system of  claim 21 , wherein the difference between the weight of a final draft and a sum of the completion weight and the weight of the intermediate draft is communicated to the slicer to adjust a thickness of the slices deposited on the slice scale. 
     
     
         26 . The dual scale weighing system of  claim 23 , wherein the data management system receives a verification weight from the check scale and determines a variance weight. 
     
     
         27 . The dual scale weighing system of  claim 26 , wherein the variance weight is used in subsequent drafts to fine tune an accuracy when determining the completion weight. 
     
     
         28 . The dual scale weighing system of  claim 21 , wherein the slicer deposits sliced product on the slice scale. 
     
     
         29 . A dual scale weighing system for producing drafts of desired weights, the drafts being sliced by a slicer and conveyed along a food processing line downstream from the slicer, the dual scale weighing system comprising:
 a slice scale with a conveying surface, the slice scale disposed beneath the discharge end of the slicer, the slicer configured to directly deposit food product slices on the slice scale, wherein the slice scale is configured to determine a weight of an intermediate draft;   a check scale with a conveying surface, the check scale disposed downstream of the slice scale; and   a data management system in operative communication with the slice scale, the check scale, and the slicer, wherein the data management system is configured to receive the weight of the intermediate draft from the slicer and calculate a completion weight while a slicing process is in progress;   wherein the data management system is configured to control the slicer to produce at least one completion slice, the at least one completion slice weighing an amount equal to the completion weight within a predetermined tolerance to produce a completed draft, wherein a weight of the completed draft is within a desired weight so as to eliminate rejection of the completed draft so that no addition or subtraction of the sliced product occurs after the draft is completed; and   wherein the data management system receives a verification weight from the check scale and determines a variance weight.   
     
     
         30 . A dual scale weighing system of  claim 29 , wherein the variance weight is used in subsequent drafts to fine tune an accuracy of the completion slices. 
     
     
         31 . The dual scale weighing system of  claim 29 , wherein the data management system uses the weight of the completed draft to determine a final draft weight, and compares the final draft weight to a sum of the intermediate weight and the completion weight. 
     
     
         32 . The dual scale weighing system of  claim 29 , wherein the data management system obtains the weight of the completed draft after the completed draft is transferred from the slice scale to the check scale for weighing. 
     
     
         33 . The dual scale weighing system of  claim 29 , wherein the completed draft is transferred to the check scale by moving the draft along a conveying surface on the slice scale towards the check scale. 
     
     
         34 . The dual scale weighing system of  claim 29 , wherein the data management system calculates a minimum number of slices needed at a given slice thickness to meet the completion weight. 
     
     
         35 . The dual scale weighing system of  claim 29 , wherein the data management system calculates a completion weight by subtracting the intermediate weight from the desired weight. 
     
     
         36 . The dual scale weighing system of  claim 29 , wherein the data management system obtains the intermediate weight from the slice scale without stopping the slicer. 
     
     
         37 . The dual scale weighing system of  claim 29 , wherein the slicer slices at least one completion slice such that at least one slice has a different thickness than other slices in the completed draft. 
     
     
         38 . A dual scale weighing system comprising:
 a scale for dynamically measuring a weight of sliced products as subsequent slices are added onto existing slices on the scale;   the scale further having
 a conveying surface; 
 a pair of support frames to support the conveying surface on either side of the conveying surface; 
 vertical side walls connected to the support frames; 
 a horizontal plate connected to the side walls on opposing sides of the horizontal plate; 
 a vertical shaft in contact with the horizontal plate and a load cell; and 
 a dampening mechanism in contact with the load cell, said dampening mechanism located beneath the load cell. 
   
     
     
         39 . The scale of  claim 38 , further comprising:
 a motor disposed on the horizontal plate; and   the motor having a cord disposed within the shaft to prevent exposure of the cord.   
     
     
         40 . The scale of  claim 38 , wherein the weight of the slices is transferred from the conveying surface to the side walls to exert a force on the horizontal plate; and
 wherein the force exerted on the horizontal plate is transferred by the shaft to the load cell to generate a weight measurement.