A cutting system for cutting food products

Abstract

This invention relates to a cutting system for cutting food products while the food products are conveyed by a conveyor. An arc-shaped system and a cutting means are provided, where the cutting means is adapted to be connected to the arc-shaped system. The arc-shaped system is adapted to be positioned above a surface area of the conveyor on which said food products are resting during the cutting such that the center of the arc-shaped system is around the surface area. A control unit operates the position of the cutting means within the arc-shaped system based on image data.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A cutting system for cutting food products while the food products are conveyed by a conveyor means, comprising:
 an arc-shaped system,   a cutting means adapted to be connected to said arc-shaped system, said arc-shaped system being adapted to be positioned above the conveyor surface on which said food products are resting during said cutting such that the center of said arc-shaped system is substantially at or around said conveyor surface, and   a control unit for operating the position of said cutting means within said arc-shaped system based on image data.   
     
     
         17 . The cutting system according to  claim 16 , wherein said arc-shaped system is adapted to be positioned substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of said food product such that the movement of the cutting means within the arc-shaped system is substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction of the food products. 
     
     
         18 . The cutting system according to  claim 16 , further comprising a moving mechanism connected to said arc-shaped system for moving said arc-shaped system across said conveyor and perpendicular to the conveying direction of said food products, where said image data is further utilized in operating the position of said arc-shaped system during cutting. 
     
     
         19 . The cutting system according to  claim 16 , wherein said cutting means is arranged within said arc-shaped system, such that the cutting means points towards said center at all times. 
     
     
         20 . The cutting system according to  claim 18 , wherein said moving mechanism comprises a first timing belt attached to the cutting means and driven by a first motor unit whereby the position of said cutting means within said arc-shaped system is adjusted via said first timing belt by means of exerting with a pulling force onto the cutting means causing a back and forth movement of the cutting means along the arc-shaped system. 
     
     
         21 . The cutting system according to  claim 20 , wherein the first timing belt extends between at least two rollers positioned on opposite sides of the conveyor means where at least one of the at least two rollers is a driving roller driven by the first motor unit that is be positioned sidewise to the conveyor. 
     
     
         22 . The cutting system according to  claim 18 , wherein said moving mechanism comprises a second timing belt that may be positioned above or below said first timing belt attached to the arc-shaped system and driven by a second motor unit, whereby the position of said arc-shaped system within said cutting system is adjusted via said second timing belt by means of exerting with a pulling force onto the arc-shaped system causing a back and forth movement of the arc-shaped system across the conveyor means. 
     
     
         23 . The cutting system according to  claim 22 , wherein the second timing belt extends between at least two rollers positioned on opposite site of the conveyor means where at least one of the two rollers is a driving roller driven by the second motor unit that is positioned sidewise to the conveyor. 
     
     
         24 . A food processing system for processing food products while the food products are conveyed by a conveyor means, comprising:
 an imaging system for imaging and producing image data of a food product to be processed,   a cutting system,   
       wherein said cutting system comprises:
 an arc-shaped system, 
 a cutting means adapted to be connected to said arc-shaped system, said arc-shaped system being adapted to be positioned above a surface area of said conveyor means on which said food products are resting during said cutting such that the center of said arc-shaped system is substantially at or around said surface area, and 
 a control unit for operating the position of said cutting means within said arc-shaped system. 
 
     
     
         25 . The food processing system according to  claim 24 , wherein said arc-shaped system is attached to a moving mechanism for moving said arc-shaped system across said conveyor and perpendicular to the conveying direction of said food products, where said image data is further utilized in operating the position of said arc-shaped sliding guide. 
     
     
         26 . The food processing system according to  claim 24 , further comprising a tracking mechanism for tracking said food product at all times and for providing position related data, where said control unit is further adapted to utilize said position related data for controlling the starting and stopping of said cutting means. 
     
     
         27 . The food processing system according to  claim 24 , wherein said imaging system is selected from:
 a X-ray system and where said image data are X-ray related data,   2D or 3D imaging system,   color vision system, or   a combination of one or more of the above.   
     
     
         28 . A method of processing food products while the food products are conveyed by a conveyor means using a cutting system, where the cutting system comprises:
 an arc-shaped system,   a cutting means adapted to be connected to said arc-shaped system, said arc-shaped system being adapted to be positioned above a surface area of said conveyor means on which said food products are resting during said cutting such that the center of said arc-shaped system is substantially at or around said surface area, and   a control unit for operating the position of said cutting means within said arc-shaped system,   
       wherein the method comprises:
 providing image data of a food product to be processed, and 
 utilizing the image data for operating the position of said cutting means within said arc-shaped system while cutting said food product. 
 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein said image data include data indicating the position of undesired objects within said food product, and wherein the step of utilizing the image data in operating said cutting device while cutting said food product includes cutting around said undesired objects. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 28 , wherein the food object is a fish fillet and where said undesired objects include bones in the fish fillet.