Apparatus and Methods for Cutting Food Products into Portions
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20)
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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:
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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.
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Specification