Method and system for monitoring the processing of items

• US 7,828,639 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2003
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scanvaegt International A/S
• Original Assignee: Scanvaegt International A/S
• Inventors: Nielsen, Ulrich Carlin
• Primary Examiner(s): Price; Thomas
• Application Number:
  US10/508,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20050186896A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,793 Days
• Field of Search: 452/52, 452/53, 452/106, 452/149, 452/150, 452155-157, 452/198
• US Class Current: 452/198
• CPC Class Codes: A22B 5/0064 for classifying or grading carcasses; for measuring back fat
• CPC Class Codes: A22B 7/00 Slaughterhouse arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 17/008 for measuring quality, e.g. to determine further processing

Abstract

A method for monitoring and tracking the processing of a plurality of meat items which originated from an animal, with the processing utilizing instructions, such as instructions from a customer. The method comprises the steps of registering one or more of an identification of one piece of meat from the plurality of meat items, an identification of a supplier of the one piece of meat, and an identification of the animal from which the one piece of meat originated; allocating the one piece of meat to one of a plurality of workstations; registering an identification of the workstation; processing the one piece of meat into a plurality of meat cuttings at the workstation utilizing the instructions; and further processing one or more of the plurality of meat cuttings, wherein traceability is established between the one or more of the plurality of meat cuttings and one or more of the one piece of meat, the supplier, and the animal from which the one piece of meat originated.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring and tracking the processing of a plurality of meat items which originated from an animal, said processing utilizing instructions, said method comprising the steps of:

performing one or more registering steps on at least one piece of meat of said plurality of meat items, said registering steps including at least one of;

registering said one piece of meat,

registering an identification of a supplier of said piece of meat, and/or

registering an identification of the animal from which said piece of meat originated;

allocating said piece of meat to one of a plurality of workstations;

registering an identification of said one of said plurality of workstations; and

processing said piece of meat into a plurality of meat cuttings at said one of said plurality of workstations utilizing said instructions, wherein

traceability is established between one or more of said plurality of meat cuttings and the registered piece of meat,

the identified supplier, and/or

the identified animal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said instructions are in accordance with filling one or more customer orders.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of allocating said piece of meat is effected with regard to predetermined criteria including a capacity of each of said plurality of workstations.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, after said registering step said processing includes the steps of carrying out a coarse cutting into a plurality of meat items, after which transporting said individual items in a predetermined sequence for processing into said plurality of cuttings, and registering said sequence.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of placing said plurality of cuttings in or on a transport mechanism, wherein said one or more of said meat cuttings can be traced and/or is identifiable.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

detecting the passage of said one or more of said plurality of cuttings along said transport mechanism; and

registering information about said detecting for use for establishing said traceability.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said step of placing is performed with regard to concrete instructions to an operator, such that one or more locations on said transport mechanism can be used in a flexible manner.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said instructions are specific in relation to said piece of meat, and wherein said instructions can be effected visually in an automatic and/or user-controlled manner.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said instructions include visual, textual and/or audio-based instructions.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

weighing one or more of said plurality of meat cuttings; and

providing information relating to a deviation from a weight criteria set for said one or more of said plurality of meat cuttings.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of effecting quality control in connection with said processing by utilizing vision equipment for adjusting visual instructions included in said instructions.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of effecting quality control in connection with said processing by utilizing vision equipment for generating data concerning quality controlled items for storing in a database.

13. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein said step of effecting quality control includes the step of storing data for use in generating documentation of the quality level for a given customer order.

14. The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein textual and/or audio communication is utilized in said step of effecting quality control.

15. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of, upon conclusion of said processing of said piece of meat, providing an indication of such conclusion, either automatically or by an operator action, wherein a processing of a subsequent meat item with an identification associated therewith is initiated.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of monitoring and/or controlling of maintenance conditions effecting the quality of a finished cut product.

17. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of registering information concerning characteristics of one or more operators of one or more of said plurality of workstations.

18. The method according claim 1, wherein one or more of said plurality of meat cuttings are traceable to one or more of the supplier, a classification, and the originating animal.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the at least one registering steps includes performing at least two of the registering steps on the same piece of meat.

20. A system for monitoring and tracking the processing of a plurality of meat items which originated from an animal, said processing utilizing instructions, said system comprising:

means for identifying and registering

at least one piece of meat from said plurality of meat items, a supplier of said piece of meat, and/or the animal from which said piece of meat originated;

means for allocating said piece of meat to one of a plurality of workstations;

means for registering an identification of said one of said plurality of workstations; and

means for processing said piece of meat into a plurality of meat cuttings at said one of said plurality of workstations utilizing said instructions, wherein

traceability is established between one or more of said plurality of meat cuttings and the registered and identified piece of meat,

the registered and identified supplier, and/or

the registered and identified animal.

21. The system according to claim 20, further comprising one or more computers including said means for registering and said means for allocating, wherein said one or more computers establish said traceability.

22. The system according to claim 20, wherein said means for allocating utilizes one or more registered customer orders, and further wherein said one or more computers are for transmitting said instructions to one or more of said plurality of workstations so that said customer order orders are fulfilled.

23. The system according to claim 20, wherein said means for allocation are performed with regard to predetermined criteria including a capacity of each of said plurality of workstations.

24. The system according to claim 20, wherein, after said identification and registration, said means for processing performs a coarse cutting into a plurality of meat items, each of which are transported in a predetermined sequence for processing into said plurality of cuttings, said sequence being registered.

25. The system according to claim 20, further comprising means for storing and/or means for transporting one or more of said plurality of cuttings, wherein each of said plurality of cuttings is traceable and/or identifiable.

26. The system according to claim 25, further comprising means for detecting the passage of said one or more of said plurality of cuttings along transport routes of said means for transporting for establishing said traceability.

27. The system according to claim 20, further comprising means for receiving one or more of said plurality of cuttings with regard to said instructions including instructions to an operator for a placing of said cuttings.

28. The system according to claim 20, wherein said instructions include instructions specific to said piece of meat, and wherein said instructions can be provided visually and/or can be controlled automatically by the system and/or can be user-controlled.

29. The system according to claim 20, further comprising means for communicating visual, textual and/or audio based instructions included in said instructions.

30. The system according to claim 20, wherein one or more of said plurality of workstations includes a scale for weighing one or more of said plurality of meat cuttings and for providing immediate information concerning a deviation from a weight criteria for said one or more of said plurality of meat cuttings.

31. The system according to claim 20, further comprising means for facilitating quality control in connection with said processing by adjusting vision equipment instructions included in said instructions.

32. The system according to claim 20, further comprising vision equipment for quality control in connection with said processing by storing of data in a database concerning quality-controlled items.

33. The system according to one of claims 31 and 32, wherein said quality control is supported by storing data for use in generating documentation of the quality level for a given customer order.

34. The system according to one of claim 31 or 32, further comprising means for providing textual and/or audio communications to support said quality control.

35. The system according to claim 20, further comprising means for registration the conclusion of said processing of said piece of meat automatically or in connection with an action, wherein the system initiates a cutting of a subsequent piece of meat with an identification associated therewith.

36. The system according to claim 20, further comprising means for monitoring and/or controlling maintenance activities.

37. The system according to claim 20, further comprising means for registering information relating to one or more operators.

38. The system according to claim 20, further comprising means for tracing and/or identifying one or more of said plurality of meat cuttings.

39. A method for processing a meat item comprising the steps of:

registering one of a plurality of workers at a corresponding one of a plurality of workstations;

allocating said meat item to an allocated one of said plurality of workstations based on both characteristics of said allocated workstation and characteristics of the worker registered at said allocated workstation; and

processing said meat item into a plurality of meat cuttings at said allocated workstation.

40. A method for processing one or more of a plurality of meat items according to a customer order, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving an order from a customer;

generating cutting instructions at least partially according to the customer order;

associating said cutting instructions with said one or more of said plurality of meat items;

allocating said one or more of said plurality of meat items to an allocated one or more of a plurality of workstations;

processing said one or more of said plurality of meat items into a plurality of meat cuttings at said one or more allocated workstations utilizing said instructions; and

registering some portion of said plurality of meat cuttings with said customer order to provide traceability.

41. A method for processing a meat item comprising the steps of:

providing a set of cutting instructions;

registering one of a plurality of workers at a corresponding one of a plurality of workstations;

allocating said meat item to an allocated one of said plurality of workstations;

modifying said instructions based on characteristics of one or both of said allocated workstation and the worker registered at said allocated workstation; and

processing said meat item into a plurality of meat cuttings at said allocated workstation utilizing said modified instructions.

42. A method for processing a meat item comprising the steps of:

providing a set of cutting instructions, said cutting instructions including a plurality of optional cutting steps;

allocating said meat item to one of a plurality of workstations;

displaying said cutting instructions to a worker at said allocated workstation; and

processing said meat item into a plurality of meat cuttings at said allocated workstation utilizing said instructions, wherein the worker is permitted to implement one, none, or a plurality of said optional cutting steps during said processing.