Weight controlled slicing system including gross error detecting means

Claim 2

In a slicing system including a knife for cutting slices from one end of a length of material to be fed into a cutting zone, a feeding means for feeding material into the cutting zone to be sliced by the knife, a means for receiving slices cut from the length of material by the knife, intermittently operable takeaway conveying means adapted to be operated to remove cut slices from the receiving means, and a slice counting means operable to actuate the take-away conveyor after a predetermined number of slices have been cut, the improvement which comprises: means for continuously monitoring the weight of the slices received by said receiving means and for comparing the same to a predetermined standard; and means responsive to said weight monitoring means for prematurely activating said take-away conveyor whenever the weight of the slices received by said receiving means deviates from said predetermined standard by a predetermined amount.

Claim 3

A slicing system according to claim 1 wherein said slice receiving means comprises a platform having a plurality of tines; said weight monitoring means is operatively connected to said platform to monitor the weight of slices received thereon and said take-away conveyor includes at least two spaced take-away belts, a means for driving the belts, and means for positioning the belts between the tines to engage slices received on said platform whereby movement of the belts by the drive means will remove the slices from the platform.

Claim 4

In a slicing system including a knife for cutting slices from one end of a length of material to be fed into a cutting zone, a feeding means for feeding material into the cutting zone to be sliced by the knife, a means for receiving slices cut from the length of material by the knife, an intermittently operable take-away conveying means adapted to be operated to remove cut slices from the receiving means, and a slice counting means operable to actuate the take-away conveyor after a predetermined number of slices have been cut, the improvement which comprises: means for determining the weight of the slices received by said slice receiving means and for providing a signal representative thereof; means for generating a signal representative of a desired weight of slices then cut; and means responsive to a difference between the two signals exceeding a predetermined difference to prematurely energize said take-away conveyor to thereby remove the slices from the slice receiving means.

Claim 5

In a slicing system including a knife for cutting slices from one end of a length of material to be fed into a cutting zone, a feeding means for feeding material into the cutting zone to be sliced by the knife, a means for receiving slices cut from the length of material by the knife, an intermittently operable take-away conveying means adapted to be operated to remove cut slices from the receiving means, and a slice counting means operable to actuate the take-away conveyor after a predetermined number of slices have been cut, the improvement which comprises: means for determining the weight of the slices received by said slice receiving means and for providing a signal representative thereof; means for generating a signal representative of a desired weight of slices then cut; and means responsive to a difference between the two signals exceeding a predetermined difference to prematurely energize said take-away conveyor to thereby remove the slices from the slice receiving means.

Claim 6

A slicing system according to claim 3 wherein said last-named means comprises a pair of differential amplifiers, each receiving both of said signals, one of said differential amplifiers being responsive to a predetermined underweight condition for operating said take-away conveyor and the other being operative in response to a predetermined overweight condition for operating said take-away conveyor.

Claim 7

A slicing system according to claim 3 further including means defining an acceptance station; means defining a rejection station; and means responsive to the premature operation of said take-away conveyor for directing slices removed from said slice receiving mEans to said rejection station.

Claim 8

In a food slicing system including a knife for cutting slices from one end of a length of food material to be fed into a cutting zone, a feeding means for feeding food material into the cutting zone to be sliced by the knife, a means for receiving slices cut from the length of food material by the knife, an intermittently operable take-away conveying means adapted to remove cut slices from the receiving means, and a slice counting means operable to actuate the take-away conveyor after a predetermined number of slices have been cut, the improvement which comprises: means for determining the weight of the slices received by said slice receiving means and for providing a signal based thereon; means for generating a signal based on the desired weight of slices to be cut; and means responsive to a difference between said signals exceeding a predetermined difference to prematurely energize said take-away conveyor to thereby remove the slices from the slice receiving means.

Claim 9

In a food slicing system including a knife for cutting slices from one end of a length of food material to be fed into a cutting zone, a feeding means for feeding food material into the cutting zone to be sliced by the knife, a means for receiving slices cut from the length of food material by the knife, an intermittently operable take-away conveying means adapted to remove cut slices from the receiving means, and a slice counting means operable to actuate the take-away conveyor after a predetermined number of slices have been cut, the improvement which comprises: means for determining the weight of the slices received by said slice receiving means and for providing a signal based thereon; means for generating a signal based on the desired weight of slices to be cut; and means responsive to a difference between said signals exceeding a predetermined difference to prematurely energize said take-away conveyor to thereby remove the slices from the slice receiving means.

Claim 10

In a slicing system including a knife for cutting slices from one end of a length of material to be fed into a cutting zone, a feeding means for feeding material into the cutting zone to be sliced by the knife, a means for receiving slices cut from the length of material by the knife, intermittently operable take-away conveying means adapted to be operated to remove cut slices from the receiving means, and a slice counting means operable to actuate the take-away conveyor after a predetermined number of slices have been cut, the improvement which comprises: means for continuously monitoring the weight of the slices received by said receiving means and for comparing a characteristic of the same to a predetermined standard; means responsive to said weight monitoring means for prematurely activating said take-away conveyor whenever the characteristic of the weight of the slices received by said receiving means deviates from said predetermined standard by a predetermined amount; means for counting the number of premature actuations of said take-away conveyor by said activating means; and means responsive to said counting means for issuing a warning whenever a predetermined number of premature activations of said take-away conveyor have occurred in a predetermined period of time.

Claim 11

In a slicing system including a knife for cutting slices from one end of a length of material to be fed into a cutting zone, a feeding means for feeding material into the cutting zone to be sliced by the knife, a means for receiving slices cut from the length of material by the knife, intermittently operable take-away conveying means adapted to be operated to remove cut slices from the receiving means, and a slice counting means operable to actuate the take-away conveyor after a predetermined number of slices have been cut, the improvement which comprises: means for continuously monitoring the weight of the slices received by said receiving means and for comparing a characteristic of the same to a predetermined standard; means responsive to said weight monitoring means for prematurely activating said take-away conveyor whenever the characteristic of the weight of the slices received by said receiving means deviates from said predetermined standard by a predetermined amount; means for counting the number of premature actuations of said take-away conveyor by said activating means; and means responsive to said counting means for issuing a warning whenever a predetermined number of premature activations of said take-away conveyor have occurred in a predetermined period of time.

Claim 12

The slicing system of claim 7 wherein said means for issuing a warning comprises a warning device.

Claim 13

A slicing system according to claim 7 wherein said means for issuing a warning comprises a means for shutting down the slicing system.

Claim 14

The slicing system of claim 7 wherein said means for issuing a warning is operative when a predetermined count of successive premature activations of said take-away conveyor have occurred; and further including a means for resetting said last named counter whenever said take-away conveyor is operated normally by said slice counting means.