US4136504A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Slicing method
Assignee: Thurne Engineering Co Ltd
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Filing: 1977-08-10
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Granted: 1979-01-30
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Expires: 1997-08-10
Abstract
Abstract An improved method for automatically producing a selected weight draft of sliced product from a workpiece in substantially uniform weight slices and in an integral number of slices.
Inventors
- 👤 Ihor Wyslotsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 10:34
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26D; B26D7/00; B26D7/27; B26D7/30; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/04; Y10T83/182; Y10T83/525; Y10T83/533
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
An improved method of automatically producing a selected weight draft of sliced product from a workpiece of variable density in substantially uniform weight slices and in an integral number of slices, the selected weight draft having a first slice and at least one succeeding slice, said method comprising: selecting an integral number of slices for each draft and thereby determining the preferred weight for each slice; detecting from the workpiece a first indicium of weight for the first slice and determining therefrom the slice thickness which will produce a first slice of substantially the preferred weight; incrementally advancing the workpiece the determined thickness; cutting the first slice of the determined thickness from the workpiece; detecting from the first slice as cut a second indicium of weight; detecting from the workpiece face the first indicium of weight for a next succeeding slice and determining therefrom, and from the second indicium of weight for the first slice, the thickness which will produce a next succeeding slice of substantially the preferred weight; repeating the steps of incrementally advancing, cutting, and said detecting the first and second indicia of weight until the selected integral number of slices has been cut; and conveying the slices away.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
201 words
An improved method of automatically producing a selected weight draft of sliced product from a workpiece of variable density in substantially uniform weight slices and in an integral number of slices, the selected weight draft having a first slice and at least one succeeding slice, said method comprising: selecting an integral number of slices for each draft and thereby determining the preferred weight for each slice; detecting from the workpiece a first indicium of weight for the first slice and determining therefrom the slice thickness which will produce a first slice of substantially the preferred weight; incrementally advancing the workpiece the determined thickness; cutting the first slice of the determined thickness from the workpiece; detecting from the first slice as cut a second indicium of weight; detecting from the workpiece face the first indicium of weight for a next succeeding slice and determining therefrom, and from the second indicium of weight for the first slice, the thickness which will produce a next succeeding slice of substantially the preferred weight; repeating the steps of incrementally advancing, cutting, and said detecting the first and second indicia of weight until the selected integral number of slices has been cut; and conveying the slices away.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improved method of claim 1 wherein the first indicium of weight detected is the cross-sectional area of the workpiece face.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improved method of claim 2 wherein the second indicium of weight detected is the measured density of the slice as cut.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improved method of claim 3 further comprising assuming an average density for the workpiece prior to the initial incremental advance for cutting, which assumed average density is corrected for each subsequent slice by feeding back the measured density of the immediately prior slice.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improved method of claim 4 wherein the measured density fed back for correcting the assumed density is the mean of more than one slice as cut whereby transient errors in measured density are minimized.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
The improved method of claim 1 wherein the workpiece is a slab of bacon containing volumes of fat and lean, the method further comprising: determining for each slice the ratio of fat to lean on the workpiece face; selecting maximum and minimum limits for such ratio of fat to lean; consolidating drafts of slices having a fat to lean ratio within the selected limits for packaging as a first grade; and consolidating drafts of slices having a ratio of fat to lean outside the selected limits for packaging in at least one separate grade.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
88 words
The improved method of claim 6 wherein determining the ratio of fat to lean comprises: emitting electromagnetic radiation of at least two wavelengths onto a selected surface of the bacon workpiece; reflecting the radiation from the selected bacon surface; receiving the reflected radiation from such selected bacon surface in an array of discrete points; and comparing against selected standards the reflectivity of radiation for each wavelength at each discrete point in the array, whereby it is determined whether each discrete point in the array represents fat or lean.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the workpiece is a slab of bacon and has one or more defects, selected from the group consisting of lymph glands, voids and isolated bits, the improved method further comprising: detecting the presence of said defects for each slice; and packaging in at least one separate grade slices having such defects.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
The improved method of claim 8 wherein detecting the presence of defects comprises: emitting electromagnetic radiation of at least two wavelengths onto a selected surface of the bacon workpiece; reflecting the radiation from the selected workpiece surface; receiving the reflected radiation from such selected bacon surface in an array of discrete points; and comparing against selected standards the reflectivity of radiation for each wavelength at each discrete point in the array, whereby it is determined whether each point in the array represents a particular defect.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improved method of claim 9 wherein such comparing of the reflectivity of radiation includes adding and subtracting for each discrete point in the array respective received reflectivities of the different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
192 words
An improved method of automatically producing a selected weight draft of sliced product from a workpiece in substantially uniform weight slices and in an integral number of slices, the selected weight draft having a first slice and at least one succeeding slice, said method comprising: selecting an integral number of slices for each draft and thereby determining the preferred weight for each slice; cutting the first slice from the workpiece; detecting at least one indicium of the weight for the first slice and determining from that detection the weight for the next succeeding slice such that the mean weight of the sliced product, including the next succeeding slice, will be substantially the preferred slice weight; thereafter for each next succeeding slice in the selected integral number of slices, incrementally advancing the workpiece for cutting the next succeeding slice in accordance with the weight determination; detecting at least one indicium of the weight for the next succeeding slice; and determining from that detection the weight for the yet next succeeding slice such that the mean weight of the sliced product including the yet next succeeding slice, will be substantially the preferred slice weight.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
192 words
An improved method of automatically producing a selected weight draft of sliced product from a workpiece in substantially uniform weight slices and in an integral number of slices, the selected weight draft having a first slice and at least one succeeding slice, said method comprising: selecting an integral number of slices for each draft and thereby determining the preferred weight for each slice; cutting the first slice from the workpiece; detecting at least one indicium of the weight for the first slice and determining from that detection the weight for the next succeeding slice such that the mean weight of the sliced product, including the next succeeding slice, will be substantially the preferred slice weight; thereafter for each next succeeding slice in the selected integral number of slices, incrementally advancing the workpiece for cutting the next succeeding slice in accordance with the weight determination; detecting at least one indicium of the weight for the next succeeding slice; and determining from that detection the weight for the yet next succeeding slice such that the mean weight of the sliced product including the yet next succeeding slice, will be substantially the preferred slice weight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising selecting, between maximum and minimum limits, an incremental advance of workpiece prior to cutting the first slice.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising conveying said slices away from said detecting means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising consolidating the slices in the draft.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising packaging such draft of slices.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said incremental advancing of the product for cutting comprises relative motion between the workpiece and the means for cutting.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 11 wherein said incremental advance for such next succeeding slice (i 2 ) is in an amount proportional to the first incremental advance (i 1 ) and the indicia of weight detected for such first slice (W 1 ), according to the following formula: i.sub.2 = i.sub.1 [2X/W.sub.1 - 1], Wherein X equals the selected preferred weight for such uniform slice and wherein 2X > W 1 .
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-01-29 | 1982-07-31 | 1983-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-01-29 | 1986-07-31 | 1987-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-01-29 | 1990-07-31 | 1991-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |