Method and apparatus for grading food pieces
AssigneeIshida Europe Limited
InventorsNickolas Martin Clark, Pablo Gabriel Socolovsky
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Abstract
A method of and apparatus for grading food pieces is described. The method comprises feeding individual food pieces in sequence to a weighing machine having a plurality of weigh hoppers, each food piece being fed to a respective weigh hopper; determining the weights of the food pieces in the hoppers; and dispensing the food pieces from the weighing machine in different manners depending upon the relationship between the weight of each food piece and at least one predetermined range of weights such that food pieces with weights falling within the predetermined range are dispensed in the same manner different from the manner in which those with weights falling outside the predetermined range are dispensed.
Claims27
A method of grading food pieces, the method comprising feeding individual food pieces in sequence to a weighing machine having a plurality of weigh hoppers, each food piece being fed to a respective weigh hopper;
- determining the weights of the food pieces in the hoppers;
- and dispensing the food pieces from the weighing machine in different manners depending upon the relationship between the weight of each food piece and at least one predetermined range of weights such that food pieces with weights falling within the predetermined range are dispensed in the same manner different from the manner in which those with weights falling outside the predetermined range are dispensed.
Apparatus for grading food pieces, the apparatus comprising a weighing machine having a plurality of weigh hoppers;
- a food piece distribution system for supplying individual food pieces to respective weigh hoppers;
- and a control system for determining the weights of the food pieces in the weigh hoppers, and for controlling the weigh hoppers or additional hoppers downstream of the weigh hoppers to dispense the food pieces in different manners depending upon the relationship between the weight of each food piece and at least one predetermined range of weights such that food pieces with weights falling within the predetermined range are dispensed in the same manner different from the manner in which those with weights falling outside the predetermined range are dispensed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.