Automated product profiling apparatus and product slicing system using same

An automated system for processing a food product based on the acquisition of the food product's surface profile, comprising:

• a product processor;
• a conveyor system along which the product is conducted in sequence;
• a profiling apparatus having
• at least two upper line lasers disposed above the conveyor system for illuminating the upper surface profile of the product,
• wherein the upper line lasers are adapted to illuminate the upper surface profile of the product across a fixed plane transverse to the conveyance direction of the product,
• wherein the upper liner lasers are disposed on opposite sides of the product for projecting laser beams onto and across the product;
• at least two lower line lasers disposed below the conveyor system for illuminating the lower surface profile of the product,
• wherein the lower line lasers are adapted to illuminate the lower surface profile of the product across the fixed plane transverse to the conveyance direction of the product,
• wherein the lower liner lasers are disposed on opposite sides of the product for projecting laser beams onto and across the product;
• said profiling apparatus further having an upper camera located above the conveyer system for imaging the upper surface profile illuminated by the upper line lasers, and
• a lower camera located below the conveyor system for imaging the lower surface profile illuminated by the lower line lasers;
• a scale for weighing the product and for providing weight information, said scale being included in the profiling apparatus;
• a controller
• being connected to the upper and lower cameras,
• said controller being adapted for determining the volume of the product by acquiring and processing multiple visual images acquired by the upper and lower cameras along the length of the product as the product is moved through the profiling apparatus,
• and is arranged to complete acquiring and processing the multiple visual images of the product before processing of the product in the product processor;
• and
• wherein the product processor is a slicer adapted to cut slices of a particular weight,
• said product processor comprising a control system that varies its processing operation on the product based upon the volume of the product and the weight information provided by the scale,
• wherein the conveyor system conducts the product in sequence between the profiling apparatus and the product processor.