Method of producing drafts of sliced food products with desired weights and a dual scale weighing system for producing drafts of desired weights

摘要

A method for weighing sliced products to generate product batches of a pre-determined weight. A slicer slices products which are disposed onto a slice scale located beneath the output end of the slicer. An intermediate weight is measured at a pre-determined point in the slicing process. The intermediate weight information is used to calculate the minimum number of completion slices, based on thicknesses of the slices, needed to meet the target weight. The competed draft is transferred to a check sale where a final draft weight is measured and compared to a sum of the intermediate weight and the weight of the completion slices. Comparison of the weight is used to adjust slicing parameters for more precise targeting of the desired weight of the next draft. Completion slices may be adjusted in thickness to minimize the giveaway weight.

主权项

1. A method of producing drafts of sliced products with desired weights, the drafts being conveyed along a food processing line downstream of a slicer, comprising the steps of:
slicing food product slices directly onto a slice scale positioned underneath the discharge end of the slicer to form drafts of sliced products; measuring an intermediate weight of the draft using the slice scale, at a pre-determined point while a slicing process is in progress; transferring the intermediate weight measurement to a data managing system to calculate a completion weight; and slicing at least one completion slice onto the draft of the sliced product without interruption of the slicing process, the at least one completion slice weighing an amount equal to the completion weight within a predetermined tolerance so as to produce a completed draft, wherein a weight of the completed draft is within a desired weight so as to eliminate rejection of the completed draft so that no addition or subtraction of the sliced product occurs after the draft is completed; measuring the weight of the completed draft to determine a final draft weight and comparing the final draft weight to the sum of the intermediate weight and the completion weight; and wherein slicing the at least one completion slice and slicing of the food product slices occurring during a single process while the slices are on the slice scale positioned underneath the discharge end of the slicer.