AUTOMATIC DRAFT LENGTH COMPENSATION FOR SLICING MACHINE SYSTEM

摘要

A slicing and conveying system forms a three or more flavor-combined draft. A first slicing machine slices a succession of first slices. A first output conveyor beneath the first slicing machine receives the first slices in a first draft. A second slicing machine slices a succession of second slices. A second output conveyor beneath the second slicing machine receives the second slices in a second draft. A pass-through conveyor transfers the first draft to the second output conveyor, wherein the second draft is added to the first draft to form a first combined draft. The first slicing machine also slices a succession of third slices in a third draft. An overlap conveyor receives the first combined draft and merges the first combined draft with the third draft on the overlap conveyor to form an elongated combined draft. A first optical sensor determines a length of the first draft. A second length sensor determines a length of the second draft. A third length sensor determines a length of the third draft. A combined sensor determines the length of the elongated combined draft. A control receives input from the first, second, third and combined sensors and outputs a control signal to the first and second output conveyors and the overlap conveyor to adjust the spacing of the slices within the first, second and third drafts and to control the length of the elongated combined draft. A draft length compensation system for a single slicing machine includes a length detector and an output conveyor speed control.