Apparatus and method for portioning and automatically off-loading workpieces

摘要

A conveyor (22) moves workpieces (WP) past a scanning station (40) to ascertain one or more physical parameters of the workpiece (WP) and to a portioning station (24) wherein the workpiece (WP) is portioned into desired smaller portions. Thereafter, the conveyor (22) carries a portioned workpiece (WP) to an unloading station (26) where one or more pickup devices (28) removes specific portioned workpieces (PP) from the conveyor and places the portioned workpieces onto take away conveyors (30) for other locations remote from the first conveyor. A control system, composed in part of a computer (42), keeps track of the locations of the workpieces (WP) on the conveyor (22) and also optionally on the take away conveyor (30) so that portioned pieces (PP) are placed at specific desired locations remote from the conveyor (22) by the pickup devices (28).