| 摘要 |
An apparatus and method for portioning food items. The inventive apparatus preferably comprises: a carrier structure having a cavity provided therein for receiving a first portion of a food item; a holding device for imparting a force to the food item sufficient to hold the first portion of the food item in the cavity; and a saw or knife having a blade receivable between the carrier structure and the holding structure for cutting the food item into the first portion and a second portion. The holding structure is preferably an upper belt-type conveyor and the apparatus most preferably comprises a series of carrier plates conveyed by a lower conveyor system. Alternatively, the holding structure can be replaced with a vacuum system for generating a vacuum in the plate cavities. The inventive method comprises the steps of: (a) placing a first portion of a food item in a cavity provided in a holding structure; (b) pressing the food item, using a pressing structure, with a force sufficient to hold the first portion in the cavity; and (c) while pressing the food item, receiving a cutting structure between the holding structure and the pressing structure such that the cutting structure cuts the food item into the first portion and a second portion. In an alternative embodiment of the inventive method, the first portion of the food item is held by generating a vacuum in the cavity.
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