113results about "Carcasses classification/grading" patented technology

A method and apparatus for measuring the physical characteristics of livestock animals such as cattle and hogs. The apparatus of the invention includes a plurality of strategically positioned cameras that are used to obtain data concerning volumetric, curvilinear (surface) and linear measurements of livestock animals such as cattle and hogs and the full carcasses thereof. In accordance with the method of the invention, the data is analyzed to provide information that substantially assists the commercial producer of livestock animals in producing a high-quality end-product for the consumer while adding profitability to the enterprise.

A method and apparatus for measuring the physical characteristics of livestock animals such as cattle and hogs. The apparatus of the invention includes a plurality of strategically positioned cameras that are used to obtain data concerning volumetric, curvilinear (surface) and linear measurements of livestock animals such as cattle and hogs and the full carcasses thereof. In accordance with the method of the invention, the data is analyzed to provide information that substantially assists the commercial producer of livestock animals in producing a high-quality end product for the consumer while adding profitability to the enterprise.

The present invention relates to a process and an application for handling information in relation to meat being conveyed through a number of processing stations. The information is used to trace the processing history of a piece of meat, including its origination. The ability to trace the processing history may be used e.g. in order to trace back sources of contamination and for verification of the status and quality, weight etc. of the meat. The information is furthermore useful for the workers processing the meat at the stations or useful for the control and management of the meat processing plant.

A method for monitoring and tracking the processing of a plurality of meat items which originated from an animal, with the processing utilizing instructions, such as instructions from a customer. The method comprises the steps of registering one or more of an identification of one piece of meat from the plurality of meat items, an identification of a supplier of the one piece of meat, and an identification of the animal from which the one piece of meat originated; allocating the one piece of meat to one of a plurality of workstations; registering an identification of the workstation; processing the one piece of meat into a plurality of meat cuttings at the workstation utilizing the instructions; and further processing one or more of the plurality of meat cuttings, wherein traceability is established between the one or more of the plurality of meat cuttings and one or more of the one piece of meat, the supplier, and the animal from which the one piece of meat originated.

A system for detecting embedded objects in a specimen that includes a transport system effecting movement of the specimen relative to an imaging zone along a transport path. The system also includes detector systems arranged to operably image the specimen in the imaging zone. Each detector system includes an emitter, detector, and a primary axis defined between the emitter and detector and that crosses the transport path. Energy from the emitter is directed along the primary axis and transmitted to a unique detector producing a succession of images as there is movement of the specimen relative to the imaging zone. The system further includes a computer system operably connected to the detector systems to receive and combine the succession of images producing a plurality of image slices that are combined as a representation of the specimen for use in detecting embedded objects in the specimen.

An imaging system containing an electron-multiplying charge-coupled device detector and line-scan spectrograph is used for identifying wholesome and unwholesome freshly slaughtered chicken carcasses on high-speed commercial chicken processing lines. Multispectral imaging algorithms allow for real-time online identification of wholesome and unwholesome chicken carcasses.

The present invention is a method and apparatus for contaminant detection in the food industry. Particularly, the method and apparatus involve collecting air samples containing aerosolized contaminate particles from a foodstuff and analyzing the sample for presence of a contaminate. Aerosol lab-on-a-chip and/or electronic nose devices are utilized for the detection of contaminant particles.

A food source information transferring system for a livestock slaughterhouse and a related method are disclosed. In one embodiment, the food source information transferring system is capable of reading first tag-identifying information in a livestock RFID tag on a body of a carcass and second tag-identifying information in a hook RFID tag incorporated in a hook that can be hung on a hook machine A food source information database can pair a first set of data associated with the livestock RFID tag with a second set of data associated with the hook RFID tag to preserve producer-level livestock information to meat-processing, distribution, and sales channels. This unique pairing of the first set of data associated with the livestock RFID tag and the second set of data associated with the hook RFID tag in the food source information database can result in seamless, robust, and lossless food source information management.

An identification apparatus for animals or carcasses carrying electronic identification devices, (EID) (2) moving past an antenna (10). The identification apparatus including motion sensing means (12, 13, 14, 17) and marking means (16) adapted to mark the animals or carcasses according to whether EID (2) is present, absent or non-functioning, whereby the animals' carcasses can be identified, drafted or sorted according to marking supplied.

Systems and methods are described that provide a fast and simple way of administering a drug program related to livestock. Specifically, accurate, automated livestock-to-carcass, meat product, or organ identification systems are provided that can receive, compile and analyze information regarding the condition of a carcass, meat product, or organ in a form that is readily readable, transferable to others, and associated with, or linked to, other information such as the feedlot, lot and/or animal of origin as well as the presence or absence of an administered drug, combination of drugs, or drug program.

In one aspect, the invention encompasses a method for electronic tracking of units originating from a common source which comprises a plurality of units physically joined with one another. A first transponder is physically associated with the common source, and the source is split to separate it into three or more of the units. A second transponder is physically associated with one of the three or more units, and the second transponder sends a code. The code of the second transponder is electrically associated with an identifier of the common source. In a particular aspect, the common source is an animal carcass.A batch comprises separate units of objects that are physically joined together. RFID tags are attached to each of the units and to the batch. The codes stored in the RFID tags are electrically associated with one another in a database.

A system and method for sorting animal protein is provided. The method includes determining a desired characteristic of a cut of meat from an animal portion and associating the desired characteristic with an attribute of the animal portion. The attribute is ascertained and the animal portion is sorted based on the ascertained attribute. Like animal portions are grouped together for further processing as a group.

The present invention relates to a method for producing food portions by means of a slicing device, in particular a slicer, wherein said food portions comprise at least one food slice and are cut from a stick of food using the slicing device, wherein the stick of food is irradiated, preferably by means of x-rays, before the particular food portion is sliced and the data measured in the process are used to control the slicing device and/or a device arranged downstream of the slicing device.