Dynamic Food Item Batching Control Signal for Weight Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food processing systems face challenges in effectively adjusting the size or weight of food items to meet batching criteria, often resulting in excess weight trimming or overweight batches due to static assumptions about food item weights and variations.
Innovation Solution
A method that dynamically generates a control cutting signal based on the weight of individual food items and a plurality of items in the system, allowing for dynamic adjustment of food item weights to meet predefined batch target criteria, such as weight targets or average weight optimization, by cutting off parts of food items only if it reduces the weight by more than a predefined minimum, thereby minimizing overweight batches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If food item weight is reduced by cutting to meet batch target criteria, then batch weight accuracy is improved, but excess weight trimming occurs leading to loss of substance
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the cutting decision for each food item based on real-time weight measurements of multiple items and current batch composition, rather than applying a static cutting rule. This allows the system to optimize batch weight accuracy while minimizing unnecessary trimming by adapting to varying food item weights and batch requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter being controlled from individual food item weight to batch-level weight composition. By evaluating multiple food item weights together and making cutting decisions based on how each item contributes to the overall batch target, the system achieves better batch weight accuracy with reduced excess trimming compared to individual item-based approaches.
2Manufacturing precision
If food item weight is reduced by cutting to meet batch target criteria, then batch weight criterion compliance is improved, but processing time increases due to additional cutting operations
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies cutting operations selectively and partially - only when necessary to meet batch targets and only by the minimum amount required. By evaluating multiple food items and making intelligent selection about which items to cut and by how much, the system achieves batch target compliance while minimizing the total cutting operations required, thus reducing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses real-time weight measurements of food items and current batch composition as feedback to dynamically determine cutting decisions. This feedback mechanism allows the system to make precise, data-driven decisions about whether cutting is necessary and how much to cut, optimizing both compliance with batch targets and processing efficiency by avoiding unnecessary cutting operations.
3Device complexity
If static weight assumptions are used for food items, then processing complexity is reduced, but batch weight accuracy deteriorates due to weight variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces static mechanical assumptions about food item weights with dynamic electronic weight measurement and computational processing. By using weight determining means to measure actual weights and a control system to process this data, the system achieves high batch weight accuracy while keeping processing complexity manageable through automated electronic control rather than manual or mechanical methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables food items to effectively 'self-report' their weights through automated weight determination, eliminating the need for manual weight assessment or complex pre-programmed weight assumptions. This self-service approach allows the system to adapt to actual weight variations automatically, maintaining batch accuracy without requiring complex processing logic about expected weight ranges.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for processing and batching food items in a food processing system (1) according to a predefined batch target criterion, said method comprising the steps of conveying a food item (2a) to weight determining means (3), determining the weight of said food item (2a) by means of said weight determining means (3), and processing said determined weight of said food item (2a) together with a weight of a plurality of food items. The processing includes dynamically generating a control cutting signal. The method further comprises determining if said dynamically generated control cutting signal indicates that cutting off a part of said food item will increase a prospect to meet the predefined batch target criterion, and in the confirmative convey said food item to a separation device wherein a part of said food item is cut off.