Rotatable manifold cutter for use in portioning

Abstract

Portioning system 10 includes a scanner 200 for scanning work products 13 being carried on the conveyor 12 . A cutter system 17 includes an array or singular manifold cutter 18 and single cutter 19 for cutting the work products into desired sized end pieces. The cutter assemblies 18 and 19 are carried on respective carriages 16 and 26 to move the cutters as required along predetermined cutting paths as controlled by control system 220.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
         1 . A portioning system for portioning work products positioned along a conveyor belt as the work product is carried by the conveyor belt, comprising a first cutter assembly, comprising:
 (a) a first carriage;   (b) a first gantry disposable transversely to the direction of travel of the conveyor belt for supporting and guiding the first carriage for movement along the first gantry;   (c) a first drive system for moving the first carriage along the first gantry;   (d) a cutter manifold carried by the first carriage for emitting a plurality of cutting beams; and   (e) a rotational drive to rotate the cutter manifold about an axis.   
     
     
         2 . The portioning system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first drive system comprises:
 a first motive system for the first carriage, the first motive system positioned at a location remote from the first carriage and from the first gantry; and   a first drive train connecting the first carriage with the remotely located first motive system.   
     
     
         3 . The portioning system according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the first motive system is located remotely from the cutter manifold; and   the first drive train also interconnects the first motive system with the cutter manifold, the first drive train transmitting motive force from the remotely located first motive system to rotate the cutter manifold about an axis.   
     
     
         4 . The portioning system according to  claim 3 , wherein the first drive train comprises a drive belt extending between the cutter manifold and the remotely located first motive system. 
     
     
         5 . The portioning system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a mounting structure for mounting the cutter manifold to the first carriage. 
     
     
         6 . The portioning system according to  claim 1 , wherein said cutter manifold comprising a plurality of outlets to emit cutter beams from said plurality of outlets. 
     
     
         7 . The portioning system according to  claim 6 , wherein said outlets are controllable between on and off conditions. 
     
     
         8 . The portioning system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second cutter assembly, comprising:
 (a) a second carriage;   (b) a second gantry for supporting and guiding the second carriage for movement along the second gantry;   (c) a second drive system for moving the second carriage along the second gantry; and   (d) a line cutter carried by the second carriage.   
     
     
         9 . The portioning system according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a third carriage support structure, supported and carried by the second carriage; and   a third carriage adapted to ride along the third carriage support structure, the line cutter carried by the third carriage.   
     
     
         10 . The portioning system according to  claim 9 , wherein said second drive system also moves the third carriage along the third carriage support structure, the second drive system comprising:
 a second motive system for the second and third carriages, the second motive system positioned at a location remote from both the second and third carriages, and from the second gantry and the third carriage support structure; and   a second drive train interconnecting the third carriage with the remotely located second motive system of the second drive system, said second drive train transmitting motive force from the remotely located second motive system to the third carriage to move the third carriage along the third carriage support structure.   
     
     
         11 . A portioning apparatus for portioning food products, comprising:
 (a) a first cutter for emitting an array of cutting beams; and   (b) a drive system for simultaneously translating and optionally rotating the first cutter to alter the cutting paths of the cutting beams.   
     
     
         12 . The portioning apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a conveyor for conveying food products along the path of the conveyor, said drive system translating and optionally rotating said first cutter over the conveyor path. 
     
     
         13 . The portioning apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising a control system for maintaining the cutting path of the cutting beams along a reference path with respect to the food product. 
     
     
         14 . The portioning apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said control system maintains the cutting paths of the cutting beams along the desired reference path when the food product is not aligned with the direction of travel of the conveyor. 
     
     
         15 . The portioning apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a second cutter emitting a cutter beam;   a second cutter drive system for translation of the second cutter; and   a control system for coordinating the translation of the second cutter and the movement of the first cutter for cutting food products into desired portions.   
     
     
         16 . A method of cutting a workpiece, comprising:
 moving a workpiece along a travel path; and   moving an array cutter emitting a plurality of cutter beams in a controlled manner along a translational path and optionally simultaneously about a rotational axis relative to the travel path of the workpiece.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising controlling the movement of the array cutter to cut the workpiece into one or more strips along the desired cutting path. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein controlling the movement of the array cutter includes controlling the overall width of the cutting path created by a plurality of cutter beams by rotation of the array cutter about the rotational axis. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein controlling the movement of the cutter beams comprises controlling the rotational orientation of the array cutter about the rotational axis to cut the workpiece into one or more strips of a desired width. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising moving a second cutter across the one or more strips of the workpiece resulting from the cutting of the workpiece by the array cutter.