John Bean Technologies Corporation

Matthew F Falkoski

George R Blaine

John R Strong

Richard Daniel Stockard

David A Below

An animal ribcage primal cut having a bone array located therein is portioned into one or more sub primal cuts, each having at least one bone located therein. The primal cut is scanned at scanning stationwhile being conveyed on a conveyorto determine the physical characteristics of the primal cut. A processordetermines how to portion the primal cut into desired sub primal cuts in accordance with desired physical characteristics of the sub primal cut and production requirements for the sub primal cuts. A controller controls a cutter to divide the primal cut into one or more sub primal cuts according to the determination previously made on how to portion the primal cut into desired sub primal cuts.

Portioning/trimming of rib primal cuts

Workpieces WP are scanned at a scanning station () while being transported on a conveyor (). A control system () analyzes the scanning data to develop a three-dimensional model of the workpiece WP and determine how to portion or trim the workpiece as desired. The cutting/trimming paths made through the workpiece is compared with the predetermined cutting paths to quantify the correspondence (or deviance) of the actual cutting paths from the predetermining cutting paths. This information is reviewed to determine whether the system () is operating property. If the alignment of the actual cutting/trimming paths with the predetermined cutting/trimming paths are not within a predetermined set point, the control system () seeks to determine the cause of the deviation as well as determine what remedial steps to take to restore the alignment of the actual cutting/trimming paths with the predetermined cutting/trimming paths.

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Bothell, WA, United States of America

Matthew F Falkoski