Apparatus and method for displaying numeric values corresponding to the volume of segments of an irregularly shaped item

Abstract

An apparatus and method for displaying the weight or cost of segments of an irregularly shaped item involves passing a sensor bar supported above a supporting surface over the item lying on the surface. A compact hand-held embodiment of the sensor bar enables the operator to move the sensor bar in various linear or non-linear motions over the item surface as the sensor bar moves laterally across the item surface while the sensor bar support posts remain in constant contact with the supporting surface. The sensor bar contains one or more sensors which generate signals corresponding to the height of the item as the sensor bar traverses the item. At the same time, a displacement detector arrangement generates signals corresponding to displacement of the sensor bar relative to the support surface. These signals are processed in a signal processor to determine the volume of an uncut segment of the item lying behind the sensor bar at successive positions. Each of these cumulative volume determinations may be continuously converted into numeric weight values based on the density factor for the particular type of item, whereby numeric weight and cost values (based on weight) are continuously displayed as the sensor bar is stroked over the item, thus enabling the operator to accommodate an on-looking consumer's specific requests as per the particular portion desired based on the physical appearance, weight, and cost of an item before the item is cut.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to the selective portioning of irregularly shaped items such as fish steaks or fillets, particularly at the point of sale. So far, complex and bulky machines have been designed to automatically cut food products such as fish fillets into portions of the desired weight in food packaging operations which supply pre-weighed packages to food retailers. Background technique [0002] However, at the retail level, questions remain about how to cut irregularly shaped food products such as fish steaks or fillets into specific weights (or prices based on weight) requested by consumers or to determine the weight and / or price of selected portions. exist. When a customer requests a certain weight portion of a food product, such as a fish fillet, a section is cut from the item based on the best estimate made by the server of the section's weight. After weighing, the partial result of the selection is usually not the weight (or price) ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

The automatic machine described is not capable of this function and is not suitable for retail store applications as it is too large, complex and expensive for retail store use

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