Patent ID: 8166856

Claim:
A method of cutting a three-dimensional portion from a foodstuff, comprising: (a) using a scanner to scan the foodstuff; (b) using a computer to perform the steps comprising: (i) building a three-dimensional map of the foodstuff from the scan and storing the three-dimensional map in the memory of the computer; (ii) fitting at least one desired shape, which is stored in the memory of the computer, into the three-dimensional map of the foodstuff in the memory of the computer; and (iii) determining one or more cutting paths to be used in portioning the foodstuff so as to produce one or more of the three-dimensional portions of the foodstuff each corresponding to the at least one desired shape; and (c) using a cutter to portion the foodstuff, according to the one or more cutting paths, into the one or more three-dimensional portions of the foodstuff.