Patent ID: 7258237

Claim:
A method for separating-out of supplied natural foodstuff items for the batching of these items in weight-determined groups, said batching method comprising the steps of: a) determining the weight of each item of an incoming supply of natural foodstuff items; b) supplying said natural foodstuff items in a spaced distribution; c) using a control unit to keep track of the weight and location of each of the spaced foodstuff items and d) using at least two robots, each of which is under the control of said control unit and each of which has a gripping element for the selective gripping of a foodstuff item, to selectively grip and transfer each foodstuff item from the supply of spaced foodstuff items to a receiving location in accordance with the weight of the foodstuff items and the weight of the foodstuff items already transferred, or a combination of the foodstuff items available for transfer, so as to produce batches of foodstuff items of a predetermined weight or predetermined weight and type.