# US 10,310,493 B2 · System and method for assessment of a workpiece in a continuous flow process > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,310,493 B2 - Document ID: US10310493B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/174,910 - Filed: 2016-06-06 - Published: 2017-04-20 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-16 - Assignees: John Bean Technologies Corporation - Applicants: John Bean Technologies Corporation - Inventors: Jon A. Hocker; George R. Blaine; Craig E. Pfarr - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10310493B2 ## CPC - G05B 23/0205: {by means of a monitoring system capable of detecting and responding to faults} - A22C 17/0006: {Cutting or shaping meat} - A22C 17/008: {for measuring quality, e.g. to determine further processing} - A22C 17/0086: {Calculating cutting patterns based on visual recognition} - A22C 21/0023: {Dividing poultry} - A22C 21/0053: {Transferring or conveying devices for poultry} - G01N 3/42: by performing impressions under a steady load by indentors, e.g. sphere, pyramid (G01N3/54 takes precedence) - G01N 33/12: Meat; Fish - G05B 19/0428: {Safety, monitoring (G05B19/0423 takes precedence)} - G01N 3/30: by applying a single impulsive force, e.g. by falling weight - G01N 3/40: Investigating hardness or rebound hardness - G01N 33/34: Paper - G01N 33/36: Textiles - G01N 33/44: Resins; Plastics; Rubber; Leather - G01N 33/46: Wood - G01N 2203/0094: Visco-elasticity - G05B 2219/31274: Convey products, move equipment according to production plan in memory - G05B 2219/40554: Object recognition to track object on conveyor - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - A22C: PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH (preserving A23B; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs A23J1/00; fish, meat or poultry preparations A23L; disintegrating, e.g. chopping meat, B02C18/00; preparation of proteins C07K1/00) - G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q) ## Abstract A system for measuring physical properties of a workpiece in motion which includes a conveyance assembly for conveying the workpiece, a scanning assembly for scanning the workpiece, and a measurement assembly for measuring at least one physical property of the workpiece while the workpiece is in motion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for measuring physical properties of a workpiece in motion, comprising: (a) a conveyance assembly for conveying the workpiece; (b) a scanning assembly for scanning the workpiece; and (c) a measurement assembly for measuring at least one viscoelastic property of the workpiece while the workpiece is in motion, wherein the measurement assembly is a rotary actuator configured to selectively move an impact device into and out of engagement with the workpiece while the workpiece is in motion, wherein the impact device is coupled to an output shaft of the rotary actuator, wherein an axis of the output shaft is substantially transverse to an axis of the impact device, and wherein the axis of the output shaft is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the conveyance assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement assembly further comprises a strain gauge. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the measurement assembly is configured to test the at least one viscoelastic property of the workpiece without damaging the workpiece. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising an unloading assembly operable to remove at least one of whole or cut workpiece portions from the conveyance assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising a control system processor operable to process scanning information data and direct the measurement assembly to a workpiece area of interest for measuring the at least one viscoelastic property of the workpiece. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one carrier unit for carrying together both a cutting assembly for cutting the workpiece and at least one unloading system to remove the cut portions from the conveyance assembly and place said removed cut portions at selected locations away from the conveyance assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising a sorting assembly configured to remove the workpiece from the conveyance assembly after being measured by the measurement assembly. ### Claim 8 A method of processing a workpiece in motion based on measured physical properties of the workpiece, comprising: (a) moving at least one workpiece along a conveyance assembly; (b) scanning the at least one workpiece to determine a workpiece region of interest; (c) selectively rotating an impact device into and out of engagement with the at least one workpiece at the region of interest while the at least one workpiece is in motion to measure at least one viscoelastic property of the at least one workpiece wherein the impact device is coupled to an output shaft of the rotary actuator, wherein an axis of the output shaft is substantially transverse to an axis of the impact device, and wherein the axis of the output shaft is substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the conveyance assembly; (d) comparing the measurement data to predetermined criteria; and (e) selecting a subsequent processing step for the at least one workpiece based upon said comparison. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising measuring the at least one viscoelastic property of the at least one workpiece without damaging the workpiece. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the at least one viscoelastic property is time dependent strain. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising unloading at least one of whole and cut portions of the at least one workpiece with an unloading assembly. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising processing the at least one workpiece with a cutting assembly if the measurement data meets predetermined criteria. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, further comprising removing the at least one workpiece processed by the cutting assembly with one of a sorting assembly, an unloading assembly, and a harvesting assembly. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, further comprising removing the at least one workpiece not processed by the cutting assembly with one of a sorting assembly, an unloading assembly, and a harvesting assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising removing the at least one workpiece from the conveyance assembly with one of a sorting assembly, an unloading assembly, and a harvesting assembly if the measurement data meets predetermined criteria. ### Claim 16 A system for measuring physical properties of a workpiece in motion, comprising: (a) a conveyance assembly for conveying the workpiece; (b) a scanning assembly for scanning the workpiece; (c) a measurement assembly for measuring at least one physical property of the workpiece while the workpiece is in motion; (d) a first carrier unit for moving the measurement assembly relative to the conveyance assembly to measure the workpiece while the workpiece is in motion; and (e) at least a second carrier unit for carrying together both a cutting assembly for cutting the workpiece and at least one unloading system to remove the cut portions from the conveyance assembly and place said removed cut portions at selected locations away from the conveyance assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system according to claim 16, wherein the measurement assembly is a linear servo motor having a shaft vertically oriented relative to the conveyance assembly and moveable toward and away from the conveyance assembly, wherein an end effector is defined on a distal end of the shaft for engaging the workpiece. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the rotary actuator is a rotary servo motor having a servo motor controller configured to control at least one of the angular position, velocity, and acceleration of the impact device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system according to claim 18, further comprising an optical rotary encoder in communication with the servo motor controller that is configured to provide positional feedback of the impact device as it is moved into and out of engagement with the at least one workpiece while the workpiece is in motion. ### Claim 20 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising varying at least one of the angular position, velocity, and acceleration of the impact device to suitable engage and measure the at least one viscoelastic property of the at least one workpiece while the workpiece is in motion. ### Claim 21 A system for measuring physical properties of a workpiece in motion, comprising: (a) a conveyance assembly for conveying the workpiece; (b) a scanning assembly for scanning the workpiece; and (c) a measurement assembly for measuring at least one viscoelastic property of the workpiece while the workpiece is in motion in multiple measurement motions per workpiece. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The system of claim 21, further comprising an actuator configured to move an impact device into and out of engagement with the workpiece without damaging the workpiece.