# US 2021/0080025 A1 · Food article defect removal apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0080025 A1 - Document ID: US20210080025A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/000,510 - Filed: 2020-08-24 - Published: 2021-03-18 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-19 - Assignees: Lamb Weston, Inc. - Applicants: Lamb Weston, Inc. - Inventors: Phillip Klein; Kevin Mellor; Chris Rhynalds - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210080025A1 ## CPC - F16K 37/0025: {Electrical or magnetic means (F16K37/0075 takes precedence)} - B07C 5/368: {actuated independently} - F16K 31/0675: {Electromagnet aspects, e.g. electric supply therefor} - F16K 37/0058: {Optical means, e.g. light transmission, observation ports (F16K37/0075 takes precedence)} - B07C 2501/0018: Sorting the articles during free fall - B07C 2501/0081: Sorting of food items - B07C 2501/009: Sorting of fruit - F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)} - B07C: POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING (specially adapted for a specific purpose covered by another class, see the relevant place, e.g. A43D33/06, B23Q7/12) ## Abstract A food article defect removal apparatus includes a manifold that defines one or more chambers for holding pressurized fluid. First channels extend from a first side of the manifold into fluid communication with the chambers. Second channels extend from the first side of the manifold to a second side of the manifold. Valves selectively connect corresponding first channels and second channels together to dispense the pressurized fluid from the manifold. The manifold can have an exterior wall that at least partially defines a first chamber and a second chamber, with an interior wall disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber. The interior wall can define the second channels. The valves can be included with a valve assembly, which includes a driver operably coupled with the valves. The valves can be pluggably coupled with the driver. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 -20. (canceled) ### Claim 21 A food article defect removal system for removing defective food articles from a food processing line, the food article defect removal system comprising: a manifold comprising an exterior wall at least partially defining a first chamber and a second chamber configured for holding pressurized fluid, the exterior wall defining a first plurality of channels extending from a first side of the manifold into fluid communication with at least one of the first chamber or the second chamber, the manifold comprising an interior wall disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, the interior wall defining a second plurality of channels extending from the first side of the manifold to a second side of the manifold; a valve assembly comprising a plurality of valves selectively connecting each one of the first plurality of channels to a corresponding one of the second plurality of channels for selectively dispensing the pressurized fluid from the second side of the manifold, wherein at least one valve of the plurality of valves includes: a coil configured to produce a magnetic field when electrical current is passed through the coil to operate the at least one valve; an optical indicator configured to transmit an optical indication corresponding to at least one health characteristic of the at least one valve; an optical sensor configured to receive the optical indication from the optical indicator; and a current sensor configured to connect to an electrical circuit including the coil and a current source for supplying electrical current to the coil; and a controller communicatively coupled with the valve assembly, the optical sensor, and the current sensor, the controller configured to determine a plurality of rates of change of electrical current supplied to the coil, compare the optical indication and the plurality of rates of change to determine a health of the at least one valve, and report the health of the at least one valve. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 21, wherein the first side of the manifold is different from the second side of the manifold. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 21, wherein the manifold comprises an extrusion that includes the exterior wall and the interior wall. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 21, wherein at least one of the second plurality of channels comprises a first bore extending from the first side of the manifold into fluid communication with a second bore extending from the second side of the manifold. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 21, wherein the first chamber defines a first volume, the second chamber defines a second volume, and the first chamber and the second chamber are connected to join the first volume and the second volume together in fluid communication to hold the pressurized fluid. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 21, wherein the at least one valve comprises a solenoid valve. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 21, wherein the optical indicator comprises a light emitting diode. ### Claim 28 (depends on 21) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to determine the at least one valve is unhealthy when a back electromotive force determined for the at least one valve based upon the plurality of rates of change does not correspond to an optical indication from the optical indicator that electrical current is passing through the coil. ### Claim 29 (depends on 21) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to determine the at least one valve is unhealthy when an optical indication from the optical indicator that electrical current is passing through the coil does not correspond to a back electromotive force determined for the at least one valve. ### Claim 30 (depends on 21) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 21, wherein the controller is configured to determine a response time for the at least one valve based upon at least one of the optical indication or the plurality of rates of change and to report the response time of the at least one valve. ### Claim 31 (depends on 21) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 21, further comprising a driver operably coupled with the plurality of valves for selectively actuating individual ones of the plurality of valves, the plurality of valves pluggably coupled with the driver. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 31, wherein the driver comprises a printed circuit board. ### Claim 33 A food article defect removal system for removing defective food articles from a food processing line, the food article defect removal system comprising: a manifold comprising an extrusion including an exterior wall at least partially defining a first chamber and a second chamber configured for holding pressurized fluid, the exterior wall defining a first plurality of channels extending from a first side of the extrusion into fluid communication with at least one of the first chamber or the second chamber, the extrusion comprising an interior wall disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, the interior wall defining a second plurality of channels extending from the first side of the extrusion to a second side of the extrusion; a plurality of valves selectively connecting each one of the first plurality of channels to a corresponding one of the second plurality of channels for selectively dispensing the pressurized fluid from the second side of the extrusion, wherein at least one valve of the plurality of valves includes: a coil configured to produce a magnetic field when electrical current is passed through the coil to operate the at least one valve; an optical indicator configured to transmit an optical indication corresponding to at least one health characteristic of the at least one valve; and an optical sensor configured to receive the optical indication from the optical indicator. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 33, wherein the at least one valve further comprises a current sensor configured to connect to an electrical circuit including the coil. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 34, further comprising: a current source for supplying electrical current to the coil; and a controller communicatively coupled with the at least one valve, the optical sensor, and the current sensor, the controller configured to determine a plurality of rates of change of electrical current supplied to the coil, compare the optical indication and the plurality of rates of change to determine a health of the at least one valve, and report the health of the at least one valve. ### Claim 36 (depends on 21) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 21, wherein the first side of the extrusion is different from the second side of the extrusion. ### Claim 37 (depends on 21) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 21, wherein at least one of the second plurality of channels comprises a first bore extending from the first side of the extrusion into fluid communication with a second bore extending from the second side of the extrusion. ### Claim 38 (depends on 21) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 21, wherein the first chamber defines a first volume, the second chamber defines a second volume, and the first chamber and the second chamber are connected to join the first volume and the second volume together in fluid communication to hold the pressurized fluid. ### Claim 39 A food article defect removal system for removing defective food articles from a food processing line, the food article defect removal system comprising: a manifold comprising an exterior wall at least partially defining a first chamber and a second chamber configured for holding pressurized fluid, the exterior wall defining a first plurality of channels extending from a first side of the manifold into fluid communication with at least one of the first chamber or the second chamber, the manifold comprising an interior wall disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber, the interior wall defining a second plurality of channels extending from the first side of the manifold to a second side of the manifold; a plurality of valves selectively connecting each one of the first plurality of channels to a corresponding one of the second plurality of channels for selectively dispensing the pressurized fluid from the second side of the extrusion, wherein at least one valve of the plurality of valves includes: a coil configured to produce a magnetic field when electrical current is passed through the coil to operate the at least one valve; an optical indicator configured to transmit an optical indication corresponding to at least one health characteristic of the at least one valve; and an optical sensor configured to receive the optical indication from the optical indicator. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The food article defect removal system as recited in claim 39, further comprising: a current sensor configured to connect to an electrical circuit including the coil; a current source for supplying electrical current to the coil; and a controller communicatively coupled with the at least one valve, the optical sensor, and the current sensor, the controller configured to determine a plurality of rates of change of electrical current supplied to the coil, compare the optical indication and the plurality of rates of change to determine a health of the at least one valve, and report the health of the at least one valve.