Method and device for detecting dirt as present on articles, for example eggs
AssigneeFPS Food Processing Systems B.V.
InventorsPeter Bollinger, Wolfgang Pomrehn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and device for detecting dirt on eggs is provided which comprises exposing the eggs to ultraviolet light, capturing images of the exposed eggs resulting in images formed of pixels, and determining within the images, surface areas of dirt by correlating data of contrast and data of position of the pixels. Such a method enables selecting and subsequently removing eggs which contain dirt surface areas of a predetermined size. Further, such a method and device may be applied advantageously for both white and brown eggs in egg sorting machines.
Claims26
A method for detecting dirt on eggs, comprising,
- exposing eggs to ultraviolet light,
- capturing images of the exposed eggs, said images comprising pixels, and
- determining within said images surface areas of dirt on the basis that egg shells are fluorescent whereas a dirt surface is not fluorescent by correlating data of contrast and data of position of said pixels.
A method for selecting dirty eggs, comprising,
- supplying the eggs to be selected,
- exposing said eggs to ultraviolet light,
- capturing images of exposed eggs, said images comprising pixels,
- determining within said images surface areas of dirt on the basis that egg shells are fluorescent, whereas a dirt surface is not fluorescent by correlating data of contrast and data of position of said pixels,
- comparing said areas to reference areas having a limit value of an acceptable amount of dirt,
- determining eggs for which said limit has been exceeded,
- selecting said eggs for which said limit has been exceeded, and
- removing said eggs after said selecting.
A device for detecting dirt on eggs, comprising,
- support means for said eggs,
- a source of ultraviolet light for exposing said eggs, characterized in that the device will comprise:
- a camera for imaging said eggs for obtaining images of said articles,
- an image processing means for determining data of contrast and data of position of pixels building up said images, and
- data processing means for correlating said data of contrast and said data of position on the basis that egg shells are fluorescent, whereas a dirt surface is not fluorescent in order thereby determine dirt surface areas of said supported eggs.
A device for selecting dirty eggs, comprising,
- means comprising a conveyor for supplying and removing said eggs, for selecting and selected eggs respectively,
- a source of ultraviolet light for exposing said eggs,
- a camera for imaging said eggs for obtaining images of said eggs,
- an image processing means for determining data of contrast and data of position of pixels building up said images, and
- data processing means for correlating said data of contrast and said data of position on the basis that egg shells are fluorescent whereas a dirt surface is not fluorescent in order thereby determine dirt surface areas of said supported articles,
- means for comparing said surface areas of dirt to reference areas having a limit value of an acceptable amount of dirt,
- means for determining eggs for which said limit has been exceeded, and
- means for selecting said eggs for which said limit has been exceeded.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.