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US 7,173,708 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for detecting damage in plant products
AssigneeSunkist Growers, Inc.
InventorsJuan Gutierrez Ibarra, James B. Sheffler, Matias C. Gonzales, Jr., Richard D. Heck, Henry A. Affeldt, Jr.
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus of sorting plant products based on damage to the plant products is disclosed. A beam emitter emits an illumination light toward the outer surface of a plant product. A beam detector detects substantially a single wavelength of a reflected light produced by the plant product responsive to the illumination light. A control unit determines at least one of a presence, an amount, and a severity of damage responsive to the reflected light. The control unit assigns a damage category to the plant product responsive to the determination of damage.
Claims53
A method of sorting plant products based on damage to the plant products, the method comprising the steps of:
- emitting an illumination light toward an outer surface of a plant product to produce a narrow beam defining a line of light on said outer surface that is perpendicular to a travel direction of the plant product;
- detecting with a narrow field of view overlapping said line of light on said outer surface substantially a single wavelength of a reflected light produced by the plant product responsive to the illumination light without detecting light at other wavelengths;
- rotating the plant product about an axis parallel to said direction of travel and at a predetermined rotation rate;
- determining, in response to reflected light from a plurality of detected narrow beams accumulated sequentially as the plant product is moved and rotated in a direction of travel, at least one of a presence, an amount, and a severity of damage responsive to the reflected light solely at a single wavelength;
- assigning a damage category to the plant product responsive to the determination of damage;
- and
- sorting a plant product on the basis of an assigned category.
4 more elements
An apparatus for inspecting plant products for damage to the plant products, comprising:
- a first beam emitter for providing a first illumination light to a plant product to produce a narrow beam defining a line of light on said outer surface that is perpendicular to a travel direction of the plant product;
- a first beam detector for detecting with a narrow field of view overlapping said line of light on said outer surface substantially a single wavelength of first reflected light from the plant product without detecting light at other wavelengths and responsively producing a first reflection signal;
- means for rotating the plant product about an axis parallel to said direction of travel and at a predetermined rotation rate;
- and
- a control unit for receiving first reflection signals and in response to reflected light from a plurality of detected narrow beams accumulated sequentially as the plant product is moved and rotated in a direction of travel, responsively assigning a damage category to the plant product;
- wherein
- the control unit determines at least one of a presence, an amount, and a severity of damage responsive to the first reflection signal solely at a single wavelength and assigns the damage category to the plant product responsive to the determination of damage.
4 more elements
An apparatus for sorting plant products based on damage, comprising:
- a first beam emitter for providing a first illumination light to a plant product to produce a narrow beam defining a line of light on said outer surface that is perpendicular to a travel direction of the plant product;
- a first beam detector for detecting with a narrow field of view overlapping said line of light on said outer surface substantially a single wavelength of first reflected light from the plant product without detecting light at other wavelengths and responsively producing a first reflection signal;
- means for rotating the plant product about an axis parallel to said direction of travel and at a predetermined rotation rate;
- means for determining, in response to reflected light from a plurality of detected narrow beams accumulated sequentially as the plant product is moved and rotated in a direction of travel, and responsive to substantially a single wavelength of light_solely on the basis of a measurement at the single wavelength and without detecting light at other wavelengths, at least one of a presence, an amount, and a severity of damage to a surface of the plant product;
- and
- means for sorting the plant products into one of two or more damage categories responsive to the determination of damage.
3 more elements
An apparatus for scanning a plant product to detect damage to the plant product, comprising:
- at least one beam emitter, each for providing an illumination light to the plant product, each emitter operative to produce a narrow beam defining a line of light on said outer surface that is perpendicular to a travel direction of the plant product;
- at least one beam detector, each for detecting with a narrow field of view overlapping said line of light on said outer surface a reflected light from the plant product without detecting light at other wavelengths and responsively producing at least one reflection signal;
- and
- a control unit for receiving the at least one reflection signal, and in response to reflected light from a plurality of detected narrow beams accumulated sequentially as the plant product is moved and rotated in a direction of travel, and responsively generating a plant product image;
- wherein the reflected light has substantially a single wavelength and wherein damage to the plant product is detected responsive to the plant product image generated solely by light reflected at the single wavelength.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.