EP1109630A1 - Tri qualitatif de produits - Google Patents

Tri qualitatif de produits

Info

Publication number
EP1109630A1
EP1109630A1 EP99946461A EP99946461A EP1109630A1 EP 1109630 A1 EP1109630 A1 EP 1109630A1 EP 99946461 A EP99946461 A EP 99946461A EP 99946461 A EP99946461 A EP 99946461A EP 1109630 A1 EP1109630 A1 EP 1109630A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
product
shield
products
electromagnetic energy
shielding means
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP99946461A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Hamish Alexander Nigel Kennedy
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Kennedy Hamish ALexander Nigel
Original Assignee
Kennedy Hamish ALexander Nigel
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kennedy Hamish ALexander Nigel filed Critical Kennedy Hamish ALexander Nigel
Publication of EP1109630A1 publication Critical patent/EP1109630A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/34—Sorting according to other particular properties
    • B07C5/3416—Sorting according to other particular properties according to radiation transmissivity, e.g. for light, x-rays, particle radiation
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N33/00—Investigating or analysing materials by specific methods not covered by groups G01N1/00 - G01N31/00
    • G01N33/02—Food

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to improvements in and relating to the quality sorting of produce.
  • the terms "produce” and “products” are used in this specification by way of simplicity, but are intended to cover any and all types of items or articles.
  • the invention will be described particularly in respect of its use in the quality sorting of fruit or other food products, again by way of example only.
  • NIR Near Infra Red
  • apparatus for the non-destructive quality testing of products including:
  • apparatus for the quality testing of a product including:
  • electromagnetic energy means adapted to be directed towards a selected product
  • receiving means adapted to receive a proportion of the electromagnetic energy transmitted through the product
  • shielding means to substantially restrict the energy received by the receiving means to that transmitted through a specific portion of the products
  • control means to selectively position the shielding means at or about the product selected to be tested.
  • the method and/or apparatus defined in the above two paragraphs may include receiving means to receive a proportion of the electromagnetic energy reflected from a portion of the surface of the selected product.
  • the method and/or apparatus as defined in any one of the above three paragraphs includes the controlling of the shielding means, so as to synchronise the movement of the shielding means with the movement past the electromagnetic energy source of a plurality of the products.
  • a testing apparatus and/or method is substantially as herein described and/or with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  • FIGURE 1 shows very diagrammatically the basic principle of the present invention
  • FIGURE 2 shows very diagrammatically the basic principle of a modified version of the present invention
  • FIGURE 3 shows very diagrammatically a side view of one possible embodiment of the invention
  • FIGURE 4 shows an end view of the embodiment of Figure 3;
  • FIGURE 5 shows very diagrammatically a further possible embodiment of the invention.
  • a source of electromagnetic energy 1 of any suitable wavelength or wavelengths provides the incident energy indicated by arrow A.
  • the electromagnetic energy may be ultraviolet, visible, infra red, or Near Infra Red (NIR), although other wavelengths may be utilised such as microwave energy.
  • NIR Near Infra Red
  • the product 2 is shown in this example as being an item of fruit and positioned so as to receive the energy A.
  • a force indicated by arrow B may be provided if appropriate to hold the product 2 in position to receive the incident energy A and this may be by any suitable restraining means, bias or the like, or alternatively, it is envisaged that gravity may be adequate in some circumstances.
  • a proportion of the energy A is shown being reflected from the product 1 as indicated by the arrows C. Some of the energy A will, however, be transmitted through the product 2 as indicated by the arrows D.
  • the shielding means 3 may be of any suitable type effectively providing an energy seal about that portion of the product 2. That proportion of the transmitted energy is then shown being directed along an energy transfer means such as a fibre optic cable 4 to be received in a suitable data analysing means 5 such as a spectrometer.
  • the spectrometer 5 it is envisaged, will include or be connected with a suitable CPU so that the spectrum of the transmitted energy can be analysed and used to identify the characteristics of the product 2 by the appropriate matching with already calibrated data.
  • the spectrum of the transmitted energy will be different depending on the type of product 2, and the internal characteristics of the product 2, enabling a plurality of such products to be sorted according to the required characteristics. It will be appreciated that the proportion of transmitted energy D will be much less than that which is reflected C and it is for that reason that the shielding or sealing means 3 will be required in order that the selected portion of the product 2 can effectively be closed off to ensure that substantially all of the transmitted energy D travelling through that portion can then be directed through the energy transfer means 4.
  • the shielding means 3 may be of any suitable type, but it is envisaged that the product contacting end of the shielding means 3 may suitably be at least partially flexible so as to enable a good seal to be provided about the surface of the product 2 without damaging that surface and bellows or concertina type flexible rubber or plastics shielding means 3 may be appropriate for this purpose.
  • a further energy transfer means 6 such as a fibre optic cable is also receiving a proportion of the reflected energy C and transmitting it to a further analysing means 7 such as a spectrometer to analyse the reflected energy.
  • the reflected energy 6 will generally contain information about the surface properties of the product 2, whereas the transmitted energy D will generally provide information regarding the internal as well as the surface properties of the product 2. Accordingly, by analysing both the reflected and transmitted energy characteristics, it is believed that a more composite analysis of the characteristics of the product 2 may be obtained, and such analysis may, it is envisaged, include a comparison between the transmitted and reflected energy, which from already calibrated data, may identify particular properties of the product 2.
  • FIG. 3 one possible embodiment of the invention is shown very diagrammatically, and is shown with a plurality of shielding means 3 mounted radially on a central structure 8 able to rotate the shielding means 3 as indicated by the arrow E.
  • the products 2 are shown being carried singly on a produce sorting conveyor of any suitable type 9 with the rotation of the structure 8 being synchronised with the travel of the conveyor 9 in the direction of arrow F so that the arrival of product 2X will coincide with the arrival of one of the shielding means 3 which will be able to engage with and seal against the product 2X to enable the analysis of transmitted energy to be performed.
  • a pair of energy sources 1 are shown positioned by way of example on either side of the product 2 and the shielding means 3 is shown including a moveable plunger or the like 10 which can move the flexible portion 1 1 of the shielding means 3 into engagement with the product 2.
  • the plunger or the like 10 or alternatively some form of spring bias, may be of advantage in providing a pressure of the shielding means 3 against the surface of the product 2. Additionally, or alternatively, it is envisaged that a partial vacuum could be provided for the shielding means 3 to enhance the sealing contact of the shielding means 3 with the product 2.
  • a benefit of having a concertina bellows type mechanism of, for example, a soft opaque material such as rubber is that a substantially light pressure can be applied to the product 2 while achieving a good seal with the additional benefit of the shielding means 3 being able to compensate for size difference between the products 2.
  • Suitable control means will be provided, it is envisaged, to ensure that energy is only able to be received by the analysing means 5 from the particular shielding means 3 in contact with the product 2 at any time.
  • FIG. 5 shows one such alternative embodiment where the shielding means 3 are provided on a belt or conveyor or the like 1 1 driven around a pair of rotating structures 8.
  • the raising and lowering of the plungers or the like 1 0 could be by suitable mechanical, electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic means in the latter case such as compressed air. It is also envisaged that the products may possibly be associated with a suitable transporting means such as a vacuum which could bring the selected product 2 closer to the shielding means 3 and/or the analysing means 5.
  • the incident energy A may be provided in the form of narrow bands of electromagnetic energy, e.g. monochromatic light with the analysing means 5 being sensitive to a wide band of electromagnetic energy.
  • the incident energy could be monochromatic light, visible and infra red and the wide band detector and analyser could be a photo sensor, which is sensitive to both visible and infra red light.
  • the incident radiation could be narrow band energy and the reflected/transmitted energy could be detected with a narrow band detector to see how the wavelength has shifted.
  • Fluorescent radiation is an option which could be used.
  • LEDs Light Emitting Diodes
  • laser or diodes of different frequencies could be utilised.
  • a further alternative would be to use a tunable laser which is stepped through a range of frequencies with the transmitted and possibly the reflected energy being measured at each frequency with a suitable light sensitive detector.
  • the present invention could enable combination packs of produce to be provided, which for example, could include a red apple, a green apple, an orange and a pear with the characteristics of each product such as sweetness, firmness or the like also being known and with the present invention also enabling any excess produce of a particular quality or type to be recycled or transferred elsewhere while an optimum mix of the required produce is also obtained.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Investigating Or Analysing Materials By Optical Means (AREA)

Abstract

Un procédé/appareil de tri de produits comprend un écran flexible (3) en forme d'accordéon venant en contact étanche avec une partie de la surface du produit (2) à une extrémité pour recevoir le rayonnement électromagnétique transmis à travers le produit, et à l'autre extrémité de l'écran est positionné un dispositif (4) récepteur du rayonnement électromagnétique, ainsi qu'un moyen de commande destiné à positionner sélectivement le moyen formant écran sur ou autour du produit sélectionné (fig.3).
EP99946461A 1998-09-07 1999-09-07 Tri qualitatif de produits Withdrawn EP1109630A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NZ33175198 1998-09-07
NZ33175198 1998-09-07
PCT/NZ1999/000151 WO2000013809A1 (fr) 1998-09-07 1999-09-07 Tri qualitatif de produits

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1109630A1 true EP1109630A1 (fr) 2001-06-27

Family

ID=19926916

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99946461A Withdrawn EP1109630A1 (fr) 1998-09-07 1999-09-07 Tri qualitatif de produits

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1109630A1 (fr)
AU (1) AU5886399A (fr)
WO (1) WO2000013809A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL1019600C2 (nl) * 2001-12-18 2003-06-19 Greefs Wagen Carrosserie Inrichting voor het classificeren van producten.

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5726750A (en) * 1995-06-29 1998-03-10 Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. Non-destructive taste characteristics measuring apparatus and tray used in the apparatus
US5760399A (en) * 1995-10-02 1998-06-02 Foss Nirsystems, Inc. Measurement of transmission spectra of pharmaceutical tablets
JPH1019772A (ja) * 1996-07-01 1998-01-23 Ishikawajima Shibaura Mach Co Ltd 果実の糖度測定装置
JP3458614B2 (ja) * 1996-08-23 2003-10-20 住友金属鉱山株式会社 光学特性測定装置
JP3650693B2 (ja) * 1997-12-03 2005-05-25 株式会社マキ製作所 農産物の内部品質検査システム

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0013809A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5886399A (en) 2000-03-27
WO2000013809A1 (fr) 2000-03-16

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