EP2112887A1 - Procédé et appareil de manipulation d'aliments - Google Patents

Procédé et appareil de manipulation d'aliments

Info

Publication number
EP2112887A1
EP2112887A1 EP08709488A EP08709488A EP2112887A1 EP 2112887 A1 EP2112887 A1 EP 2112887A1 EP 08709488 A EP08709488 A EP 08709488A EP 08709488 A EP08709488 A EP 08709488A EP 2112887 A1 EP2112887 A1 EP 2112887A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
food piece
foreign object
mark
food
operator
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Withdrawn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
EP08709488A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Ulrich Nielsen
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.)
Ishida Europe Ltd
Original Assignee
Ishida Europe Ltd
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 Ishida Europe Ltd filed Critical Ishida Europe Ltd
Publication of EP2112887A1 publication Critical patent/EP2112887A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
    • A22B—SLAUGHTERING
    • A22B5/00—Accessories for use during or after slaughtering
    • A22B5/0064—Accessories for use during or after slaughtering for classifying or grading carcasses; for measuring back fat
    • A22B5/007—Non-invasive scanning of carcasses, e.g. using image recognition, tomography, X-rays, ultrasound
    • 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
    • G01N33/12—Meat; Fish
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    • G01N2223/00—Investigating materials by wave or particle radiation
    • G01N2223/60—Specific applications or type of materials
    • G01N2223/612—Specific applications or type of materials biological material

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and apparatus for handling food pieces, for example pieces of meat, in order to enable foreign objects, particularly bone, to be detected and subsequently removed.
  • a problem which has arisen in the past is that it is difficult for the operator to locate the foreign object in order to remove it. Even if the location is shown on a display, it is difficult for an operator to find the object when handling the food piece. This is particularly the case with bone and so in the past bone pieces have been ignored or if the level of bone contamination was too high the food piece has simply been discarded.
  • a method of handling food pieces comprises subjecting a food piece to an X-ray analysis at an analysis position to detect a foreign object in the food piece; if a foreign object is detected, transporting the food piece from the analysis position to an operator and providing the operator with an indication of the location of the foreign object in the food piece, and is characterised in that the step of providing an indication comprises providing a mark on the food piece.
  • apparatus for handling food pieces comprises an X-ray analysis unit; a transport system for transporting food pieces through the X-ray handling unit and from there to one or more operator locations; a control system for determining if the X-ray analysis unit detects a foreign object in a food piece and for controlling the transport system to transport the said food piece to an operator to allow the foreign object to be removed; and a marking system for providing a mark on the food piece indicating the location of the foreign object in the food piece.
  • the results of the X-ray analysis are provided to the operator as a mark on the food piece rather than simply being displayed on the X-ray unit or other display so that the operator can determine much more conveniently the location of the foreign object, such as bone, and thus can remove it much more easily and quickly.
  • a visual representation of the X-ray image may be projected directly onto the food piece thus allowing the operator to see where the foreign object is located.
  • a printed indication may be provided on a record medium. This could be, for example, a label which is adhered to the food piece at or just after leaving the X-ray analysis unit.
  • the indication is provided in the form of a physical mark on the food piece.
  • the location of the mark on the food piece can correspond to the location of the foreign object.
  • the mark could be provided on the surface of the food piece above the location of the foreign object.
  • the mark may have characteristics indicating the depth of the foreign object within the food piece. These characteristics may include one of colour or shape.
  • the mark could be in the form of a bar code or alphanumeric code.
  • the mark could be printed on the food piece using, for example, an ink jet printer or cut into the surface of the food piece using a suitably controlled knife.
  • the mark is printed, it could be in the form of a visual indication, that is visible under white light illumination, or an invisible indication such as a fluorescent mark.
  • the latter form of mark may be preferred in order to reduce the amount of printed ink perceived on the food piece.
  • the method may further comprise detecting the indication and controlling an electronic display in response to the detected indication so as to indicate the location of the foreign object.
  • the method preferably further comprises storing food pieces with foreign objects in a buffer location associated with the operator.
  • more than one operator may be involved, the method comprising transporting food pieces with foreign objects to a plurality of operators in a selected order.
  • the X-ray analysis will be made from one perspective, typically from above or below, so that the location of the foreign object is only known with respect to a plan view of the food piece.
  • the location of the foreign object can be determined in three dimensions.
  • the method comprises generating an identifier for each food piece and optionally associating with the identifier details of the operator to whom the food piece was transported when a foreign object was detected.
  • the operator or operators will be a human operator.
  • the invention is also applicable to the use of a foreign object removal machine which responds automatically to the indication, which in this case could be a suitable electronic signal, to locate and remove the foreign object from the food piece.
  • the term "foreign object” refers to an object that is not wanted in a food piece. This includes objects often found in food pieces such as bone, cartilage, fat, blood vessels and tendon, as well as objects not normally found such as metal pieces.
  • Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line 3-3 in Figure 1 ;
  • Figures 4A-4C illustrate examples of marks.
  • the apparatus shown in Figure 1 comprises a conventional X-ray inspection unit 1.
  • This can have any conventional form and a typical example is the IX-GA series x-ray inspection system manufactured and sold by lshida Europe Limited.
  • the unit comprises an X-ray device for exposing a food piece such as a meat cut, to X-ray irradiation, sensing the resultant radiation and providing a display on a monitor 2 attached to the unit.
  • a transport system 3 is defined by a number of conveyor belts 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 3E, 3F that are operated to transport food pieces 10 through the apparatus. They may be operated at the same or different speeds, as appropriate.
  • the food pieces 10 are placed sequentially on the conveyor belt 3A by any conventional placement mechanism such as a robot etc. and are conveyed at a steady speed through the X-ray unit 1 and from there onto the conveyor belt 3C.
  • the food pieces are transported past sequentially arranged pairs of operator stations 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B and from there on to a packaging unit (not shown).
  • a packaging unit not shown
  • Above the conveyor belt 3C is mounted an inkjet printer 12 on a robot arm (not shown) which can cause the inkjet printer head to be positioned at an appropriate location relative to each food piece as will be described in more detail below.
  • a food piece 10 In use, when a food piece 10 is located in the X-ray unit 1 , it will be inspected in a conventional manner and a processor (not shown) will analyse the resultant X-ray signals to determine whether a foreign object such as a bone piece is present in the food piece. If a piece of bone is detected then the processor will control the inkjet printer 12 to place or print a visible mark on the food piece as it passes under the printer on the conveyor belt 3C. The mark is printed at a position corresponding to that of the detected bone piece. In a simple example, the mark will be placed above the location of the bone piece when viewing the food piece in plan.
  • the processor actuates a selected diverter 5C, 5D, 6C, 6D, 7C, 7D associated with a respective one of the operator stations to divert the food piece to the selected operator.
  • each station comprises a sloped table 6E, 6F.
  • the operator stands by the appropriate table and can view the food piece delivered onto the table. The operator will see the mark placed on the food piece by the inkjet printer 12 and from that knows the approximate location of the bone piece which can then be removed.
  • Beneath the operator stations 5A, 5B, 6A, 6B, 7A, 7B are located respective dispensing units of which the units 6G, 6H are shown in Figure 3.
  • Each dispensing unit has a sloped base 30 which extends down to a lower conveyor 31.
  • Each dispensing unit also has a pivoted gate 32.
  • the processor causes timed operation of the respective gates 32 so that the food piece is slid onto the conveyor 31. This timed operation enables the food pieces on which bone removal or the like has been carried out to be clearly traced.
  • the inkjet printer 12 could print more than a simple mark.
  • a bar code or other indicia could be printed providing more accurate details of the location of the foreign object. For example, the depth of the foreign object in the food piece could be given.
  • the inkjet printer 12 could be replaced by a knife which is then operated to cut a mark or other indication into the food piece.
  • FIGS 4A-4C illustrate just three examples.
  • a mark 20 in the form of a circle is provided on a food piece 21. This mark 20 could be located directly above the location of a previously detected foreign object so that the operator can insert a knife through the circle knowing that this will be aligned with the foreign object.
  • Figure 4B illustrates a mark 22 in the form of a cross.
  • Figure 4C illustrates a barcode mark 23.
  • the mark could be a number located in alignment with the object, the value of the number giving the depth of the object e.g. in centimetres.
  • the X-ray image itself could be projected locally to the operator on to the food piece in such a way that the X-ray image of the foreign object is aligned with the object itself. This would require the orientation of the food piece to be known as it passes from the X-ray inspection unit 1 to the operator.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Biophysics (AREA)
  • Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
  • Computer Vision & Pattern Recognition (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • Biochemistry (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Immunology (AREA)
  • Pathology (AREA)
  • Analysing Materials By The Use Of Radiation (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé de manipulation d'aliments, consistant à soumettre un aliment à une analyse aux rayons X sur une position (1) d'analyse afin de détecter un corps étranger dans l'aliment. Si un corps étranger est détecté, l'aliment est transporté de la position (1) d'analyse jusqu'à un opérateur (5A, 5B) et l'opérateur reçoit une indication de l'emplacement du corps étranger dans l'aliment, l'indication se caractérisant par la formation d'une marque sur l'aliment.
EP08709488A 2007-02-22 2008-02-21 Procédé et appareil de manipulation d'aliments Withdrawn EP2112887A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0703496A GB0703496D0 (en) 2007-02-22 2007-02-22 Method and apparatus for handling food pieces
PCT/GB2008/000605 WO2008102148A1 (fr) 2007-02-22 2008-02-21 Procédé et appareil de manipulation d'aliments

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2112887A1 true EP2112887A1 (fr) 2009-11-04

Family

ID=37945583

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08709488A Withdrawn EP2112887A1 (fr) 2007-02-22 2008-02-21 Procédé et appareil de manipulation d'aliments

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2112887A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB0703496D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2008102148A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DK177704B1 (da) * 2012-11-22 2014-03-24 Attec Danmark As Fremgangsmåde og middel til kontrol af og mulighed for fjernelse af fremmedlegemer i fødevarer
GB201411508D0 (en) 2014-06-27 2014-08-13 Ishida Europ Ltd Method and apparatus for removing foreign objects from food pieces
CN111684268B (zh) * 2018-01-31 2023-10-20 株式会社日冷食品 食品检验辅助系统、食品检验辅助装置和计算机程序
WO2019234054A1 (fr) * 2018-06-06 2019-12-12 Marel Iceland Ehf. Procédé de fourniture de données de rétroaction indiquant la qualité d'une transformation alimentaire effectuée par un opérateur
EP3887105A1 (fr) 2018-11-26 2021-10-06 Teknologisk Institut Système permettant de couper et de rogner des coupes de viande
CA3223682A1 (fr) * 2021-07-08 2023-01-12 Nathaniel J. Birkhofer Systeme et procede de fabrication intelligente
IT202100031448A1 (it) 2021-12-15 2023-06-15 Biometic S R L Metodo e impianto per esaminare una carcassa animale

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5319547A (en) * 1990-08-10 1994-06-07 Vivid Technologies, Inc. Device and method for inspection of baggage and other objects
US5079951A (en) * 1990-08-16 1992-01-14 Her Majesty The Queen In Right Of Canada, As Represented By The Minister Of Agriculture Ultrasonic carcass inspection
US5428657A (en) * 1994-03-22 1995-06-27 Georgia Tech Research Corporation X-ray monitoring system
GB2362710B (en) * 2000-05-25 2002-07-17 Intelligent Mfg Systems Ltd Analysis of samples
US6992771B2 (en) * 2001-11-28 2006-01-31 Battelle Memorial Institute Systems and techniques for detecting the presence of foreign material

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2008102148A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2008102148A1 (fr) 2008-08-28
GB0703496D0 (en) 2007-04-04

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