NZ714117B2 - Meat inspection system - Google Patents
Meat inspection system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NZ714117B2 NZ714117B2 NZ714117A NZ71411712A NZ714117B2 NZ 714117 B2 NZ714117 B2 NZ 714117B2 NZ 714117 A NZ714117 A NZ 714117A NZ 71411712 A NZ71411712 A NZ 71411712A NZ 714117 B2 NZ714117 B2 NZ 714117B2
- Authority
- NZ
- New Zealand
- Prior art keywords
- meat
- layer
- parts
- facility
- inspection
- Prior art date
Links
- 235000013372 meat Nutrition 0.000 title claims abstract description 251
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 84
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 238000007493 shaping process Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 14
- 210000000988 Bone and Bones Anatomy 0.000 claims description 27
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 claims description 9
- 150000002500 ions Chemical class 0.000 claims description 9
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 210000000845 Cartilage Anatomy 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000004590 computer program Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000004575 stone Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 12
- 230000001965 increased Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 235000020993 ground meat Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 235000013622 meat product Nutrition 0.000 description 4
- 230000000875 corresponding Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 206010000269 Abscess Diseases 0.000 description 2
- 241000251468 Actinopterygii Species 0.000 description 2
- 210000004369 Blood Anatomy 0.000 description 2
- 241001465754 Metazoa Species 0.000 description 2
- 241000283898 Ovis Species 0.000 description 2
- 241000282887 Suidae Species 0.000 description 2
- 229940035295 Ting Drugs 0.000 description 2
- 239000008280 blood Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000002708 enhancing Effects 0.000 description 2
- 235000004213 low-fat Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 2
- 244000144977 poultry Species 0.000 description 2
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 description 1
- -1 bones Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001627 detrimental Effects 0.000 description 1
- 201000009910 diseases by infectious agent Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000013332 fish product Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000010191 image analysis Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002452 interceptive Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000003698 laser cutting Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000644 propagated Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001902 propagating Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009966 trimming Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011800 void material Substances 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
- A22C—PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH
- A22C17/00—Other devices for processing meat or bones
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
- A22C—PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH
- A22C17/00—Other devices for processing meat or bones
- A22C17/0073—Other devices for processing meat or bones using visual recognition, X-rays, ultrasounds, or other contactless means to determine quality or size of portioned meat
- A22C17/008—Other devices for processing meat or bones using visual recognition, X-rays, ultrasounds, or other contactless means to determine quality or size of portioned meat for measuring quality, e.g. to determine further processing
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N23/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
- G01N23/02—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material
- G01N23/06—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material and measuring the absorption
- G01N23/083—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material and measuring the absorption the radiation being X-rays
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01N—INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- G01N23/00—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00
- G01N23/02—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material
- G01N23/06—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material and measuring the absorption
- G01N23/12—Investigating or analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation, e.g. X-rays or neutrons, not covered by groups G01N3/00 – G01N17/00, G01N21/00 or G01N22/00 by transmitting the radiation through the material and measuring the absorption the material being a flowing fluid or a flowing granular solid
-
- 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
Abstract
meat inspection and sorting line (1) is disclosed which includes supply means (4), a radiation inspection facility (2), a cutting facility (32) and a reject facility (40). The supply means (4) includes a meat layer shaping means (12) to shape and compress the meat parts into a layer (14) of meat parts (10), supplies the layer (14) of meat parts (10) to a conveyor (16) and the conveyor (16) moves the layer (14) of meat parts (10) toward the radiation inspection facility (2). If an undesired object (30) is detected by the radiation inspection facility (2) using an X-ray technique a part of the layer (14) of meat parts (10) containing the undesired object (30) is identified and separated from the layer (14) of meat parts (10) by the cutting facility (32) and the separated part of the layer (14) of meat parts (10) containing the undesired object (30) is rejected by the reject facility (40). arts (10), supplies the layer (14) of meat parts (10) to a conveyor (16) and the conveyor (16) moves the layer (14) of meat parts (10) toward the radiation inspection facility (2). If an undesired object (30) is detected by the radiation inspection facility (2) using an X-ray technique a part of the layer (14) of meat parts (10) containing the undesired object (30) is identified and separated from the layer (14) of meat parts (10) by the cutting facility (32) and the separated part of the layer (14) of meat parts (10) containing the undesired object (30) is rejected by the reject facility (40).
Description
[Annotation] Lars.Koch
[Annotation] Lars.Koch
MEAT INSPECTION SYSTEM
Field of the invention
The invention relates to a system for inspection of meat and parts of meat in order to
detect any undesired objects that may be comprised in the meat parts or in n
the meat parts. The system ses supply means for the meat parts and a ion
inspection facility, e.g. an X-ray radiation inspection facility for detecting any
undesired objects. Further, the system comprises means for ting meat parts
comprising undesired object. Further, the invention relates to a method for
performing a meat inspection and sorting.
Background of the invention
Within the food industry various methods and systems are known for detecting
undesired objects in food products and in particular in meat products. As s
meat products it may be of particular relevance to detect bones or bone fragments,
for example in connection with meat parts, where a deboning and/or trimming has
been performed and where it is d to ensure that all bones have been removed
2O and/or where it is desired to ensure that fragments of bones have not been left in the
meat when performing the deboning process.
In the prior art various s and systems have been described for detecting e.g.
bone or bone fragments in meat parts by means of X-ray detection means and
removing meat parts, which comprises detected bone or bone fragments from e.g. a
stream of meat parts, for example in order to manually process such meat parts.
An example of such a que is disclosed in A1, wherein it is
described that boneless or deboned meat or fish products are conveyed along a
3O conveyor, wherein the products are formed individually into a shape of substantially
uniform thickness while passing an X-ray emitting and sensing means, fter
image analysis is performed to detect any bone or bone fragments. It is registered
which food items or which part of a stream of food items contains bones, bone
fragments or other undesired materials and such food items, a whole part of the
stream comprising a plurality of food items, many of which do not contain undesired
materials, must be removed or routed away in order to ensure that a detected
undesired material is removed.
W0 02/43502 A2 relates to an apparatus and a method for detecting and ng
rable material such as bones, fat, metal, etc. from a ece, e.g. a food
product. The workpieces are supplied one by one, i.e. separate from each other, by
means of a conveyor to a er-operated X-ray detection apparatus for detecting
the position of the individual ece and for detecting possible undesirable
material and the location of this in each of the workpieces. By means of a cutter a
part of the workpiece containing the undesirable el is cut off and is later
downstream removed ly or by a pickup device. As the workpieces are
supplied and conveyed separately one by one and as the detection is performed for
each workpiece separately, this will limit the number of workpieces that can be
processed per time unit.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved system and an improved
method for inspecting meat for red objects and for removing such undesired
objects.
In particular, it is an object to provide such a system and such a method, which can
perform in a highly automatic manner and whereby an efficient operation and a
relatively high flow can be facilitated.
Further, it is an object to minimize the amount of meat that is being removed
together with the undesired objects.
It is a particular relevant object of the invention to provide a system and a method for
ting e. g. a stream or flow of relatively small meat parts, for example trim parts,
ground meat, etc. in a quick and effective manner and still be able to ensure that only
a minimum of meat parts are removed, when an undesired object is removed.
It is noted that in connection with the present application it will be understood that
meat parts comprise meat parts and/or trim parts of animals such as , pigs,
sheep, etc., and that the meat and meat parts also includes meat from c.g. poultry,
fish, etc. Further, it is noted that the meat parts may also be ground meat.
Further, it is noted that the undesired objects, for which the meat parts are inspected
in ance with the present invention, in particular are bones and bone fragments,
but that also other objects may be detected, for example metal, glass, plastic, stones,
cartilage and other n s. Even further, it is noted that the undesired objects
that are detected, may be e.g. fat, meat having particular meat teristics, e.g. a
high fat content, etc. r meat characteristics that may be detected, are e.g. blood
stains, abscess, ions, etc.
In particular, it is a further object of the present invention to present a system and a
method, which provides an improved processing speed and efficiency and by means
of which the capacity of the radiation detection facility can be used in an optimal
manner.
These and other objects are achieved by the invention as explained in further detail in
the following.
Summary of the ion
The invention relates to a meat inspection and sorting line comprising
- supply means,
- a radiation inspection facility,
- a cutting facility and
- a reject facility,
wherein meat parts are brought together and fed into the radiation inspection facility
by means of a conveyor in a layer of meat parts,
wherein an undesired object is detected by the radiation inspection facility by means
of e. g. an X-ray technique,
a part of the layer of meat parts containing the red object is identified and
separated from the layer of meat parts by the cutting ty, and
the identified and separated part of the layer of meat parts containing the undesired
object is rejected by the reject facility from the layer of meat parts.
It is noted that in connection with the present application it will be understood that
meat parts comprise meat parts and/or trim parts of animals such as calves, pigs,
sheep, etc., and that the meat and meat parts also includes meat from e.g. poultry,
fish, etc. r, it is noted that the meat parts may also be ground meat. Even
further, it is noted that the meat and meat parts may be of varying sizes, shapes, etc.
and that meat parts of different sizes may be processed in accordance with the
invention aneously, e.g. in the same stream of meat parts.
A layer shall be tood as comprising a ity of meat parts, wherein at least
two of these meat parts are touching each other in an essentially continuous stream of
meat parts, n, although, gaps or distances may be present in the stream of meat
parts.
Hereby, it is achieved that the capacity of the system can be increased, i.e. the
amount of meat and/or number of meat parts that is being processed per time unit,
when the meat parts are brought together in a layer of meat parts, where the layer is
inspected for le undesired objects, and where a part of the layer containing a
detected undesired object is separated from the rest of the layer by the cutting facility
and rejected. Since the layer of meat parts is being inspected, a plurality of meat parts
comprised in the layer will be inspected simultaneously, which facilitates an
increased capacity or operating speed.
Further, in case an undesired object is detected, only a limited part of the layer of
meat parts will belremoved, since the relevant part, e.g. a transverse slice of the layer
of meat parts comprising the undesired object, is being separated by the cutting
facility and — after the cutting — can expediently be automatically removed/rejected
by the reject facility. Thus, there is no need to remove a relatively long stream of
meat parts, only a short piece of which containing an red object. According to
the invention a cut can e. g. be performed in front of and behind of the position of the
undesired object. Thus, it is achieved that only a minimum of meat, e.g. a vertical
slice of the layer of meat parts has to be rejected, i.e. the slice sing the
undesired object.
Thus, this constitutes an improved efficiency and an enhanced yield as compared
with the prior art, where a whole part of the stream sing a plurality of meat
items are removed, and where a large number of parts will be unnecessarily d,
since the parts tend to stick together and cannot be separated without some difficulty.
Further, an ed efficiency and ing speed, e.g. items pr. minute, is
achieved, since e.g. according to a prior art the items or products have to be
conveyed, inspected and treated individually, which in particular when a vely
high number of relatively small product items are concerned will be detrimental to
the efficiency. When, in ance with the invention, the meat parts are brought
together in a layer sing a plurality of meat parts, a relatively high throughput
can be achieved.
Advantageously, the supply means are configured for supplying meat parts by
bringing said meat parts together in an essentially intermingled and/or overlapping
. Hereby, it is facilitated that a plurality of meat parts are brought together to
form a layer to be inspected, in particular a layer, which enables a high capacity
and/or an efficient radiation detection to be performed, since the intermingled and/or
overlapping meat parts may form a relatively uniform layer, which enables an
undesired object to be detected with a high degree of certainty. This is caused by that
e.g. the density of the undesired , e.g. a bone residue, as compared with the
different, but otherwise uniform density of the surrounding meat of the meat parts in
the layer can be registered by the radiation inspection facility with greater certainty
than in case the meat parts are not brought together to form an e.g. uniform layer.
Further, said supply means may advantageously be configured for forming meat
parts into a layer of meat parts with said meat parts being in contact with each other
and preferably even d, whereby voids between the meat parts can be reduced
or even avoided, thereby attributing to the uniformity of the layer of meat parts and
the uniformity of the density of the meat.
Even further, it is noted that when the meat parts are brought together in a layer, e.g.
in an intermingled and/or overlapping form and with the meat parts being in contact
with each other, the ion inspection is performed by radiation propagating
through a plurality of meat parts simultaneously, e.g. meat parts located next to each
other as well as on top of each other, which enhances the operating efficiency.
It is noted that the X—ray technique of the radiation inspection facility may perform
according to e.g. a single energy technique or a dual energy technique, as it will be
well—known to a person skilled within the field of radiation technology and in
particular X-ray radiation logy. Such technologies are well-described within
the prior art and will not be explained in r detail here.
According to a further advantageous ment, said undesired object may be a
bone or a bone fragment, a piece of cartilage or another object such as a piece of
metal, glass, c, stone or other foreign objects.
Furthermore, said undesired object may be e. g. fat, meat having particular meat
characteristics, e.g. a high fat t, etc. r meat characteristics that may be
detected, are e.g. blood stains, abscess, infections, etc.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the supply means may be designed for
feeding the meat parts into the radiation inspection facility in said layer of meat parts,
wherein said layer is in the form of an essentially continuous layer having an
essentially even thickness.
Hereby, further advantages are achieved, including that the capacity of the radiation
detection ty can be used to the full or essentially to the full since a maximum
amount of meat parts can be processed by the facility owing to that the layer of meat
parts ponds to the detection field, i.e. the field covered by the detection.
Furthermore, it can be achieved that the meat parts can be compressed when forming
the layer, e. g. by pressing the meat parts closer together and minimizing void spaces,
thereby also increasing the capacity and the efficiency. The layer of meat parts may
be formed into an ially continuous layer having an essentially even thickness
by various means, as it will be nt to a skilled , for example also by
means of e.g. a funnel—shaped arrangement, through which the meat parts are pushed,
CtC .
Furthermore, it is emphasized that the supply means may preferably also comprise
shaping means for g the layer of meat in the transverse direction, e.g. by
means of side guides or the like, by means of e.g. a funnel-shaped arrangement,
through which the meat parts are pushed, etc.
Further, when using a uniform layer of meat parts, it may be achieved that a single
energy X-ray technique may be used, while still providing an optimal result.
According to a further advantageous embodiment, said cutting facility may comprise
g means, e. g. a rotating cutting knife or blade.
Hereby, a quick and efficient g can be med, using for example a rotating
cutting knife, e. g. a sword knife or the like, whereby an efficient cutting of the layer
in the essentially transverse direction can be performed. It is noted that when a
rotating cutting knife such as a sword knife or the like is used, the conveyor will be
divided at the cutting location in order for the knife to pass. It will be understood,
though, that other manners and means for performing the cutting may be used, which
will be apparent to a skilled person, such e.g. laser cutting, water cutting, or the like.
According to a r preferable embodiment, said cutting facility and/or a conveyor
may be designed for creating a distance or an added distance between separated
parts.
Hereby, it is achieved that the meat parts, that have been cut, will not stick to each
other after the cutting. Thus, the cutting will result in relatively sharp cutting surfaces
and a clear separation. Furthermore, by ng a distance or gap, the subsequent
process of rejecting a ted part can be facilitated, i.e. since it is easier to reject a
ted part and since the risk of interfering with the main layer of meat parts is
reduced considerably. Thus, hereby the processing or handling speed can also be
increased.
It will be understood that a distance or gap between parts of the layer of meat parts,
when a cutting has been performed, can be created in various manners and using
s means, which will be apparent to a skilled person within e.g. the conveying
field. For example can a conveyor downstream of the cutting location be arily
speeded up subsequent to the g and/or a conveyor upstream of the cutting
location can temporarily slowed down subsequent to the cutting, such that the two
parts of the layer, that have be separated by the cut, will be removed relatively from
each other.
According to a still further ageous embodiment, said reject facility may
comprise rejecting means for controllably ing a separated part of the layer of
meat parts containing an undesired object.
Hereby, the separated parts can be rejected in an efficient manner.
Advantageously, said ing means may comprise one or more of
a slidable conveyor or conveyor part,
2012/003456
a pivotable conveyor or conveyor part,
a rejector or
a gripper, a picker or the like.
Thus, it will be understood that various means may be used for rejecting a separated
part and that in general it will be understood that when in connection with the present
invention a separated part is ed, it will be e.g. removed, dropped, lifted and
moved, picked and moved, gripped, etc. and generally removed from the stream or
layer of meat parts. Thus, it will also be understood that e.g. a robot, a gripper, a
picker or the like may be used in connection with the reject ty for controllably
rejecting a separated part,
According to a particular advantageous embodiment, said meat inspection and
sorting line may comprise control means for controlling said cutting facility and/or
said reject facility on the basis of input from said radiation inspection facility.
Hereby, the operating of the meat tion and sorting line can be performed in an
efficient manner, including that the control means can operate the facilities while
keeping track of the detected undesired objects, the separated parts, etc., thereby
enhancing the l sing and handling. Furthermore, it is emphasized that
the control means may also control such operations as speed control of conveyors,
including the accelerating and subsequent deceleration in order to achieve gaps
between separated parts, etc, while still keeping close track of these, etc.
According to a r advantageous ment, said reject facility may be
configured for rejecting separated parts to two or more reject tubs, bins or the like or
to two or more different reject stations.
Such embodiments may for example be used also for removing e.g. fat or similar
meat products from a stream in applications, where a vely lean yield is required
or desired, and where thus a meat part having a high degree of fat content may be
labeled as an undesired object. Thus, ted parts containing undesired objects
WO 23778
such as bones, bone residues, etc. may be rejected to one reject bin or reject station,
while other separated parts containing e.g. a high fat content, may be rejected to
another reject bin or reject station, from where the separated parts can be led to e.g. a
gate on a , where s of meat are being produced, and where the high fat
content parts can be used in achieving a desired fat/lean ratio of the produced
batches. Similarly, it will be understood that instead or additionally, parts can be
detected by the invention, which contains a low fat content, and which may be
separated in a similar n and led to e.g. a gate on a grader, where batches of
meat are being produced, and where the low fat content parts, i.e. lean parts can be
used in achieving a desired fat/lean ratio of the produced batches.
The ion also relates to a method of performing a meat tion and sorting,
wherein meat parts are brought together and fed into a radiation inspection facility by
means of a conveyor in a layer of meat parts,
wherein an undesired object is detected by the radiation inspection facility by means
of e. g. an X-ray technique,
a part of the layer of meat parts containing the undesired object is identified and
separated from the layer of meat parts by a cutting ty, and
the identified and separated part of the layer of meat parts containing the undesired
object is ed by a reject ty from the layer of meat parts.
Advantageously, the method may relate to use of a meat inspection and sorting line
according to any of claims 1 to 13.
According to a further embodiment, a separated part of the layer of meat parts
containing an undesired object, which has been rejected, may subsequently be
processed manually in order to remove said undesired object.
r, a separated part of the layer of meat parts containing an undesired object,
which has been rejected, may uently be subjected to a rescanning or re-
inspection process, either by recirculation or by sending the separated part through
another processing line and that a possible rescarming or re-inspection process may
be performed using a layer of meat parts having a d thickness and/or using a
lower conveyor speed.
Even r, a separated part of the layer of meat parts containing an undesired
object, which has been rejected, may subsequently be processed for other purposes,
e.g. for other food products, where the contents of detected red objects are not
critical.
Furthermore, the invention also relates to a computer program comprising
instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to any one of claims
14-19 when said computer program is executed on a suitable computer device.
The figures
The invention will be explained in further detail below with reference to the figures
of which
Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a meat inspection and sorting line
or system, e.g. an X-ray inspection and sorting line, ing to the
invention in a schematic manner,
Figs. 2a - e show part of the cutting facility and the reject facility in a schematic
View, wherein a sequence of steps are shown leading to the tion
of a part and rejection of the separated part,
Fig. 2f shows a View corresponding to fig. 2a, but wherein it is illustrated that
a separated part may n more than one undesired object,
Figs. 3a — b show a ular embodiment of the reject facility in a schematic View,
Fig. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a meat inspection and sorting line
or , corresponding to Fig. l and in a schematic manner, wherein
an embodiment of the supply and shaping means are illustrated.
Detailed ption
An ment of a meat inspection and sorting line or system 1, e.g. an X-ray
inspection and g line, ing to the invention is shown in fig. 1 in a
schematic manner, which embodiment will be described in the following.
The system 1 comprises a radiation inspection facility 2, e.g. in particular an X-ray
inspection facility, which is shown in a schematic manner in fig. 1. Further, supply
means 4 for supplying meat parts, e. g. pieces of meat, trim parts, ground meat or the
like, to be inspected to the radiation inspection facility 2 is shown. The supply means
4 may comprise a receiving chute or the like 6, into which the meat parts to be
inspected are delivered as indicated by the arrow. The supply means 4 may
preferably be designed to deliver meat parts 10 to a supply conveyor 8, e.g. via an
opening at the bottom and at one side of the receiving chute or the like 6.
Furthermore, as shown in fig. 1, meat layer shaping means 12 may be arranged for
shaping the delivered meat parts 10 into an essentially continuous layer having an
essentially even thickness. These meat layer shaping means 12 may as shown be in
the form of an inclining conveyor belt or the like, which serves to even out the meat
parts and furthermore serves to compress the meat parts 10 into a substantially
uniform layer 14. Other means may be used as well, as it will be exemplified later on
in connection with fig. 4. Furthermore, it will be understood that the supply means 4
may preferably comprise means for shaping the stream of meat parts also in the
transverse direction, 6. g. guide plates or the like (not shown in fig. 1), thereby
resulting in that the meat parts 10 are shaped into a layer or stream of meat parts 14
having an essentially uniform rectangular sectional shape, which corresponds to the
working capability of the radiation tion ty 2. Hereby, the capacity of the
radiation tion ty 2 will be used in an optimal manner.
The layer or stream of meat parts 14 are as shown delivered from the supply means 4
to an inspection ty conveyor 16, which feeds the layer or stream of meat parts
14 into the radiation inspection facility 2, wherein the layer or stream of meat parts
14 passes radiation detection means, which may be in particular x-ray inspection and .
ion means, e. g. comprising an X-ray emitter 20 and an X-ray detector 22,
which by means of the propagated X-rays can detect e. g. undesired objects in the
layer or stream of meat parts 14. Thus, it will be understood that e. g. undesired object
within a meat part as well as an undesired object, which is not within a meat part as
such, but located between the meat parts, i.e. in the stream or layer of meat parts, can
be detected. This detection arrangement may be designed in a multitude of varieties,
as it will be well-known to a skilled person within the field, using c.g. single energy
or dual energy systems, using various image detection and/or analysis methods, etc.
As shown in fig.1, schematically illustrated l means 24 are comprised in the
, located for e in the radiation inspection facility 2, for e.g. lling
and receiving data from the X-ray emitter 20 and the X-ray detector 22, for analyzing
data in order to detect possible undesired objects such as e.g. a bone or bone
nt 30 within the layer or stream of meat parts 14 and furthermore for
providing relevant data to a cutting facility 32 and a reject facility 40, which will be
described in the following.
When an undesired object 30 has been detected, the e.g. position will be registered
and/or it will 6.g. be determined by for e the control means 24 when the
detected object 30 will reach the cutting facility 32, e.g. the location where a cutting
of the layer or stream of meat parts 14 can be performed. Such calculations,
determinations, etc. can be performed in numerous manners, for example when the
transport speed of the inspection facility conveyor 16 and the distance between the
detection location and the g location are known, which will be readily apparent
to a d person.
The cutting facility 32, which may be integrated or combined with the radiation
inspection facility 2 as shown, comprises cutting means 34 such as for example a
knife or blade, which is illustrated in a schematic manner only in fig.1, and which
may be rotated to cut through the layer or stream of meat parts 14, e.g. across the
stream, as indicated with the dash-line in the figure. In order for the cutting means 34
to cut through the layer or stream of meat parts 14, a gap in the conveyor may be
2012/003456
arranged, for example between the end of the inspection facility conveyor 16, which
naturally in itself may comprise more than one conveyor, and a subsequent output
conveyor 36.
When an undesired object 30 has been detected, the g means are controlled to
cut through the layer or stream of meat parts 14 immediately before the red
object 30 reaches the cutting location and preferably as close as possibly, and
furthermore the cutting means are controlled to cut through the layer or stream of
meat parts 14 immediately after the undesired object 30 has passed the cutting
location and preferably as close as possibly. It will be understood that hereby a part
of the layer or stream of meat parts 14 will be out free, which part will have a length
at least corresponding to the length (dimension in the stream direction) of the
undesired object 30 and that the length also will be dependent on practical matters,
such as e.g. the conveying speed of the inspection facility conveyor 16 and the
cutting speed of the cutting means 34. Furthermore, nces have to be taken into
consideration, e. g. in order to ensure that the detected undesired object 30 is
contained in whole in the part that is cut free and that no part of the detected
undesired object 30 is cut by the cutting means 34 and left in the layer or stream of
meat parts 14 that has not been cut free. Further, it is noted that if two or more
undesired objects 30, e. g. two or more bones or bone fragments, have been detected
in close proximity to each other, it may be able to out these free in a single
combined part d of performing several cuts and creating several small parts,
which have been cut free. In accordance with embodiments of the invention, the e.g.
control means 24 may be designed to perform in such various manners in order to
optimize the working efficiency.
It is noted that the speed of e.g. the output conveyor 36 may be arily increased
after a out has been performed, whereby it is achieved that a distance is created
between the two parts and a secure separation of the parts has been ed, e.g.
without the cut parts sticking to each other. Alternatively or additionally, the speed of
the inspection facility conveyor 16 may be temporarily reduced after a cut has been
performed, whereby it also is ed that a distance is created.
Subsequent to the cutting facility 32 a reject facility 40 is arranged for ing the
cut or separated parts of the layer or stream of meat parts 14 containing undesired
objects 30. This reject facility 40 ses a transfer of the layer or stream of meat
parts 14 to a reject facility conveyor 38. At the transfer location the separated parts
containing undesired objects, which separated parts as described above may be
arranged with a distance to the main layer or stream of meat parts 14, can be
erred to e.g. a reject tub, bin or the like 42, which can be placed e.g. underneath
the er location for accumulating the rejected meat parts 46 containing undesired
objects. The separated parts can be ed in various s, which will be
described later in greater detail, by e.g. sliding the reject facility conveyor 38 or part
of this in the conveying ion, thereby creating a gap, when a separated part
reaches the location, whereby it will fall into the reject tub, bin or the like 42.
Instead, the reject facility conveyor 38 or part of this may be designed to pivot in
order to create the gap. Further, various rejector means may be used, c. g. for pushing
the separated parts sideways off the conveyor. Other manners of rejecting the parts
containing undesired objects may be used, e. g. using for example a robot, a gripper,
etc., which will be nt to a skilled person within the art.
The main layer or stream of meat parts 14, i.e. the parts not comprising undesired
objects, or in other word the inspected meat layer 44 with any undesired objects
removed will be forwarded for r processing, handling, etc. via the reject facility
conveyor 38 and possible further conveyors (not shown), while the ed meat
parts 46 ning undesired objects will be accumulated in the reject tub, bin or the
like 42. From the reject tub, bin or the like 42 they can be removed for a subsequent
inspection, e.g. ly in order to search for and remove the undesired objects, or
alternatively by running the meat through the inspection line again e.g. in order to
minimize the amount of meat that has to be manually inspected and searched in order
to find and remove the undesired objects.
In figs. 2a to 2e are shown part of the cutting facility 32 and the reject facility 40 in
an enhanced schematic view, wherein a sequence of steps are shown leading to the
separation of a part 48 containing an undesired object 30 and rejection of the
ted part 48. In fig. 2a it is shown that an undesired object 30, which has been
detected by the inspection facility 2, is reaching the cutting location and a out has
been performed through the layer 14 of meat parts by the cutting means 34, e.g. a
rotating cutting knife or blade, in front of the identified undesired object 30.
Furthermore, the output conveyor 36 has been briefly rated and decelerated
again in order to create a gap or distance between the parts that have been cut, 6.g. in
order to achieve that the parts do not stick together and in order to achieve that it will
be easier later on to reject a part that has been separated. It is noted that since the
output conveyor 36 has just been accelerated for a brief period, leading only to a
short change in distance, the layer of meat parts in the transport direction may be
compressed to take up this distance. It may also be considered to accelerate the one
or more further conveyors in the transport direction to compensate for the change.
As mentioned above, a gap or distance may alternatively or additionally be created
by temporarily reducing the speed of the inspection facility or 16 after a out
has been performed.
In fig. 2b it is similarly shown that in a following step the undesired object 30 has
been further advanced, a out has been med through the layer 14 of meat parts
behind the identified undesired object 30, and further the output conveyor 36 has
again been briefly accelerated and decelerated in order to create a gap or distance
between the parts that have been cut. It will thus be seen that a part 48 has now been
cut free and separated from the main stream or layer of meat parts.
In fig. 20 it is shown that the parts have now been further ed, while the
system, e.g. the control means 24 keeps track of the relevant parts, and that the
ted part 48 is now reaching the er from the output or 36 to the
reject facility 40, e.g. the reject facility conveyor 38.
At this point in time, a gap may be established between these two ors by for
example arranging the end of the output conveyor 36 to be moved opposite the
ort direction as shown in fig. 2d, whereby the ted part 48 will be allowed
to drop into the reject tub or bin 42 to be accumulated with previous rejected parts
46. Instead, it may be preferred to arrange the first end in the transport ion of
the reject facility conveyor 38 to be moved in the transport direction, whereby
likewise a gap can be created.
After this, as shown in the next step in fig. 2c, the end of the output conveyor 36, or
alternatively the first end in the transport direction of the reject facility conveyor 38,
will be returned to its initial position, whereafter normal transport of the layer 14 of
meat parts are resumed onto the reject facility conveyor 38.
It will be apparent that the gap between the two conveyors 36 and 38 can be provided
in various manners, e.g. as explained by having one end of the output conveyor 36 or
one end of the reject facility conveyor 38 being movable in the transport direction,
which may be arranged in numerous manners. It will also be apparent that part of the
conveyor(s) may be pivotable, whereby a gap can also be ished in order to
reject a separated part 48. Further, it is nt that the output conveyor 36 as well
as the reject facility conveyor 38 may be configured to achieve a rejection facility
and that any combinations of the above examples may be uSed. Even filrther, it will
be apparent to a skilled person that other means may be used for rejecting a separated
part, e.g. a separator for pushing a separated part sideways off the conveyor(s) or
similar separator means, or a robot, a gripper, etc.
In fig. 2f, which in essence ponds to the step shown in fig. 2b, it is shown that
in case two or more undesired objects 30 are positioned close to each other, it may be
preferable to include these in a single separated part 48 instead of cutting smaller
parts. This may be the case, when it is not le to out between the two or more
objects, when it is not in reality, e.g. due to cutting time vs. transport speed,
cally to cut between the two or more objects and when it is simply more
efficient to have only a single separated part, which have to be handled by e.g. the
reject facility 40, instead of a plurality of r separated parts 48.
In figs. 3a and 3b is shown a particular embodiment of the reject facility 40 in a
schematic View, wherein it is shown how the output conveyor 36 may be configured
for providing a gap between the two conveyors 36 and 38. As shown in fig. 3a, the
conveyor 36 comprises at least three rollers, of which two, i.e. the roller 52 and the
roller 54, are supported by a frame 56, which is pivotable in relation to an axis 58. In
the position shown in fig. 3a, the meat parts are erred to the reject facility
conveyor 38, but when a separated part 48 reaches the transfer location, the frame 56
may be pivoted to the position shown in fig. 3b, whereby the roller 52 will be moved
opposite the transport direction and the separated part 48 will quickly drop
rds, whereafter the frame 56 may be ed to its initial position. As it will
be understood, this embodiment has the particular advantage that the conveyor 36,
aided by the transport speed, will quickly disappear from under the separated part 48,
which will thus be quickly dropped down into the reject tub or bin 42. Thus, the drop
or reject time will not depend entirely on the conveyor speed and may thus be
preferable to an embodiment, where the gap is created by moving the first end of the
reject facility or 38 in the transport direction.
In fig. 4 a further embodiment is illustrated. Fig. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment
of a meat inspection and sorting line or system, ponding to fig. 1 and in a
schematic manner, but wherein an embodiment of the supply means 4 and meat layer
shaping means 12’ are rated. A receiving chute 6 or the like is provided as
shown in connection with fig. 1 for receiving meat parts 10 from any le means.
At the bottom of the receiving chute 6 a screw conveyor 80 may be ed, driven
by e.g. an electric motor 82 or any other suitable driving means. Thus, the meat parts
10 are conveyed, e.g. pushed towards the radiation inspection facility 2 Via meat
layer shaping means 12’, which in the illustrated e is a funnel shaped
arrangement, placed with its wider end at the outlet of the screw conveyor 80 and
with its smaller end at the inlet of the radiation inspection facility 2, e. g. at the supply
end of the inspection facility conveyor 16. Thus, the meat parts 10 are in this manner
compressed or squeezed er by the funnel shape, thereby reducing the air
volume, e.g. caused by gaps between the meat parts, in the resulting layer of meat
parts. The outlet end of the meat layer g means 12’, i.e. the smaller end, will
2012/003456
define the shape of the layer of meat parts 14 and may preferably be of a rectangular
shape.
As mentioned above, other embodiments are possible, including any combinations of
such ments and the embodiments disclosed above and shown in the .
Further, it is noted that the meat inspection and sorting line or system according to
the invention and its use has been described above with reference to particular
embodiments, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the
particular examples described above and shown in the drawings, but may be
modified in numerous manners within the scope of the invention as specified in the
claims.
List of references
ooON-b-NH Meat inspection and sorting line
Radiation inspection facility
Supply means
Receiving chute or the like
Supply conveyor
Meat parts
12, 12’ Meat layer shaping means
14 Layer of meat parts, un-inspected
16 Inspection facility conveyor
X-ray emitter
22 X-ray detector
24 Control means
30 Undesired , 6.g. a bone, bone fragments, piece of foreign object
32 Cutting ty
34 Cutting means, e.g. a knife or blade
36 Output conveyor
38 Reject facility conveyor
2O 40 Reject facility
42 Reject tub, bin or the like
44 ted meat layer with undesired objects removed
46 Rejected meat parts containing undesired objects
48 Separated part
52, 54 Rollers
56 Support frame
58 Axis
80 Screw conveyor
82 Drive means, 6.g. electric motor
Claims (27)
1. A meat inspection and sorting line comprising - supply means, - a radiation inspection facility, - a cutting facility and - a reject facility, wherein meat parts are brought together in a layer of meat parts and fed into the radiation inspection facility by means of a conveyor, wherein an undesired object is ed by the radiation inspection facility, a part of the layer of meat parts containing the undesired object is identified and separated from the layer of meat parts by the cutting facility, the identified and separated part of the layer of meat parts containing the undesired object is rejected by the reject facility from the layer of meat parts, and wherein the supply means are designed for feeding the meat parts into the radiation inspection facility in said layer of meat parts, wherein the meat parts are compressed when g the layer of meat parts.
2. The meat inspection and sorting line according to claim 1, wherein said undesired object is detected by the radiation inspection facility by means of an X-ray technique.
3. The meat tion and sorting line according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supply means are ed for g the meat parts into the radiation tion facility in said layer of meat parts via screw conveyor means.
4. The meat inspection and sorting line according to claim 5, n the meat parts are compressed via a funnel shaped arrangement when forming the layer of meat parts.
5. The meat inspection and sorting line according to any of claims 1-4, wherein said supply means are configured for supplying the meat parts by bringing said meat parts together in an essentially intermingled and/or overlapping manner.
6. The meat inspection and sorting line according to any one of claims 1 - 5, wherein the radiation inspection facility uses an X-ray technique according to a single energy technique or a dual energy technique.
7. The meat inspection and sorting line according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said undesired object is one or more of a bone, a bone fragment, a piece of cartilage, a piece of metal, glass, plastic, stone or other foreign objects.
8. The meat tion and g line according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein said undesired object is fat or meat having a particular meat teristics.
9. The meat inspection and sorting line according to claim 8, wherein said particular meat teristics is a high fat content.
10. The meat inspection and sorting line according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein said layer is in the form of an essentially continuous layer having an essentially even ess.
11. The meat tion and sorting line according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the supply means comprises shaping means for shaping the layer of meat in the transverse direction.
12. The meat inspection and sorting line according to claim 11, wherein the shaping means for shaping the layer of meat in the transverse direction is side guides.
13. The meat tion and sorting line according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein said cutting facility ses cutting means.
14. The meat inspection and sorting line ing to claim 13, wherein said cutting means is a rotating cutting knife or blade.
15. The meat inspection and sorting line according to any of claims 1 to 14, wherein said cutting facility and/or a conveyor is designed for creating a distance or an added distance between separated parts.
16. The meat inspection and sorting line according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein said reject facility comprises rejecting means for controllably rejecting a separated part of the layer of meat parts containing an red object.
17. The meat inspection and sorting line according to claim 16, wherein said rejecting means comprises one or more of a slidable conveyor or conveyor part, a pivotable conveyor or conveyor part, a rejector, or a gripper or a .
18. The meat inspection and sorting line according to any of claims 1 to 17, wherein said meat inspection and sorting line comprises control means for controlling said cutting facility and/or said reject facility on the basis of input from said radiation inspection ty.
19. The meat inspection and sorting line according to any of claims 1 to 18, wherein said reject ty is configured for rejecting separated parts to two or more reject tubs or bins or to two or more different reject stations.
20. A method of performing a meat inspection and sorting, wherein meat parts are brought together in a layer of meat parts and fed into a radiation inspection facility by means of a conveyor, wherein an undesired object is ed by the ion tion facility, a part of the layer of meat parts containing the undesired object is fied and separated from the layer of meat parts by a g facility, and the identified and separated part of the layer of meat parts containing the undesired object is rejected by a reject facility from the layer of meat parts, and n the meat parts are compressed when forming the layer of meat parts.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said undesired object is detected by the radiation inspection facility by means of an X-ray technique.
22. The method according to claim 20 or 21, characterized in the use of a meat inspection and sorting line according to any of claims 1 to 19.
23. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 22, whereby a separated part of the layer of meat parts containing an undesired object, which has been ed, is subsequently processed manually in order to remove said undesired object.
24. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 23, whereby a separated part of the layer of meat parts containing an undesired object, which has been rejected, is uently subjected to a rescanning or pection process, either by recirculation or by sending the separated part through another processing line and that a possible rescanning or re-inspection process may be performed using a layer of meat parts having a reduced thickness and/or using a lower conveyor speed.
25. The method according to any one of claims 20 to 24, whereby a separated part of the layer of meat parts containing an undesired object, which has been ed, is subsequently processed for other purposes, where the contents of detected undesired objects are not critical.
26. The method ing to claim 25, whereby the separated part of the layer of meat parts containing an undesired object is processed for other food products.
27. A computer program comprising instructions for carrying out the steps of the method according to any one of claims 20 to 26 when said computer m is executed on a computer device. WO 23778 WO 23778
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201161522867P | 2011-08-12 | 2011-08-12 | |
DKPA201100607 | 2011-08-12 | ||
DKPA201100607 | 2011-08-12 | ||
US61/522,867 | 2011-08-12 | ||
NZ622033A NZ622033B2 (en) | 2011-08-12 | 2012-08-13 | Meat inspection system |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
NZ714117A NZ714117A (en) | 2017-03-31 |
NZ714117B2 true NZ714117B2 (en) | 2017-07-04 |
Family
ID=
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