Method and means for internal inspection and sorting of produce
US3930994A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 3, 1973 |
| Grant date | Jan 6, 1976 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 3, 1993 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S209/925
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Apparatus and method for automatically evaluating articles particularly citrus fruits, on the basis of the uniformity and non-uniformity of their transparency to light rays and selectively separating them into different grades according to such evaluations, the fruit being oriented and carried by a conveyor in a path between a light ray source and light ray detectors positioned to straddle the fruit core portion, the signals from the detectors being carried to an internal quality computer controlled by timing sensors responsive to fruit movement through the light rays, wherein the percentage of internal damage is computed for each fruit, after which the fruits are successively separated into different predetermined grades according to their respective damage evaluations.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.