Apparatus for performing non-destructive measurments in real time on fragile objects being continuously displaced
US5315879A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 30, 1992 |
| Grant date | May 31, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB07C5/34
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The field of the invention is that of manufacturing non-destructive measurement equipment suitable for fitting to devices for handling and conveying objects on a continuous basis, e.g. for the purpose of monitoring the ripeness and/or the dimensions of fruit and vegetables. The invention provides apparatus for non-destructive measurement in real time of fragile objects moving continuously on a conveyor system of the type including object-receiving cells in which said objects are placed and conveyed one by one along a given directional plane. The apparatus includes at least one support arm hinged at one end and carrying a shoe at its other end, with the bottom surface of the shoe being cylindrical in shape having generator lines that are perpendicular to said plane. Each of said objects rolls beneath and against said surface with relative rotary motion, and at least one sensor performs a non-destructive measurement of a parameter of each of said objects.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.