Grain inspection and analysis apparatus and method
US5917927A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 21, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jun 29, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 21, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T2207/30128
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Rice and other grains are inspected by a video camera system, and the data are processed to determined grain measurements, whether each grain is broken, and to obtain measures such as the percent broken by weight of a sample of rice. The apparatus takes a sample of grains or a stream of grains, and conveys it into view of a video camera. The grains in the camera's view are illuminated by an illumination system. After the grain images have been acquired by the camera and electronics, the grains are then removed from the camera's viewing area to an output stream or hopper, and uninspected grains may be conveyed into the camera's view to continue the process. The image data is processed to identify individual grains and then to perform measurements on them.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.