Method for evaluating and orientating baked product
First Claim
1. A method for evaluating and orientating a plurality of a preselected baked product, said method comprising the steps of:
- selecting a baked product to be analyzed for quality and orientated for packaging;
programming a vision system to evaluate each of a plurality of a selected baked product to determine if each one satisfies specifications;
programming a robot system to discard each one of a selected baked product that does not satisfy specifications;
programming a robot system to orientate each one of a selected baked product that satisfies specifications;
disposing a plurality of selected baked product upon a cooling conveyor;
moving the plurality of selected baked product proximate to a vision system and a robot system;
determining via said vision system, if a selected one of the plurality of selected baked product satisfies specifications;
removing said selected one of the selected baked product via said robot system, if said selected one does not satisfy specifications;
determining if said selected one of the selected baked product that satisfies specifications is correctly orientated via said vision system;
orientating said selected one of the selected baked product that satisfies specifications via said robot system, if said selected one is not correctly orientated;
packaging each specification compliant and correctly orientated baked product; and
determining if more baked product is required for an order placed by a customer, whereupon, if more baked product is required, then more baked product is added upon said cooling conveyor, and the added baked product is analyzed, if more baked product is not required, then the method is terminated.
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Abstract
A method 10 for evaluating and orientating baked product includes selecting a baked product 11 that must ultimately be individually evaluated for quality, orientation and packaging in relatively large numbers. A plurality of selected baked product 11 exit an oven 9 at a relatively hot temperature and then cooled via movement on cooling conveyors 12 until being disposed upon a slicer feed conveyor 26 proximate to a vision system 14 and a robot system 16 that are supported via a support structure 18. The vision system 14 evaluates the baked product 11 for quality and orientation. The robot system 16 discards baked product 11 that does not satisfy specifications, and orientates misaligned baked product 11 that does satisfy specifications.
64 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for evaluating and orientating a plurality of a preselected baked product, said method comprising the steps of:
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selecting a baked product to be analyzed for quality and orientated for packaging; programming a vision system to evaluate each of a plurality of a selected baked product to determine if each one satisfies specifications; programming a robot system to discard each one of a selected baked product that does not satisfy specifications; programming a robot system to orientate each one of a selected baked product that satisfies specifications; disposing a plurality of selected baked product upon a cooling conveyor; moving the plurality of selected baked product proximate to a vision system and a robot system; determining via said vision system, if a selected one of the plurality of selected baked product satisfies specifications; removing said selected one of the selected baked product via said robot system, if said selected one does not satisfy specifications; determining if said selected one of the selected baked product that satisfies specifications is correctly orientated via said vision system; orientating said selected one of the selected baked product that satisfies specifications via said robot system, if said selected one is not correctly orientated; packaging each specification compliant and correctly orientated baked product; and determining if more baked product is required for an order placed by a customer, whereupon, if more baked product is required, then more baked product is added upon said cooling conveyor, and the added baked product is analyzed, if more baked product is not required, then the method is terminated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for packaging a preselected baked product comprising:
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establishing specifications for a preselected baked product; providing a vision system to evaluate each one of a preselected baked product to determine if each one of the preselected baked product is specification and orientation compliant; providing a robot system that discards each specification noncompliant preselected baked product, and that orientates each specification compliant preselected baked product that is misaligned; disposing a plurality of preselected baked product proximate to said vision system, whereupon, said vision system determines specification and orientation compliance for each one of said plurality of preselected baked product; discarding a specification noncompliant baked product via said robot system; orientating a specification compliant baked product via said robot system; and packaging each specification compliant and orientation compliant baked product. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification