Pit detecting
First Claim
1. In a pit detection apparatus for detecting the presence of a pit in pieces of fruit as the fruit passes through a zone of inspection, and comprising first optical means for periodically transmitting a transmission scanning beam across the inspection zone, first sensing means for sensing the light intensity of the transmission scanning beam after the scanning beam has passed through the inspection zone and for generating transmission sensor signals indicative of the light intensity, and detection circuit means responsive to the transmission sensor signals for determining the presence of a pit based upon the amplitudes of the transmission sensor signals, the improvement which comprises:
- path length means connected to the detection circuit means for determining the length of the optical path of the scanning beam through the fruit, and for generating a path length signal indicative thereof; and
the detection circuit means is responsive to both the transmission sensor signals and to the path length signal for determining the presence of a pit based upon the amplitudes of the transmission sensor signals compensated by the amplitude of the path length signal.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pit detection apparatus (10) and method for detecting the presence of pits or pit fragments (12) in fruit (14) as the fruit (14) passes through a zone of inspection (16) includes a scanning beam generator (17) for sweeping a transmission scanning beam (28) across the inspection zone (16). The inspection zone (16) is located intermediate the beam generator (17) and an array (38) of transmission sensors (40). The sensors (40) generate transmission sensor signals indicative of received light intensity from the beam (28). A second sizing beam generator (50) and associated array (60) of sensors (62) generate sizing signals representative of te optical path length through which the transmission scanning beam (28) travels within the fruit (14). The transmission sensor and sizing signals are applied to an analysis circuit (44) wherein the signals are analyzed to determine the presence or absence of pits or pit fragments (12). The analysis of the transmission sensor signals is synchronized with the transmission scanning beam (28) so as to utilize only those portions of the signals representative of the direct light in the field of view of the transmission sensors (40). An ejector valve (76) is enabled to direct an air blast against fruit falling through the inspection zone and deflect the fruit (14) from its normal path when a pit (12) is detected.
37 Citations
22 Claims
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1. In a pit detection apparatus for detecting the presence of a pit in pieces of fruit as the fruit passes through a zone of inspection, and comprising first optical means for periodically transmitting a transmission scanning beam across the inspection zone, first sensing means for sensing the light intensity of the transmission scanning beam after the scanning beam has passed through the inspection zone and for generating transmission sensor signals indicative of the light intensity, and detection circuit means responsive to the transmission sensor signals for determining the presence of a pit based upon the amplitudes of the transmission sensor signals, the improvement which comprises:
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path length means connected to the detection circuit means for determining the length of the optical path of the scanning beam through the fruit, and for generating a path length signal indicative thereof; and the detection circuit means is responsive to both the transmission sensor signals and to the path length signal for determining the presence of a pit based upon the amplitudes of the transmission sensor signals compensated by the amplitude of the path length signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for detecting the presence of pits in pieces of fruit as the fruit passes through a zone of inspection, the method comprising the steps of:
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periodically transmitting an optical transmission scanning beam across the inspection zone; sensing the light intensity of the transmission scanning beam after the beam has passed through the inspection zone, and generating transmission sensor signals indicative thereof; determining the length of the optical path of the scanning beam through the fruit, and generating a path length signal indicative thereof; and detecting the presence of a pit based upon the amplitudes of the transmission sensor signals compensated by the amplitude of the path length signal. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification