Apparatus for locating and manipulating agricultural products
First Claim
1. Apparatus for manipulating agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables, wherein the products emit or reflect distinctive radiation characteristics in the infrared spectrum comprising:
- visual radiation detection means for detecting and generating a digitized visible image signal based on visual radiation, which is about 100 to 1000 nanometers, received from a given viewing area;
infrared detection means for detecting and generating a digitized infrared image signal based on infrared radiation in the range of about 1000 to 2000 nanometers received from a given viewing area; and
analyzer means for analyzing the digitized image signals and comparing selected characteristics of the signals with known stored characteristics that are distinctive of the products in the respective visual and infrared frequency ranges, the analyzer means generating a control signal capable of operating a digitized manipulating device whenever a predetermined number of characteristics are indicative of the presence of a product in the viewing area.
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Abstract
Apparatus for locating and manipulating agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables that emit or reflect distinctive radiation in a predetermined non-visible frequency range comprises a detection means for detecting and producing digitized images of the products based upon the non-visible radiation in the predetermined frequency range received from a given viewing area. A product locator mechanism receives the digitized images as input, compares the characteristics of the digitized input with a predetermined digitized definition of products to be selected, and generates an output signal usable for directing an output device relative to the produces. The product locator compares discrete peripheral coordinate points on the infrared and visual images with points on a mathematical curve conforming with the product outline as one means to indicate the presence of a product. A separate central processing unit controls a motion control device for picking the fruits or vegetables located.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. Apparatus for manipulating agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables, wherein the products emit or reflect distinctive radiation characteristics in the infrared spectrum comprising:
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visual radiation detection means for detecting and generating a digitized visible image signal based on visual radiation, which is about 100 to 1000 nanometers, received from a given viewing area; infrared detection means for detecting and generating a digitized infrared image signal based on infrared radiation in the range of about 1000 to 2000 nanometers received from a given viewing area; and analyzer means for analyzing the digitized image signals and comparing selected characteristics of the signals with known stored characteristics that are distinctive of the products in the respective visual and infrared frequency ranges, the analyzer means generating a control signal capable of operating a digitized manipulating device whenever a predetermined number of characteristics are indicative of the presence of a product in the viewing area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. Apparatus for locating agricultural products such as fruits or vegetables or the like that emit or reflect distinctive radiation characteristics in a non-visible frequency range comprising:
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detection means for dectecting and producing digitized images of the products based on non-visible radiation in a predetermined frequency range received from a given viewing area, the radiation being in a frequency range that includes the frequency range of the distinctive radiation characteristics for the products to be located in relation to surrounding vegetation, the predetermined frequency range being about 1000 to 2000 nanometers; and product locator means for receiving the digitized images as input, extracting a stored digitized definition of the products to be selected, comparing characteristics of the digitized input with the stored digitized definition of products to be selected, indentifying the products conforming to the definition, and generating an output signal usable for directing an output device relative to the products. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. Apparatus for locating agricultural products such as fruits or vegetables or the like that emit or reflect distinctive radiation characteristics in a non-visible frequency range comprising:
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detection means for detecting and producing digitized images of the products based on non-visible radiation in a predetermined frequency range received from a given viewing area, the radiation being in a frequency range that includes the frequency range of the distinctive radiation characteristics for the products to be located in relation to surrounding vegetation, the detection means comprising an imaging device having a lens, the lens being positioned behind a flat protective glass element, the glass element being cleaned by an iris-type lens wiper positioned adjacent the outer surface of the glass element, the lens wiper including a plurality of radially spaced leaves that open and close over the glass element, a plurality of the leaves having a flexible resilient wiper blade fixed in the side adjacent the glass element and positioned so as to wipe the glass element when the wiper is opened and closed; and product locator means for receiving the digitized images as input, extracting a stored digitized definition of the products to be selected, comparing characteristics of the digitized input with the stored digitized definition of products to be selected, identifying the products conforming to the definition, and generating an output signal usable for directing an output device relative to the products. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for locating agricultural products such as fruits or vegetables or the like that emit or reflect distinctive radiation characteristics in a non-visible frequency range comprising:
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detection means for detecting and producing digitized images of the products based on non-visible radiation in a predetermined frequency range received from a given viewing area, the radiation being in a frequency range that includes the frequency range of the distinctive radiation characteristics for the products to be located in relation to surrounding vegetation; product locator means for receiving the digitized images as input, extracting a stored digitized definition of the products to be selected, comparing characteristics of the digitized input with the stored digitized definition of products to be selected, identifying the products conforming to the definition, and generating an output signal usable for directing an output device relative to the products; and picking means for picking products located in response to the output signal, the picking means including a central processing unit for directing movement of a motor driven gripper mechanism to the location detected by the product locator and manipulating the product with the gripper mechanism, the product locator means comprising its own central processing unit for comparing detected images with know product characteristics and generating a position indicating signal for products that are located. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification